Reloading Basics: Part 1

Sources and resources Most shooting clubs will have members who shoot factory ammunition rather than reloads and they are usually happy to give you their used cases. If you get such a person on-side, then you will have a ready supply of used cases. Some shooters like to start off with brand new, unused cases, although after the first use they are ‘once fired’, and was that initial newness really worth the extra cost? I have started using a relatively new brand of cases, PPU, and they have proved particularly good in terms of both quality and price. Imported by Henry Krank, in both factory ammunition and new cases, in a wide range of calibres, the consistency of both is outstanding. I recently checked a hundred new 45-70 PPU cases by weight and found that they only varied by plus or minus one percent. The case lengths are also as consistent and the headstamps are very crisp, an indication that the machinery used to form the cases in not worn or old. Their .357 cases show similar levels of quantity and with both calibre coming in at around 25- to 35% percent cheaper than Winchester, they are great value.

It is important that new cases are checked just as thoroughly as reused ones for defects and damage. I have a batch of new .357 Winchester cases that includes one that is much shorter than the rest. It is not long enough to fully engage in the powder measure I use and would result in the case receiving only a part charge of powder if it had not been picked up.

A further option is to buy economically priced factory ammunition and reuse the cases. As already mentioned, the PPU brand represents fantastic value and if you consider the cost of the individual components, you simply cannot produce your own reloaded ammunition for the price of their factory stuff. In .308 for example, to buy the separate components (case, primer, powder, head) and assemble your own ammunition it would cost around 30% more than to buy their equivalent factory rounds. Once you’ve fired the factory ammunition you have a batch of once fired cases ready for reloading. You can reload those cases with the same bullets as the factory ammo and reproduce the load that you prefer. I have been using PPU rifle cases for a number of years and they reload very well and have lasted several re-uses without any failures.

Prior to first use

Once you have sourced your cases, it is important to check them over before use. Make sure they are all the correct calibre, all the same length, and that none are damaged. If a case has been squashed, it is possible to reshape it during the resizing stage of the reloading process. However, if the distortion was significant, the metal may have been weakened to the point where that case will crack the first time you use it. The sensible approach is to discard any cases that look like they have been damaged in any way.

As standard practice, I always run newly acquired cases through a trimmer, as it is good to check that they are all beginning their reloading life the same length. I rarely get a box of 50 once fired cases that don’t have at least two or three that need a bit of a trim. The Lee case trimmer incorporates a case length gauge to ensure that all of your cases will be cut to the exact same length.

Case Inspection

The trimming process is a good chance to inspect each case for cracks, bulges, damaged rims etc. It is not unusual to find a once fired case with a split. Any splits not picked up at this stage can often be detected during the resizing stage of the reloading process. A case that is split from the case mouth will not feel the same as you cycle the resizing die into it, as there is less resistance to the die. If you take a split case and size it, and then do the same with a case in good condition, you can develop a feel for a split case.

Keeping it Clean

Opinions on how often cases need cleaning vary, but cases will eventually get so dirty that they can become difficult to load and extract from the gun. A build-up of dirt behind the rim can also act as a ‘cushion’ preventing the round from chambering fully and also contributing to light strikes, by absorbing some of the impact of the firing pin. I take the same approach to cleaning cases as I do to cleaning the car. When it looks too dirty, it’s time for a clean!
The different methods of cleaning have been covered in previous articles in Gun Mart. My preferred method is a friction type tumbler in the form of a Lyman Pro Tumbler, it works well and is a good size for the average shooter. Simply drop a couple of hundred cases in and leave them for an hour. The course media inside grinds the dirt off the case, inside and out. Cases should be cleaned with this type of machine before the primers are removed from the cases. If you de-prime them first you will spend a considerable amount of time and effort removing bits of the tumbler media from the flash-holes with a toothpick. I know this from experience…

Primer Pockets

In terms of preparing the primer pockets, opinion again varies enormously. I have a primer pocket cleaner, which scrapes out any residue build-up in the primer pocket but other than that I don’t spend too much time on them.

Occasionally, you may get a batch of cases that are difficult to prime. Issues with the manufacturing process sometimes throw out a batch with tighter than normal primer pockets and you will feel this in the form of increased resistance when you try to seat the primers. If excessive force is needed to seat the primers, then stop using that batch of cases. If you continue to force the primers in, then you will see flattened or damaged primers and risk a primer detonating during the seating process.

There are also occasions where primer pockets are oversized and the primers fit very easily. This can again result in flattened primers, because applying the ‘normal’ amount of pressure to seat the primers is more than is actually needed and the primer is squashed.

That’s quite enough for one month, so in the next issue I’ll look at various checks that can be made after you’ve fired your re-load prior to re-using it.

Contact:

Henry Krank Ltd www.henrykrank.com for Lee reloading equipment and PPU cartridge cases.