Author: DENNIS GORSKI

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6 Pieces of Equipment that Every Reloader Should Own

reloading supplies

If you are just getting into reloading, you will want to know what equipment to invest in. In this article, we recommend some essential reloading supplies that will serve you well in your reloading career.

  1. Press

    You need a press in your setup. If you are just starting out then you will generally want to go with a single stage or turret press. Once you are comfortable with reloading then consider investing in a progressive press. The progressive press can complete multiple actions for one pull, making it much more productive.

  2. Powder

    To state the obvious, you will need some powder. Buying some multi-purpose powder may be a good investment if you plan to load different calibers.

  3. Powder scale

    This is used to measure each charge you are reloading. For peace of mind, you will also want to invest in an additional scale to check whether your reloading scale is functioning correctly. Most reloaders use a digital scale during the reloading process but also have an I-beam type scale to verify the charges.

  4. Reloading dies

    Among reloading supplies, dies are some of the most important. You will need a set of dies for every cartridge you reload. Dies are caliber-specific and go into the press itself to do the work of decapping, resizing, expanding the case mouth, bullet seating and crimping.

  5. Case tumbler

    Another essential piece of equipment is a case tumbler which is used to clean your spent ammunition casings. After cleaning for an hour or so your casings will look nice and shiny again.

  6. Reloading manuals

    You will want to have multiple sources of load data from accredited publishers. Moreover, it’s always good to have some reloading books handy in case you need to refer to something or to simply refresh your knowledge. Modern Reloading by Richard Lee and the Lyman Reloading Handbook are some solid references to start out with.

    7. For further information or to order reloading supplies please contact us at 262-244-7023 or visit www.TitanReloading.com.

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4 Tips for Reloading Beginners

Tips for Reloading beginners
If you are a shooter who has ever dreamed of producing your own ammunition then you’re not alone. Reloading is a fun and highly rewarding activity that also makes you more self-sufficient, but the large quantity of information out there can be overwhelming for beginners. Arm yourself with the following tips and you will be well-prepared for your new hobby.

  1. Remove distractions
    Reloading is enjoyable but it can also be dangerous if you aren’t paying attention. Work in a space where you are alone and away from any distractions such as the TV or radio. To state the obvious, you should never drink alcohol or smoke while reloading. This is an activity that requires your full and focused concentration.

  2. Protect yourself
    Wearing eye and hearing protection is essential. Reloading is an exciting hobby but it does carry certain risks with it. Human error can lead to dangerous scenarios, including explosions, so take all the necessary precautions to protect yourself.

  3. Start out with a single stage or turret press
    The most important item among reloading supplies is the press. This is the foundation of your setup. Single stage and turret presses can only perform a single function with each pull of the handle, meaning that production is slower. However, the upside is that they are easier to master, require little maintenance and are more cost effective; especially for a beginner. The best thing to do is to master the single stage or turret press first, from which you can always diversify later. If you are mechanically inclined you could start out with a progressive press but there is more of a learning curve with this type of press.

  4. Read the Safety Instructions. Then Read them Again.
    The reloading bench is not a place where you want to be in a rush. Safety warnings are included with reloading supplies for good reason – it’s easy to hurt yourself when you don’t know what you are doing. Read the safety instructions and read them again. Then make sure you follow them!

Need some more guidance on where to begin with reloading? Contact Titan Reloading at 262-244-7023 or visit www.TitanReloading.com.

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Reloading for Self-Reliance

Reloading for Self-Reliance
There are many reasons an individual may choose to reload his own ammunition. Every year, thousands or even millions of gun owners invest in reloading supplies, and every person has his own motivation for moving into the hobby. Some do it simply for fun. Others prefer to control their own ammunition to ensure maximum accuracy and efficiency. But one increasingly large segment of the population is reloading for another reason: self-reliance.

The truth of the matter is that your firearms are essentially useless without ammunition. If you rely on a gun for self-protection or the protection of your home, a steady supply of ammunition is vital. In recent years, new legislation efforts in many states have led to the banning of certain types of ammunition or severe ammunition storages, leaving some gun owners out in the cold when it comes to protection.

Reloading supplies are excellent protectors of your self-reliance. Here’s why:

You never have to worry about stores running out of ammunition. You control your own supplies, and aren’t subject to the whims of ammunition suppliers or overzealous legislators.

If ammunition ever dries up or vanishes, you can make your own. People like to joke about apocalyptic scenarios, but in an environment where the supply chain is interrupted (which can be caused by many things including natural disasters or civil unrest), reloaders always have ammo.

You can recycle some parts of the reloading process (brass, for example), extending the range of your supplies and ensuring long-term protection. Reloading supplies are finite, but last much longer than factory ammunition packs.

Reloading is an exceptionally rewarding and interesting hobby that yields tangible benefits in your personal safety and self-reliance. Honestly, every gun owner should be familiar with the reloading process, as it provides deep insight into the inner-workings of firearms and the ammunition they use.

For further information or inquiries please contact us at 262-244-7023 or visit www.TitanReloading.com.

