Reloading Basics, Part 2

Processes, Steps and Safety

Once you have decided to learn the craft of handloading, it is important to know it's safety rules first.  No one wants to blow up a gun or injure themselves, and by following these basic industry-established guidelines you will keep you and your guns in one piece.

GENERAL RULES

1. Only reload ammunition when you can give your full and undivided attention. Allow plenty of time so you do not rush. Avoid distractions such as television, visitors, or any other factor that negatively affects your concentration. NEVER attempt to to reload while under the influence of alcohol or medications that affect concentration or judgment.
2. Thoroughly read and understand all reloading equipment instructions before using that equipment. All manufacturers offer technical support. If you do not understand the written instructions, contact the manufacture for clarification before proceeding.
3. Wear approved safety glasses during all reloading operations, and while shooting. Make safety glasses available to any approved visitors to your loading area.
4. Make certain that all equipment is firmly anchored to the work surface during use. A heavy loading press falling on your foot can cause serious injury. Avoid using clamps to attach heavy tools to the bench. Follow the tool's manufacturer's instructions for safely mounting the tool.
5. Observe "good housekeeping" in the reloading area. See that all components and equipment has a designated place. Clean up spills promptly. Limit components on the bench to only those required for the immediate project.
6. Keep accurate and legible records. Label everything so there is no confusion regarding the ammo or components. A log book is a great way to ensure that you always know the load information for each cartridge.
7. Store and keep powder and primers away from sources of heat, open flame, and electricity, and out of the reach of children. This also means NO SMOKING in the loading area.
8. Keep powder and primers in their original, factory-marked containers. Scrap any components that lose their identification information. If you must remove any components from their factory containers during loading, return them to their proper containers as soon as the loading sessions ends. Place a "sticky-note" on the powder measure that identifies the propellant being used. Remove the note promptly when the propellant is returned to its original factory container.
9. Keep no more than one container of propellant on the bench at one time. Store powder away from the bench to avoid mistakes or mixing.
10. Carefully read and follow published reloading data. Verify that your loading manual is open to the proper page for the cartridge you are loading. Don't play "inventor."
11. Never attempt to reload without immediate access to a reliable reloading scale.Scales built for other purposes, such as cooking or postage, are unacceptable. Check the "zero" of the scale before each powder weighing session. Once a month, remove dust from the scale and calibrate. Calibration weight sets are available from RCBS and other manufacturers. Check both zero and calibration if the scale is jarred or moved from its normal location. Avoid locating mechanical scale within three (3) feet (one meter) of fluorescent lights. The electromagnetic fields generated by such lights can cause weighing errors.
12. Use extra care with primer tubes. Handle loaded tubes with care; a dropped tube can explode. Do not store primers in primer tubes between sessions. Check monthly for build-up of residue inside the tubes and, if detected, clean the tube under water with a narrow bottle brush if needed. Dry washed tubes thoroughly before returning them to service. Never apply oil to any primer tube; this will accelerate build-up of residue.
13. Never attempt to use a damaged primer tube, or one that is not intended for your make and model of reloading press/priming apparatus. Tube fit in the tool is important to safe loading; make certain you have the right tube matched with the right tool. When filling tubes, never use excessive pressure. If unusual force is detected, cease loading immediately and correct the problem before proceeding.

LOAD DATA

1. Always use loading data published by a reputable component manufacturer. Your brother-in-law is a nice guy but, statistically, he's not likely to be a professional ballistician.
2. Never start with a maximum load. Always begin with the starting load and work toward the maximum in increments, testing at each step. This provides you with a safety margin in case of some undiscovered change in the components. Component manufacturers strive to maintain lot-to-lot uniformity, but some variance may occur over time.
3. Always use the latest data for your cartridge. Over long periods of time. components may change. Using the latest recommendation ensures that your loads reflect current technology and standards.
4. If new to the art and practice of reloading, use only moderate loads until you gain experience with the cartridge, your firearm, and your loading equipment.
5. Leave experimentation to the professionals. Published data is FACT. It is not a "jumping-off point" for wild experimentation.
6. Never mix propellants. Blending propellants is extremely dangerous and should never be done.
7. Always reduce loads when changing components. Sometimes, you cannot match the exact combination of components that the component company used when developing the load. Drop back to the starting load to build a safe margin for any changes.

LEAD EXPOSURE

The metallic element lead can, at high exposure levels, result in birth defects, reproductive harm, or other serious medical problems. Lead is present in primers and most bullets, and the reloader may be exposed to lead when handling reloading components (including fired cases), shooting, or cleaning firearms or reloading equipment. Simple guidelines will limit your exposure and result in your hobby remaining a safe one.

