Bullets are bullets, right? Well, not really. There are a wide array of variables in bullet shape, weight, materials, and construction. Each of these variables can have a dramatic impact on the performance, and safety, of any given load. In other words, loading recipe data for one 147-grain, .308 bullet may be incorrect, and even […]
Does Bullet Concentricity Really Improve Accuracy?
As an avid reloader, I try really, really hard to make sure that I seat my rifle bullets straight in the case so that they are perfectly centered and aligned with the case itself. As an avid shooter, I assume that ammo companies do the same for the rifle cartridges I buy. Why? If a […]
Reloading: Priming For Success
In case you haven’t been following our series on how to reload your own ammunition, we’re well on our way to reaching the end of the process. So far, we’ve covered the following: Want To Reload Your Own Ammo? Basic Questions to Consider The Reloading Process Reloading: The Gear You Need And What It’ll Cost […]
Reloading: All About Primers
We don’t give primers a lot of attention, but they have the most important job in the cartridge “go bang” process. It’s the primer that converts mechanical energy into a small conflagration that ignites the powder charge in the cartridge. A primer contains a primary explosive, which basically means that it’s unstable and volatile. Propellants […]
How To Reload Pistol Ammunition
This article originally appeared at OutdoorHub. A couple of months ago we talked about how to reload rifle cartridges. Reloading for pistol calibers, while similar, is even simpler. The core steps are basically the same: Clean and inspect the brass cartridge case. Remove the spent primer. Resize the case. Insert a new primer. Add in […]
Reloading: Powder, Propellants, and Pressure
While the stuff stored in wooden casks on old pirate ships was considered a “low explosive,” modern gun powder is not the same as the black powder of old. As much as I’d love to have my reloading room filled with those wooden casks, the modern stuff comes in plastic bottles. Besides that, it’s […]
Reloading: Trimming Cartridge Cases
While touring the FN factory last week, I got an up close and personal look at their process for cold hammer forging barrels. In case you don’t know how that works, they stuff a steel rod, with an oversize hole for a bore, into a machine that hammers the living snot out of the barrel […]
How To Reload Rifle Cartridges
This article originally appeared at OutdoorHub. Reloading rifle cartridges may seem like something that only MENSA Rocket Surgeons and repeat Jeopardy! winners can do, but it’s actually a pretty straightforward process, even if you can’t solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. The basic idea is to refill the reusable part – the brass case – with more […]
Reloading: Brass Resizing
Last time, we discussed ways to clean used brass to get it ready for the actual reloading process. Now, it’s time to talk about actual brass processing – getting it ready for a new primer, propellant, and projectile. The steps you have to take depend on the source of your brass and whether it’s a […]
Reloading: Brass Cleaning and Preparation To Load
The GunsAmerica How To Reload Ammunition Series: Want To Reload Your Own Ammo? Basic Questions to Consider The Reloading Process Reloading: The Gear You Need And What It’ll Cost You The most important step in brass cleaning and preparation is to hoard like those people who get their interventions filmed for TV. Every time you […]