Reloading is one of the most demanding disciplines in shooting sports. Anyone who produces their own ammunition gains full control over precision, reliability and costs. The process requires concentration, a solid understanding of the components, and a calm, methodical way of working. This article gives you an introduction to the basics, including a complete step-by-step guide for handgun cartridges and rifle cartridges.
Basics of reloading
Reloading means assembling or rebuilding cartridges from their individual components. A cartridge consists of four components: case, primer, powder and bullet. The case remains after the shot is fired and can therefore be reused several times. Primer, powder and bullet are replaced.
The main advantage is customization. Carefully reloaded ammunition can be tuned more precisely to your own firearm than many factory loads. For hunters and especially for sport shooters, the running costs also decrease. The largest proportion of the cost of a cartridge is in the case. If it is used several times, the price per shot drops significantly.
Safety first
Reloading is safe if you work consistently according to fixed rules:
- full concentration, no distractions
- always wear safety glasses
- never reload under the influence of alcohol or medication that affects alertness
- only use verified load data from reputable manuals
- always start load development at the minimum charge
- watch out for signs of overpressure
- absolutely avoid double charges and no-charges (empty cases)
Remember: order and routine are essential. A clean workbench, clear sequences and a systematic approach prevent mistakes.
Legal requirements
In Germany, you must complete a training course in accordance with the explosives legislation and obtain an official permit in order to purchase and handle propellant powder. Storage is also subject to legal requirements. Before you start, everything should be clarified with the competent authority.
What can be reloaded?
Almost all center-fire cartridges can be reloaded. Rimfire cartridges such as .22 LR cannot. The service life of a case depends on caliber, material and gas pressure. Five to twenty loading cycles are common, but significantly more are possible with mild loads.
Basic equipment
For a start, a compact reloading set is sufficient:
- Reloading press
- Die sets for the caliber
- Shell holder
- Precision scale and powder measure
- Case cleaning equipment
- Priming tool
- Case trimmer and deburring tools
- Calipers
- Loading blocks and ammo boxes
Anyone who goes further into detail will expand their equipment with items such as a chronograph, competition dies or equipment for neck annealing.
Step-by-step guide to reloading handgun cartridges
Handgun cartridges include ammunition for pistols and revolvers and are used both in sport and for hunting. The basic workflow is similar to reloading rifle cartridges, but the specifics lie in the cylindrical or slightly tapered case and in the type of crimping.
1. Collect, inspect and prepare cases
Ideally, you use new cases or ones previously fired from your own firearm, and if possible from the same production lot. Cases that have been stressed differently will lead to inconsistent accuracy. The following points must be checked:
- Cracks at the case mouth
- damaged rims
- bulges on the case body
- enlarged or blown-out primer pockets
- heavy fouling
Any doubtful cases are discarded.
2. Deprime, resize and flare the case mouth
First, the spent primer is pushed out, and the case is resized back to its proper dimensions. Carbide resizing dies save work here, as they do not require case lube.
After resizing:
- Clean the primer pocket
- Clear the flash hole
- Check the case for damage
Next, the case mouth is flared just enough so that the bullet can be started by hand a few millimeters without shaving material.
3. Seat the primer
The new primer is seated firmly but with feel. It should sit flush with or slightly below the base of the case. Misalignment can cause misfires. Hand priming tools offer a lot of control here.
4. Charge with powder
The powder is dispensed with a measure and regularly checked with the scale. An open workflow in which the cases move from one loading block to the next allows you to maintain full control over every single charge.
After charging, the powder level in all cases is visually checked under a bright light.
5. Seat the bullet
The bullets are started by hand a few millimeters into the flared case mouth and then brought to the correct overall length with the seating die.
Important:
- Check cartridge overall length against the published load data
- even small deviations can affect pressure or function
6. Crimping
The type of crimp depends on the caliber. Pistol cartridges that headspace on the case mouth must not be heavily crimped. Revolver cartridges with heavy loads require a firm roll crimp so that the bullet does not creep forward under recoil.
If cracks appear at the case mouth during crimping, the cartridge is discarded.
7. Packaging, labelling and function check
The finished cartridges are packed into ammo boxes and clearly labelled:
- Caliber
- Powder type and charge weight
- Bullet type and weight
- Primer
- Cartridge overall length
- Date
- Number of previous reloadings of the cases
This is followed by a function check in the firearm, first dry, then live on the range.
Step-by-step guide to reloading rifle cartridges
The general workflow for rifle ammunition is similar, but a few steps are particularly important when reloading rifle cartridges.
1. Cleaning and inspection
Cases are cleaned after firing. Key points to examine are:
- Cracks at the neck
- tears or deformations
- deposits in the primer pocket
- case length growth
Remember: rifle cases stretch more due to gas pressure. Regular measuring is essential.
2. Lubing and resizing cases
Rifle cases must be lubricated, unless you are using carbide dies. Resizing is done as needed:
- Full-length resizing if the ammunition is to be used in several rifles
- Neck sizing if maximum precision in a single rifle is the goal
3. Trimming and deburring
In the third step, the case is trimmed to the correct length. After trimming, the inside and outside edges of the case mouth must be deburred so that the bullet can be seated cleanly.
4. Prepare primer pocket and seat primer
Now you clean the primer pocket, check the flash hole and seat the correct primer. Especially for precision loads, uniformity is crucial.
5. Weigh and charge powder
Rifle cartridges use a larger powder volume. Fine metering with a powder scale is standard practice, especially for match loads. Before finalizing the charge, the load should be calculated based on verified data. Ballistic software such as QuickLOAD can help by modelling gas pressure, load density and expected velocity. Here too, a visual inspection of the filled cases is carried out afterwards.
6. Seat the bullet
The bullet is seated precisely. Overall length, freebore to the start of the rifling and seating depth all influence both accuracy and pressure. Bear in mind that rifle cartridges are more sensitive to variations in length than handgun cartridges.
7. Final inspection and storage
After seating:
- case dimensions are checked
- overall length is verified
- the finished cartridges are labelled and stored safely
For high precision, it is worth using a chronograph to check velocity and consistency.
Conclusion
Reloading is a highly precise and responsible craft. Anyone who takes the time to learn it properly, works to clear structures and uses quality tools will achieve consistent accuracy, reliable function and lower long-term costs.
For both handgun and rifle cartridges, the key factors are careful case preparation, precise powder charging, controlled bullet seating and thorough final inspection. With calm, system and a well-kept load log, reloading becomes a reliable part of your hunting or shooting routine.
At Hunting Sport, reloading is our speciality. With more than 30 years of experience in this field, we support hunters and sport shooters in getting the best out of their ammunition. We help you choose the right equipment for your needs and are happy to answer your questions.
