Learning how to reload your own ammo could be a vital skill during a long-term disaster. Stockpiling copious amounts of ammunition is both a common and valuable practice, but eventually all those boxes ammo will run dry, leaving you with empty brass casings that should not be allowed to go to waste. Reloading ammunition now, even when you can still run out to the local gun shop and buy more, is a good idea. Assuming you are regularly taking target practice and hunting to stockpile protein, you are frequently buying more ammo to replace training rounds.The money you could save by reloading ammo yourself could be used to purchase other valuables.
Ammunition reloading is not an activity that should take place in your kitchen, basement, or even nearby in an attached garage. Reloading must take place in a well ventilated space that has quality lighting, is not damp, and will not cause harm to anyone not in the immediate vicinity of the reloading table if something goes boom. A small workshop space, preferably not connected to even a detached garage where flammables are house, will suffice. A sturdy and level work table that is about six feet long, should hold all of the necessary reloading equipment.
Prices for reloading materials and tools will vary depending upon where you shop either in person or online. Typically, you can get the equipment you will need to start reloading your own ammo for no more than $500. You will need to purchase different die sets to make multiple ammunition calibres. The die are durable and designed for sustained use of many years.
The are four main facets to ammunition reloading.
Primer – Primers vary by both type and size. You will need to purchase primers that are appropriate for the case and load you are using.
Bass Casings – Get into the habit of saving your own brass – and the brass left on the ground by others at the shooting range. You can buy empty cases at some gun shops and online to supplement what you forage after taking target practice.
Bullets – The manual that comes with your reloading kit will help guide you through the bullet purchasing process so you always reload the rounds you are making properly.
Gunpowder – Refer to your reloading manual to make sure you purchase the proper type of gunpowder to the load you are working with. If the wrong gunpowder is used, or it is not measured accurately, serious injury or death could result when the reloaded round is fired.
Reloading Press – The heart of any reloading setup, the press literally assembles the entire round. Depending on the press you buy, this can be done one operation at a time, or progressively, which each pull of the lever advancing the round through a different part of the reloading process.
Dies – A different die will be needed for each calibre being reloaded. Dies are generally the most expensive part with getting started in reloading. Carbide dies are the most expensive, but are typically the most durable and may offer greater accuracy during the sizing process.
Vernier Calipers -Use this tool to ensure your cases are trimmed to the correct length per your reloading manual.
Priming Tool – Almost all reloading press brands come with a priming tool attachment. If your machine does not or you simply want a back up, there are three different styles to choose from: hand-held, bench-mounted, and press-mounted.
Powder Scale – The scale is designed specifically for reloading to help ensure the exact amount of powder makes it into the ammo casing. If you do this part even slightly wrong, failure and injury can easily occur. Powder scales come in both manual and electric versions.
Gunpowder – Selecting the proper gunpowder is the most important part of ammo reloading. The variety of gunpowder you use does significantly impact the ballistic characteristics of the round. Your reloading manual should offer complete guidance on the selection of gunpowder.
Shell Holder – All cases will have their own corresponding shell holder. Some reloading die sets include a shell holder. Shell holders can be found to exclusively fit a particular reloading press brand or with universal settings.
Case Trimmer – This tool is used to trim fired cases down to their proper length.
Bullet Puller – When mistakes happen, and you need to take a loaded round apart, this will do the job, and allow you to salvage the bullet, brass and powder.
Powder Dispenser – A dispenser vastly reduces the possibility of human error during the gunpowder measuring process. All it takes is the pull of a single lever to get the powder needed to fill a casing instead of hand measuring each amount.
Case Cleaner- Clean brass is happy brass, and often feeds better in your gun. A good vibrating or tumbling case cleaner is an important reloading tool.
Once you are done reloading all of the brass casings that you have to work with, clean all of the moving parts on the press, the dies, and anything else that gunpowder might have come into contact with gun cleaning solution. The parts and tools should be allowed to air dry completely before they are stored until the next use. Reloading your own ammo may sound complicated, but it really is not.