1. Observe good personal hygiene. Wash hands thoroughly with soap as soon as you finish handling ammunition, shooting, or cleaning firearms. Simple hand washing is the best step to minimize lead exposure.
2. Never eat or drink while reloading. Failing to follow this simple rule means that lead residue on your hands goes directly into your body. Keep your hands away from your nose and mouth while loading. If you smoke, wash up thoroughly before taking a smoke break, and take that break well away from powders and primers.
3. Avoid breathing dust in the loading area. Have your loading room properly ventilated. If you use dry case-cleaning media, wear a dust mask when charging and emptying your case cleaner. The media can become charged with lead from fired cases.
4. Clean the reloading area regularly. This prevents the buildup of dust that may contain lead. Wipe horizontal surfaces with a damp cloth. Damp mop hard-surface floors often. Avoid using carpeting in areas identified as loading areas. In addition to holding residue, carpet can induce static electricity problems that constitute a hazard when handling primers.

Now that we know the general safety rules, let's go over the processes of handloading:

1. Clean up your fired brass.  The idea is to remove the carbon and dirt from the cases before they go into your reloading dies.  This keeps the dies from being scratched up internally and prevents crud from building up inside.  Cleaning is most commonly done with a vibratory tumbler containing either crushed walnut shell or corncob media.  Liquid brass polish may also be added to the mix.  Ultrasonic cleaners and stainless steel media cleaners have been introduced to the reloading market fairly recently, and have their share of followers as well.
2. De-prime and re-size cases.  This is most commonly done in one step with a re-sizing die containing a decapping pin, but can be done in two separate steps for some specialized applications.  Since cases expand upon firing, re-sizing squeezes the brass cartridge case back down to SAAMI specs so it will exert proper tension on the bullet and fit into the chamber correctly.  Primer pockets should be cleaned after decapping to remove ash and carbon from them.  Special tools are sold for this, but a small flat tip screwdriver can be used as well.
3. Trimming to length.  Brass cartridge cases are exposed to extreme pressure during the firing process.  This pressure causes the brass to flow towards the case mouth, which increases the overall length of the case.  Every caliber has a specified minimum and maximum case length which must be adhered to.  In this step, cases are measured with dial calipers to determine case length.  In theory, as long as they are neither too short nor too long, they may continue on through the loading process.  In practice, all cases should be trimmed to the same length for uniformity of bullet crimp and bullet seating depth.  A rotary case trimmer, either manual or powered, is commonly used to accomplish this step.
4. Deburr case mouth.  After trimming, a burr will be present at the case mouth.  Use a cartridge case deburring tool to remove it.  
5. Inspection of case.  At this point, the basic case prep is complete.  This is your chance to give the case a good looking over to determine if there are any cracks, burrs or other defects on it.  Have a good source of light at your workbench when inspecting cases.
6. Prime cases.  Now we install primers.  They can be installed by a bench mounted press, or by a hand tool.  I recommend the hand tools because they give you a better feel during installation.  Primers should be seated all the way into the bottom of the primer pocket, and will typically be below flush when checked with a fingertip.  
7. Flare case mouth (pistol rounds only).  Three die pistol sets will include a bell die, sometimes called a flaring die.  The idea is to slightly flare the case mouth to allow easier seating of the bullet.  Don't flare the case any more than absolutely necessary; this just work hardens the brass and causes it to wear out and crack prematurely.
8. Add gunpowder.  Dispense powder into the case.  Powder may be "thrown" from a powder measure directly into case after charge weight is verified, or can be weighed individually on a powder scale.  Powder tricklers are commonly used to get the charge weight dead-on when weighing.  Powder funnels allow you to add powder to the case without making a mess.
9. Seat the bullet.  The bullet will get seated to the overall length specified in your reloading manual.  Verify the measurement with dial calipers.
10. Crimp the bullet (handgun rounds only).  For revolvers, use a roll crimping die to tuck the mouth of the case into the cannelure on the bullet.  For automatics, use a taper crimp die to take the flare out of the case mouth.  The case should be straight when taper crimped, not folded in, because autos headspace on the case mouth.  
11. Final wipe down & inspection.  Take a clean dry cloth and wipe off any dirt or case lube off the cartridge and give it one last look to check for defects.

In the next installment, we will go over the equipment you need to load quality ammunition, and some tips that I have learned over the years to assist you.  Stay tuned......

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