Ammo Reloading 101

A Beginner's Guide to Ammo Reloading

Want to save on ammo costs, get more accuracy out of your rounds, or ensure a steady supply of ammunition? If so, then reloading your own ammo might be for you. Our beginners guide to ammo reloading covers everything you need to know—from the reasons to reload your own ammo, to common challenges you may face, to the equipment and supplies you'll need to get started.

Ammo Reloading 101 - Table of Contents
	1. Why reload your own ammo? Reloading your own ammo offers a whole host of benefits, both educational and economical. Ammo reloading can save on cost, improve accuracy an ensure a steady, always-stocked supply of ammunition.
	2. Reloading Safety Tips Ensure your safety by following procedures and rules to avoid risk. Wear safety glasses, avoid distractions, keep a clean work space, and properly store primers and powder. Always follow reloading instructions.
	3. Basic Cartridge Components Having an understanding of the anatomy of ammunition is an important step of reloading. Learn basic components that makeup a cartridge, including primer, case, propellant and bullet.
	4. Startup Costs and Beginner Reloading Setup Review a list of equipement you'll need for entry-level setup, mid-level additions and high-level ammo reloading—and what it will cost to get started.
	5. Identifying and Maintaining Brass Proper maintainance of brass is essential for achieving accurancy of handloaded ammunition. Learn about brass at different stages of the life cycle including virgin, once-fired, and reusable and spent cases.
	6. Setting Up a Reloading Bench A reloading bench is an essential piece of reloading equipment. Learn what to look for in a bench, the pros and cons of buying vs building a bench, best size and height, and storage options.
	7. Using a Reloading Manual Using a reloading manual is probably the most important tool for handloading ammunition. An up-to-date reloading manual provides standard information and specific data essential for the reloading process.
	8. Parts of the Process and What They Do Before you begin reloading ammo, it's important to understand each part of the process. Learn more about cleaning brass, case resizing and trimming, case priming, charging, bullet seating, crimping and pulling.
	9. Measuring Tools Loading ammo that is more accurate than factory rounds requires exact measurements. Learn about the tools you'll need to reload ammo, including scale, micrometer, caliper and case gauge.
	10. Case Prep Tools Case prep is a key step for ammo reloading. Essential tools for case prep include primer pocket uniformer, case trimmer, chamfering and deburring tool, lubricant and a case cleaning tool.
	11. Understanding Reloading Presses A reloading press is a versatile, multi-functional tool that performs several important reloading tasks. There are few types of reloading presses, including the Single Stage, Turret and Progressive press.
	12. Reloading Dies Dies perform a number of reloading functions. Selecting the right type of die is important. Types of ammo reloading dies include decapping dies, resizing dies, seating dies and crimping dies.
	13. Powder Tools Filling your loads with an accurate, consistent measure of powder is one of the most important parts of the reloading process. Important powder tools include tricklers, funnels and tubes.
	14. Additional Tools and Accessories There are a variety of optional tools that can greatly improve the reloading process. A few include hand primer, check weights, bullet puller, check weights, loading blocks and stuck case remover.
	15. Reloading Handgun Ammunition Having the right equipment and following the right process is essential for reloading handgun ammo. Review step-by-step procedures for reloading handgun ammo for maximum safety and accuracy.
	16. Reloading Rifle Ammunition Rifle ammunition is reloaded in many of the same ways as handgun ammo—with a few subtle differences. Review step-by-step procedures for reloading rifle ammo for maximum safety and accuracy.
	17. Common Handloading Mistakes Handloading ammo requires adherence to a strict process. It's best to avoid errors whenever possible. Identifying bad practices ahead of time will ensure handloads are precise, effective, and consistent.
	18. Glossary of Reloading Terms Whether you're a veteran hunter or a new enthusiast, learning the lingo and definitions of common ammunition and reloading terms will assist in your selection of reloading equipment and the reloading process.

---

Disclaimer: Sportsman's'Warehouse assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions of the information on this page. Although we strive to provide the most accurate information as we can, the reloading information provided in this guide is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness. It is provided for discussion purposes only. Reloading can be dangerous. Reloading and firing reloaded ammunition is done at your own risk.