RELOADING POROCEDURE




Always rely on a reloading manual for the following information! This page is here to explain the steps needed to reload ammunition for those interested in taking up this hobby. Don't take my word for it, always read the manual and follow it . I hope that this gives you some idea of what is involved in reloading.


INSPECT CASES

Always inspect your cases before loading them. As you take the cases out of the cleaning tumbler, look for dented or bent cases. Look also for cracks and splits. You should also seperate the cases by brand and caliber. Different brands have slightly different interior measurements that could affect pressures. That could be a big factor on your hotter loads.


TRIM AND LUBRICATE

Check the case length and if needed trim to the proper length using a case trimmer. You may want to do this after you resize them as they may grow in length during the resizing process. Also check and deburr new cases. Length checks are a critical process. As a case is fired the brass flows forward creating a slightly longer case. After a few firings the case may become long enough to cause problems with chambering properly. It may cause the neck to be to tight against the bullet and can cause a dangerous situation. After trimming you should deburr the mouth of the case. If you are not using carbide dies now is the time to lubricate the cases. Not a lot but a light film. I have found that lubrication is not needed with the carbide dies as a rule, but keep them and the cases clean so you don't wear out your dies and cases.


RESIZE, DECAP, AND PRIME

Resizing the case requires a resizing die. Most resizing dies include a decapper in them. Adjust the die so that the shell holder on the ram just touches the bottom of the die at the top of the stroke. Don't cam over on it just touch it. Adjust the decapper pin to push the cap out of the case completely, but don't set it to deep as it will hit the bottom of the case and bend or break. NEVER DECAP A LIVE CAP !!!!!!!!!!!! If you need to, you should fire the cap in a gun that is chambered for the cartridge, and then decap it. Expanding the neck to the proper size to accept a bullet is part of this process. On a necked case the sizing ball is part of the decapper and as it pulls out of the case it sets the size of the neck after it has been sized from the outside. On straight wall cases, this is a seperate operation using a expander die. On pistol cases you want to bell the tip of the case enough to let the bullet enter the neck. To much belling here will shorten the life of the case by causing cracks to occur sooner. I find that if you can just feel the bell it is about right.


LOADING THE CASE WITH POWDER

Look in a reliable loading manual to select the proper powder and weight of powder for the cartridge size and the bullet you are going to use. Always follow the data in the manual. A little misdirected creativity here could be disasterious. Start with the recomended starting load and work up to your optimum load.
NEVER EXCEED THE MAXIMUM RECOMENDED LOAD!!!
Always watch for signs of excessive pressure when trying your loads. If you see anything that resembles those conditions, STOP SHOOTING, and reduce the loads till the pressure signs no longer are present. When measureing powder using a powder measure always check the powder charge on a good scale. Once you have the weight set and you start to load cartridges, stop every 10 rounds and check the charge weight again. If it is off, empty out the last 10 cartridges and refill them checking the weight again. You can't be to careful. When done you should always empty the remaining powder back into the origional container. When operating the powder measure, uniformity is the rule. Fill all the cartridges at the same time using the same stroke on the handle and keeping all the motions the same. I recomend a loading tray to keep your cartridges in during the reloading process. Don't let anyone interrupt you during the process and watch for double loads. When you are loading light loads it is easy to put two loads in the shell causing life threatning injuries and loss of the gun.


SEATING THE BULLET

Check the weight and diameter of your bullet to be sure that it is the proper one before continuing. Install the bullet seating die in the press. Adjust the die so that it just touches the case holder on the ram at the top of the stroke. Now back off about 3/4 of a turn with the die so that you won't crimp the case. Next screw the seating screw in till it will just seat a bullet. Then adjust it a little at a time till you get the bullet seated to the proper depth. If you are loading cases that need to be crimped, then remove the screw and adjust the die for the proper crimp. Once you have it set you can run the ram all the way up and then screw the seating screw in till it touches the bullet. That should set the seating depth, but always check for minimum length measurements according to the manual. Some adjustments may be needed. Never crimp a rimless auto pistol case as that is what it gets it's headspacing from.


RECORDS

You need to keep an acurate set of records on the loads that you load. Each box needs to be marked with the date, caliber, bullet used, powder, powder charge weight, and case make. You can also chart your shots and keep targets to see the changes that different components make on accuracy. Sometimes it is nice to file the targets used with each load for future reference. (paper targets are recomended as the cans and such don't file very nicely in a file drawer.)


I hope that this has answered some of your basic questions about the reloading process. I don't claim to know it all and do not recomend that you use these instructions for your reloading activities. Get and use a comercial manual. Read it and follow it to the letter. Have fun, and keep em in the 10 ring.