This blog is not instruction.
Before beginning any reloading, take a class! This material only highlights areas that may be of interest for those considering reloading rifle ammo and all sections require training, further research and practice. This is NOT a step by step tutorial and do not use it as such. KJD Firearms Training offers reloading classes. Go to: http://www.nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx to find the schedule and prices.
Reloading rifle ammo requires concentration and close attention to many details. Reloading is becoming more and more popular as ammo is hard to find and the prices have risen considerably. Also reloads are usually more accurate than factory ammo due to the fire-formed cases used for reloading as well as other reloading refinements.
Important Note: All reloading equipment manufacturers are very concerned with both your safety as well as your satisfaction with their products. You can call customer service (the number is on their website) with any and all questions or concerns. There is often a hold time but usually not very long.
Rifle rounds shoot with lots of pressure so the shells elongate and expand due to the high pressure. The shell case does not spring back to the original size. Each case shot is fire-formed to a perfect fit for the rifle's chamber. However, two rifles from the same manufacturer and the same model can have variations in the rifle's chambers. Each rifle is unique and reloads that work in one may not chamber in another.
Reloading Manuals
Everyone considering reloading needs a reloading manual – actually more than one. A Reloading manual contains information key to reloading - updated load data for various bullet weights including minimum and maximum powder loads as well as minimum overall length (Min. OAL). Almost every bullet manufacturer publishes a reloading manual such as Hornady, Nosler, Sierra, Barnes, etc. Lee doesn’t make bullets but it does make reloading equipment and I found their book - Lee "Modern Reloading 2nd Edition, Revised" a very good reference. The bullet manufacturers naturally favor their bullets. Each manual does have general reloading information in the front (or back). It’s well written and worth the time. As obvious as it may be, it’s important to state: If you use Hornady (Sierra, Barnes, Nosler) bullets, obtain Hornady’s (Sierra, Barnes, Nosler) reloading manual. Key information about their bullets is only found in their manuals.
Press
No reloading should be done in a hurry - this is especially true when reloading rifle ammo. At the beginning, I recommend using a single-stage press for reloading rifle ammo. There are many good single-stage presses available. My recommendation is Forster’s Co-Ax Single Stage press. To date, there are 104 reviews of this press on MidwayUSA.com – all of them 5 stars (the best rating). Of course progressive presses can be used for rifle reloading as well. I prefer not to use them for reloading rifle ammo.
Bolt action vs. Semi-Auto (AR-15)
Reloading for gas-operated semi-autos is a bit more demanding and challenging than bolt-action rifles. Differences will be sited throughout this blog.
Brass Preparation
Inspect your cases carefully discarding any with dents or tears. Check the case neck area for any signs of cracking. Resizing bottle-neck cases works the neck area somewhat more than the remainder of the case and so this area is the first place to fail or crack. Separate your shell cases by manufacturer and number of times fired. This should be done for all reloading but it’s especially important for shells shot in a Semi-Autos.
Brass can be cleaned in a tumbler using a corn or ground walnut shell media. Sonic cleaners are very popular as they get the job done quickly. De-prime the shells prior to putting them in a sonic cleaner as this enables cleaning the inside as well as the outside of the brass. It also cleans the primer pocket and this facilitates re-priming.
It’s a good policy, at least at the beginning, to purchase quality brass for reloading. As with all quality reloading equipment and components, it is a time-saving investment. Be sure to use a net at the range to catch the brass after firing.