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Watch Out for These Reloading Mistakes!

Reloading Mistakes
Reloading is a satisfying, exciting, and money-saving hobby. It gives you greater control over the accuracy and consistency of your ammunition while at the same time limiting the amount of money you spend for a day at the range. And when executed according to established safety guidelines and workflows, working with reloading supplies is exceptionally safe. There’s never been a better time to get into reloading.
Keep your hobby safe and reliable by avoiding some of these common beginner mistakes:

Cracked Brass

Thoroughly inspect all of your brass before each reloading session. Micro-cracks may not be readily apparent and can cause problems when the round is fired, such as damaging your firearm, creating a jam, or ejecting brass fragments.

Excessive Powder

Consult the manufacturer’s guide or established reloading guides regarding powder loads for your rounds. Double-charging or over-charging your rounds can cause unpredictable shooting results and might be dangerous.

Incorrect Powder

There are different types of powder, and they’re not interchangeable. Loading rifle cases with shotgun powder, for example, can cause an overcharge situation that could lead to complete destruction of the rifle. Keep your powder types separate and well-organized.

Untrimmed Cases

Trimming cases isn’t the most fun part of reloading, but it’s a necessary evil. Cases that haven’t been adequately trimmed can get jammed in your firearm or at the very lease can cause a drop in accuracy.

Over-crimping

Crimps are sometimes necessary to hold a bullet in place. But an over-crimped round might fail to chamber as a result of its odd shape. When it comes to crimping, a little goes a long way.

Titan Reloading is dedicated to providing only the best reloading supplies and to helping hobbyists learn more about reloading. For further information or inquiries please contact us at 262-244-7023 or visit www.titanreloading.com.

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Reloading Seeing a Huge Boom

Reloading Supplies
There’s never been a better time to get into the reloading hobby. What used to be a relatively niche hobby among a small group of firearms enthusiasts is quickly gaining steam among mainstream gun owners; more people than ever are investing in reloading supplies, learning the tools of the trade, and taking their reloaded ammunition down to the range. Reloading is currently in the midst of a huge national boom, and we’re happy to be a part of it.

There are multiple reasons for an increase in reloading sales. Ammunition shortages in some states (along with increased costs) are leading many gun owners to investigate reloading for the first time. Interviewed gun owners have cited lower costs, better reliability, and fun as reasons they got into the hobby. Across the United States, gun owners are investing in reloading supplies and setting up small workshops to ensure they are immune from expensive ammunition or ammo shortfalls.

Of course, every boom has a downside. Reloading supplies are harder to find in some locations thanks to the increased demand. That’s one reason that Titan Reloading works hard to keep a full selection of the best and most high-quality reloading supplies in the market in stock. We want our customers to feel comfortable knowing that no matter what type of reloading supplies they need, we’ve got them ready and waiting.

For further information or inquiries about reloading supplies or the reloading hobby, contact us today at 262-244-7023 or visit www.TitanReloading.com. There is no substitute for the self-sufficiency granted by knowing how to create your own ammo.

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What is the Advantage to Reloading?

Titan Reloading

New reloaders are often brought to the hobby by a family member or friend who mentions that reloading is the best way to go when it comes to saving money on ammunition. However, there are many more advantages to investing in reloading supplies beyond the cost savings. While it’s true that reloading represents a lower cost than buying factory ammunition, it’s possible you may find yourself attracted to some of the other main benefits.

Consistency

Factory ammunition is relatively consistent, but not to the degree that professional shooters require. This is why many competition shooters choose to reload their own ammunition. When you reload yourself, you’re fully in charge of every round. This gives you the ability to ensure greater consistency across the board and yields reliable ammunition that performs exactly as you expect.

Accuracy

With greater consistency in your rounds comes greater accuracy. The more consistent your ammunition, the tighter your spread. Working with different load recommendations to find the set up that yields the most accurate ammunition is one of the great joys of the reloading hobby. With the right reloading supplies, you can create ammunition that far outperforms factory ammunition in on-target testing. Reloading is the only way to directly ensure the accuracy of your ammunition.

Sustainability

If there’s ever an issue with the ammunition supply chain, you won’t be left out in the cold. Owning reloading supplies and knowing how to use them ensures you always have access to reliable ammunition regardless of external circumstances such as an ammo shortage or new legislation. Reloading is the only way to be truly self-sufficient as a shooter and as a firearms enthusiast.

Reloading can save you money, but that’s just one of many perks and benefits to this rewarding hobby. For further information or questions about our reloading supplies or kits please contact us at 262-244-7023 or visit www.TitanReloading.com.

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Get Ready for Summer Heat (and Humidity)

Reloading Supplies

Proper storage of your reloading supplies is critical in protecting their performance, ensuring they operate the way they’re supposed to operate, and preventing them from rusting or degrading. We’ve talked previously on the blog about safely storing powders and other supplies along with keeping your workstation clean, but as the seasons shift it’s important to take a moment to focus on another potential reloading danger: humidity.

