Reloading your own ammunition
It saves you money and it's not that
difficult
by Kevin Lee McIver
Bought any ammunition lately? Years
ago you could purchase quality big-game ammunition for pennies a
cartridge. Today, it will cost you close to $1 a round or even more.
For those of us who shoot a lot, paying top
dollar for ammunition isn't affordable. This leaves one option --
reloading.
I began reloading, also called handloading,
after much hesitation. Previously, I worried about the difficulty,
ballistics, and effectiveness of home made ammunition -- not to mention
the perils of having canisters of smokeless powder around the house.
However, once I discovered how simple
reloading is, I jumped right in with both feet. Nowadays, you can't pry me
away from my reloading bench, cause I'm "making bullets."
The actual mechanics of reloading are very
simple. First comes the full-length resizing of the case. When a cartridge
is fired, the case expands to release the bullet. Resizing returns it to
the standard diameter.
Next is de-capping, or the removal of the
fired primer, followed by expanding the inside neck of the case so that it
is the correct size to hold the bullet.
After expanding the neck, you prime the
case by inserting a new primer into the primer pocket, carefully weigh out
the approximate powder charge, pour it in the case, then seat the bullet
-- an you have a shiny new cartridge ready for hunting or the range.
To get started in reloading, you'll need
five essential items: bullets, cases, primers, powder and reloading
equipment. Many of the companies which manufacture ammunition, like
Remington and Winchester, also sell cases and bullets for handloading.
No matter where you buy the necessities,
your best bet is to buy in bulk, as this will save you money. By
purchasing 500 to 1,000 bullets or cases, you'll save one-third the money
than if you would have bought only 100.
As for reloading equipment, there are many
options available which permit you to go as high-tech or as basic as you
desire.
Lee Precision, Inc., makes handloaders
which enable you to bang out one round at a time. These neat, little
innovative packages come in a red plastic box containing a decapper,
resizer and powder measure. The only item not included which you will need
is a rubber mallet to knock out the cases and seat the bullet. If you
don't mind doing everything by hand, then Lee loaders are perfect and very
reasonably priced at just under $20.
If you're more into automation, you can opt
for a single-stage press made by Lee, Lyman or RCBS for $40 to $100. These
presses do most of the work for you with a few pulls of the press handle
and the changing of components between steps.
Single-stage presses are great reloading
tools, but they still only produce one shell at a time. If you want to
crank out a cartridge with each pull of the press handle, you can purchase
a progressive-stage press.
Progressive-stage presses are in themselves
little ammunition factories. Of course with this convenience comes an
heftier price tag of between $150 and $300. But if you do a lot of
shooting, you may want to go this route.
I own two Lee handloaders and one Lee
single-stage press. I use the handloaders for making rifle ammunition
which I shoot in low quantities like .45-70s. I use my single-stage press
for pistol ammunition which I like to burn-up at the range one after the
other.
As for accuracy goes, my first couple of
batches were not that great; however, after mastering the process, keeping
a logbook, and ensuring powder was consistently the same, I have achieved
the desired accuracy which rivals manufactured ammunition.
In regards to safety, reloading is very
safe as long as you are tool. This means you must follow all safety rules
which accompany the reloading equipment and the powder which you purchase.
Above all, you cannot have any fires or heat sources near your reloading
bench unless you want your spouse to get some insurance money while he or
she is still young. Forget about smoking, follow the rules, and you won't
have any problems.
If you're a serious shooter who expends a
lot of brass at the range or in the field, then consider reloading. It's
easier than you imagine, lot's of fun, and will keep you satisfied during
inclement weather or between hunting seasons.
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