Essential Tools and Equipment for Reloading Ammo Casings
If you are an avid shooter or hunter, you know the importance of having a reliable and consistent supply of ammunition. However, constantly buying new ammo can quickly become costly. This is where reloading empty ammo casings comes in. Reloading your own ammunition allows you to save money while also customizing your loads to fit your specific shooting needs. However, to successfully reload empty ammo casings, you need the right tools and equipment. In this blog post, we will discuss the essential tools and equipment needed for reloading empty ammo casings.
Reloading Press
The first and most important piece of equipment needed for reloading empty ammo casings is a reloading press. This machine helps you resize, deprime, prime, powder charge, and seat bullets in the casing. There are various types of reloading presses available on the market, including single-stage, turret, and progressive presses. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to do some research and choose one that best fits your needs.
Reloading Dies
To properly resize and shape the brass casing for your desired bullet size, you will need a set of reloading dies. These dies come in sets that include a resizing die, decapping die (to remove spent primers), powder measure die (to accurately measure out powder), and bullet seating die. It’s important to note that different calibers require specific dies, so make sure to purchase the correct ones for your reloading needs.
Case Trimmer
After firing a round, the brass casing gets stretched and expanded, making it unsuitable for resizing without trimming. A case trimmer is an essential tool used to trim down the length of the casing to its proper size. This ensures consistency in your reloads and prevents any issues with chambering or extracting.
Priming Tool
The next piece of equipment needed for reloading empty ammo casings is a priming tool. This tool helps you insert new primers into the resized casing before adding powder and seating the bullet. There are various types of priming tools available, including handheld, bench-mounted, and press-mounted options. Choose one that best fits your budget and reloading setup.
Powder Measure
Accurately measuring out the right amount of gunpowder is crucial for achieving consistent and safe reloads. This is where a powder measure comes in handy. This tool allows you to precisely measure out the desired amount of powder for each casing, ensuring consistency in your shots.
Scale
In addition to a powder measure, having a reliable scale is also essential for reloading empty ammo casings. A scale allows you to double-check the weight of your powder charges to ensure accuracy and safety in your reloads. It’s important to note that digital scales are more precise and easier to use compared to traditional balance beam scales.
Case Lube
As you resize and deprime the brass casings, they can become sticky or jammed in the resizing die. To prevent this, it’s crucial to lubricate the cases before resizing them. Case lube comes in various forms, including sprays, wax, and liquid, so choose one that works best for your reloading process.
Calipers
Having a set of calipers is essential for measuring key dimensions on your bullets, such as overall length and diameter. This helps ensure consistency in your reloads and allows you to make any necessary adjustments for optimal performance.
Case Cleaner and Tumbler
After firing a round, the brass casing can become dirty or tarnished. To clean and polish them for reuse, you will need a case cleaner and tumbler. A tumbler uses media (such as corn cob or walnut shell) to remove dirt and grime from the casings, leaving them shiny and ready for reloading.
Ammo Boxes
Lastly, once you have reloaded your empty ammo casings, it’s important to store them in a safe and organized manner. Ammo boxes come in various sizes and designs, allowing you to store your reloads efficiently while also protecting them from dust, moisture, and other elements.
If you are interested in reloading empty ammo casings, having the right tools and equipment is crucial for a successful and safe process. While there may be additional tools or accessories that can enhance your reloading experience, the ones mentioned above are essential for getting started.
Contact our team at Precision Brass to learn more.