Reloading Basics, Part 1

Definitions and Theory

When you have a discussion about reloading, an important thing to remember is, "There is more than one way to skin a cat."


We will revisit this comment several times over the course of this article, but this truth has been presented to me many times over the years.


Before we start though, I would like to give some rough definitions to some of the basic terms you see applied to this skill.



Reloader- a person who reuses fired cartridge brass to make ammunition.  Most reloaders learn the basic safety rules and loading procedures and then crank out a pile of ammo.  Most of the time their ammo is just as loud as factory ammo, costs less money and makes tin cans jump.  Those who stop their learning process with the basic skills of loading usually don't make it past this level.


Handloader- an individual who began as a reloader, and has made the effort to learn more about the process.  A handloader is interested in improving the accuracy of his ammo and possibly the velocities compared to factory ammunition.  He purchases equipment that allows him to load cartridges with greater precision and accuracy.  His handloaded ammunition usually shoots as good or better than factory ammo.


Precision Handloader- this person has done a lot of research and studying in the art of developing, assembling and testing ammunition to ensure maximum accuracy, velocity and terminal performance.  Ammunition is developed for a specific purpose, and then custom matched to the firearm shooting it.  Chronographs are used to test velocities, standard deviation and extreme spreads. Ballistic media is used to capture fired bullets to determine their terminal performance and measure their physical properties.  Micro-machining techniques are employed on the cartridge brass to ensure uniformity and greater accuracy.  Exterior ballistics of the load are tested all the way out to maximum effective range and documented.  Reliability with respect to proper operation of the firearm is tested.  


As you can see, there is quite a difference in scope of work and technical skill between these different ammunition assemblers, and as you might imagine, the performance of their ammunition varies greatly. 


This article is geared towards the beginning loader, but I would like to emphasize that your learning does not and should not stop here.  Once you learn the basics of safety and the steps of the process, you can continue adding to your knowledge and improving your skills until you reach master level.  It is a rewarding and insightful journey that opens up a whole new aspect in the world of firearms to you.


Before you jump in with both feet, I think it is important to decide why you want to learn this craft; why, exactly, are you interested in loading your own ammo?  Do you want cheaper ammunition?  Greater accuracy?  A load tuned for a specific purpose?


All of these issues can be addressed by handloading in one way or another.


Do you shoot large quantities of pistol ammo for practice, or only a couple dozen rifle rounds at long range?


It is important to know what you expect to gain by reloading before you invest in the equipment and supplies needed, and then later possibly end up disappointed.


If you only do moderate amounts of shooting and place a premium on accuracy, you should invest in a single stage loading machine.


If you expect to have 300 or more rounds to load in between weekend shooting sessions, you are better off investing in a progressive loading machine.


If you are getting into reloading for the cost savings, you need to realize that you will have to do a fair amount of shooting to cover the costs of your supplies and equipment.  Your return on investment is also dependent on the caliber you are loading.  You can pay off your gear much faster if you are loading for a 300 Ultra Mag compared to a 9mm Parabellum.


If you want to improve on the accuracy of factory ammunition, it can be done, but not to the same degree as in the past.  Federal Gold Medal Match usually can hold MOA groups in rifles up to the task; you can beat this level of accuracy, but you will have to work at it.


Handloading for the cost savings has been done for years.  However, the only real cost savings in loading your own ammo comes from being able to reuse your brass cartridge cases.  The more times you can reload them, the greater your savings.  The downside to this is the work involved from chasing down and picking up all your brass at the firing range.  This can be a pain in the ass with auto-loaders that sling it all over hell's half acre, less so for revolvers and manually operated rifles.  Also, after you get far enough into the handloading process, you will only want to pick up your own well-prepped brass and will get irritated when it gets mixed up with a bunch of crap brass on the floor of the firing range.  This usually isn't a deal breaker for most folks, but it is something to consider.


This advantage has been somewhat minimized in recent years with the release of factory loaded rounds using non-reloadable aluminum or steel cartridge cases available at low cost.


There are still some good reasons for handloading in this day and age, but the days of seeing huge improvements in performance and drastically reduced costs are pretty much gone. 


To be quite honest with you, one of the biggest reasons for reloading is the ego boost you get when your shooting buddies see that .375" five shot group you just fired and you tell them, "this is my own load that I developed."  The successes of handloading can make you quite proud.


For some people, especially survivalists, the means to independently be your own ammunition supplier is a real perk, and frees you from the whims of the retail market.


Whatever the reason you choose, handloading is one hell of a hobby to get into, and a great skill set to achieve no matter how far you decide to take it.  As we said earlier, "There is more than one way to skin a cat."


In future articles, we will discuss some of the basic equipment and gear needed to load ammo properly, as well as step-by-step information on actual reloading processes, procedures, and safety tips.  Stay tuned...................








LWM out......................