Additional Tools and Accessories
As you progress through the various skill levels of reloading your own ammunition, you may find parts of the process can be optimized one way or another. Here you will find a list of tools and accessories that are mostly optional, but can vastly improve your reloading experience.
Hand Primer
Hand priming tools are a fantastic cheap option to prime hundreds of cases (or more) in an hour. They are typically lightweight, portable devices that can be used just about anywhere. If a reloader is so inclined, they could prime cases from the comfort of a family room or sitting area away from their reloading bench. Hand primers also allow users to control the pressure and depth of priming more precisely than a hydraulic machine or press.
Hand priming tools typically feature removable shell holders that hold the case in place while a primer is being pressed into place. These shell holders can either be caliber-specific or universal. By squeezing the hand priming tool, the primer is driven into place. This takes some getting used to, but the process can be very quick once the reloader has a ‘feel’ for their hand priming tool.
Pressing a single primer into place is a simple process, but doing hundreds in a row can cause discomfort and pain in the hands. Be sure to buy a hand primer that has a comfortable grip. There are also bench mounted priming tools that can reduce the strain of using a hand primer for a large volume of cases.
Bullet Puller
When reloading, you will certainly make your fair share of mistakes. However, a bullet puller ensures that your mistakes do not cost you valuable components. Bullet pullers are designed to remove the bullet from a brass case without causing any significant damage to either component. It is possible to remove a bullet from a case with two sets of pliers, but you risk permanently ruining both the bullet and the brass case.
Impact Style Bullet Puller
Impact bullet pullers utilize inertia to separate the bullet and powder from its brass case. With an impact-style bullet puller, it just takes a couple of hits on a hard piece of wood to fully remove the bullet from its case. There are different ways that a bullet puller physically holds the round, but the end result is the same. Impact style bullet pullers are ideal for reloaders who only anticipate pulling a few bullets.
Press Mounted Bullet Puller
Press mounted bullet pullers are another popular option for reloaders. These are particularly useful for high-volume applications. Press mounted bullet pullers mount to the user’s press and utilize collets to pull the bullet from the case. They are fast and efficient, but will not work with cast bullets.
Plier Type Bullet Puller
Plier type bullet pullers also are used with a press. They are designed to work with light-tension seated bullets and work well for this purpose. To use a plier type bullet press, the reloader places the cartridge in its appropriate size shellholder on the press ram and raises the ram itself. Then, the user grips the bullet with the pliers and lowers the ram. As the ram is lowered, the frame of the press stops the pliers, removing the bullet from its case.
Check Weights
Check weights are a helpful way to ensure that your scale is properly calibrated and weighing accurately. Grit, dust accumulation, and other factors can impact measuring equipment over time, so it is a good idea to regularly double-check your scales. Check weights for reloading will typically include grain weights down to ½ grain. Accurately weighed powder charges are critical to safe and consistent hand-loaded ammunition.
Loading Blocks
It is highly recommended that reloaders use loading blocks to organize cartridges as they go through the various parts of the reloading process. Reloading blocks can be caliber-specific or universal, and come in many shapes and sizes.
Plastic Buckets and Ammo Boxes
Reusable buckets are a convenient and cost-effective way to store cleaned brass cases as you begin reloading them. Plastic, reusable ammo boxes are a great option for storing your rounds once they are finished.
Stuck Case Remover
It is almost inevitable that you will eventually have a case stuck in one of your dies. It is possible to remove a stuck case without a dedicated stuck case remover, but it is a very inconvenient process that can be avoided. Several companies manufacture stuck case removing toolsets that are economical and straightforward solutions for removing stuck cases.