Icon Logo Gun Mart

Reloading: Looking both ways

Reloading: Looking both ways

This is not a cop-out, or a repeat. It’s a reprise/revision. Since starting this series we have had the pleasure of welcoming many new readers to our established family. So let’s remind ourselves of what handloaders do, how and why.

These are the four most likely reasons for taking the plunge. Cost, the most common motivation with material savings of up to 70% over factory ammo. Improvements in accuracy by care and customisation of loading take second slot. I was reminded by one of my HBSA buddies that simple necessity is an often forgotten reason… signifying the absence of any factory made ammo in that rare or collectible calibre they wish to restore to life. Finally pure pleasure! Anoraks like me who love the challenge of designing and assembling ammo that safely pushes the envelope. For me it started in the 1970’s, fi nding 9mm Hi-Power pistol and ammo combinations that would group at 200 yards. 

LABELLING THE BITS

For practical reasons we’ll concentrate on reloading centrefi re cartridges, that is, ammunition with a centrally positioned external primer in the head of the case. The complete round comprises of a case, primer, propellant and a projectile (bullet). The case is the core of the reloading process. It holds the other ingredients together and acts as a gas tight seal during the fi ring process. For safe results we must limit our reloading to cases formed from brass alloy, excluding those comprised of steel, aluminium, plastic or copper.

Sitting in the base or head of the case is the primer (reloaders’ spark plug). This is a cup containing a small amount of explosive material. Two basic types and sizes exist. Most common is the Boxer, a self-contained component that is easy to install and remove. Nearing obsolescence is the Berdan primer, found mainly in older designs of military calibres that were made as ‘single use’ cartridges and is much more diffi cult to remove! You get Large and Small in both rifl e and pistol options as well as Match and Magnum grades.

The engine of the cartridge is the propellant. This can be either gunpowder (black powder) or a nitrocellulose based powder. It is the rapid production of gas resultant from the ignition of this propellant that drives the projectile. A large number of powder designs exist, offering different burning speeds and densities. Projectiles can be made from lead, lead alloys, copper alloy covered lead cores, solid copper or composites of lead, copper alloy, aluminium and polymers. The range of commercially made shapes and weights are vast and can be further extended by an almost infi nite range of home made creations.

story continues below...

K.I.S.S.

There are a number of reasons why handloading may not be appropriate for some shooters. If you’re burning less than 100 rounds a year and your factory ammo gets the job done then the cost in time and kit may not be worth the investment. If you’re located in a tower block in some metropolitan areas then local plod may object. You’ll also need a quiet, secure location free from ankle biters and other distractions as mistakes can get you or your gun blown up.

Tooling up your ammo factory will require the acquisition of some specialist equipment. At this stage we’ll keep it seriously simple – just enough to make factory duplication loads in a single modern calibre. The heart of the process is a press. This is a simple machine that transfers and amplifi es the action of moving a lever about a fulcrum into the linear travel of a piston. It is used to push the cartridge case through a series of dies that remove the Boxer primer, restore the diameter of the case to its factory diameter and then assist in assembling and fastening the projectile. A powder measure will be needed to dispense the propellant charge and a set of scales to verify the weight of the charge. Finally, we’ll need an accurate measuring tool such as a Vernier calliper and either a digital or printed reloading manual. All this kit will need to be fi tted to a sturdy bench or worktop. This represents the absolute minimum that you need to start your factory and will cost at least £290. We’ll go into greater detail at a later stage.

SETTING A STANDARD

Fortunately, much of the reloading tool industry is based around a standardised format, meaning that dies from one maker should fi t the press from another. Dies and presses are almost all fi tted with a thread size of ⅞” x 14 t.p.i. (teeth per inch). Given the American heritage of much of this process and the kit on offer, it is unsurprising to note that most dimensional references are in inches (or fractions thereof) and weights are given in grains. A grain being 1/7000 of a pound. We still expect to read about velocities in fps (feet per second) and energies in ft/lbs (foot/pounds).

When you renew your FAC (ticket) you’ll be asked if you handload. Confi rming that you do will help explain why your ticket has little or no entries for purchased ammunition. Remember that you’ll need to show your ticket to the gun shop when you purchase primers, primed cases or bullets (projectiles) classifi edas expanding.

Whilst we consider the propellant, primers and bullets as consumables, the case must be considered as ultimately consumable as well. It’s life expectancy will depend on a number of linked variables. Calculating your cost per round will need to take account of the size and type of the propellant charge, the primer, the brand and material of the bullet and a percentage of the new case cost. We’ll take a look at all of these in due course.

If you’re thinking of saving a few quid by shopping for second hand kit – think again. The press frame can be worn by the piston dragging abrasive detritus through it. Non-carbide dies will slowly accumulate scratches that transfer to the case wall. Scales are vulnerable to damage - and an inaccurate reading could blow up your gun.

  • Reloading: Looking both ways - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Reloading: Looking both ways - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Reloading: Looking both ways - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Reloading: Looking both ways - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Reloading: Looking both ways - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Reloading: Looking both ways - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Reloading: Looking both ways - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Reloading: Looking both ways - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Reloading: Looking both ways - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Reloading: Looking both ways - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Reloading: Looking both ways - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

Arrow