About Humidity and Reloading

When reloading, you want a little bit of humidity. In a perfectly dry room, you’re encouraging the occurrence of static electric sparks; it’s best to have some humidity to prevent this from happening. However, too much humidity can be a bad thing. According to SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunitions Manufacturers Institute), high humidity paired with large swings in temperature can degrade the performance of your primers. Large temperature changes and high humidity can also degrade your cartridges.

Experienced reloaders have plenty of stories about humidity impacting their work. High humidity has been seen to cause powder clumping, changes in burn rates, and more. Some reloaders have gone so far as to claim different humidity in the loading process can impact the velocity of reloaded ammunition. If you live in an area that is prone to high humidity, it’s best to work indoors when you can and to use a dehumidifier to protect your process. You should also use proper storage containers for all of your reloading supplies to prevent the humidity from hurting them.

You don’t need a completely dry environment — 40-50% humidity is totally fine and actually matches up to recommended storage conditions for some smokeless powders. Just remember that humidity shifts will affect the performance of your ammunition, so you should make an effort to reload at a consistent humidity for consistent performance.

For further information or questions please contact us at 262-244-7023 or visit www.TitanReloading.com.

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Avoiding Lead Exposure

Reloading Supplies

Reloading is a safe hobby when proper safety protocols are observed. However, some of the reloading supplies a reloader deals with do come with hazards and must be treated with care. Lead, for example, has been shown to cause serious harm to the body if exposure is not controlled. All reloaders must be aware of the dangers of lead exposure and should work proactively to limit direct contact with this needed reloading substance.

Here are some general guidelines on avoiding lead exposure during your reloading sessions:

Keep Your Hands Clean

Always wash your hands when you’re finished reloading. You can also wear safety gloves during the reloading process for extra protection. Washing your hands after handling reloading supplies ensures you don’t carry lead around with you for the rest of the day.

No Eating or Drinking

This sounds like common sense, but you shouldn’t be eating or drinking while reloading. Not only does it contaminate your reloading space, it makes it easy to accidentally ingest lead or other harmful chemicals.

Keep Your Space Clean

Use a damp cloth to wipe down your reloading station after every session. No matter how careful you are during the reloading process, lead will slowly accumulate in your workspace. Regular cleaning helps limit exposure by removing this built-up lead before it becomes a problem.

Wear a Mask

If you use a dry tumbler for cleaning your cartridge cases, make sure to wear a mask when you pour the cleaning media out afterward. Lead from your cases accumulates in the dust and can be accidentally inhaled during this step of the process.

Avoiding lead exposure is easy if you’re careful with your reloading supplies and maintain a clean workspace. For further information about reloading supplies or best practices, contact Titan Reloading at 262-244-7023 or visit www.TitanReloading.com.

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Reloading Dangers

lee reloading supplies

At Titan Reloading, we work hard to support the growth of the reloading community and to inspire new shooters to take up the hobby. Reloading is cost-effective, enjoyable, and safe — as long as it is done according to established safety protocols. However, working with your own reloading supplies does carry inherent risks, and it’s important to understand these risks before you start down the reloading path.

Consider the following when determining whether reloading is right for you:

Injuries and Firearm Damage

Double-charging a round or using too much powder can create a dangerous situation that can result in permanent damage to your firearm or personal injury. This is one of many reasons it is recommended you only reload when you can work uninterrupted and with full focus. Old shell casings can crack, working with lead is always slightly risky, and ignoring manufacturer guidelines can create hazardous situations.

Do not start reloading if you’re not prepared to give it your full attention and follow established guidelines.

Reliability

As a rule, reloaded ammunition is more reliable and more accurate than factory ammunition. However, this is only true when the reloader understands the reloading process and uses his or her reloading supplies correctly. Failure to follow instructions could put you in a vulnerable position. You must be ready to accept responsibility for the performance of your ammunition.

Again, reloading is only for people ready to take it seriously and approach it with the proper care.

Titan Reloading offers free reloading clinics every month that cover the basics of reloading supplies and established safe practices. For further information or any questions about reloading, good habits, or how to ensure your ammunition always performs as expected, contact us at 262.244.7023 or visit www.TitanReloading.com.

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A Quick and Easy Reloading FAQ

Reloading is an exciting hobby that gives you more control over your rounds and can even save you money in the long-term. At Titan Reloading, we consider ourselves firm advocates of safe reloading in addition to being providers of high-quality reloading supplies. That’s why we offer free reloading workshops and use our blog as a channel through which to share useful reloading tips.

Today, we’ve compiled a relatively brief FAQ representing some of the most common questions we see from the reloading community.

Is Reloading Cheaper?

Yes and no. In some cases it’s more cost efficient to buy ammo, in others to reload. It depends on what you shoot and how often you shoot. Additionally, reloading takes a considerable amount of time, so it helps if you enjoy the process for what it is. Simply reloading to save money might not be the right approach.

Is Reloading Safe?

Reloading is extremely safe as long as you follow established storage protocols, treat your reloading supplies with respect and adhere to verified load data. Clean workspaces and attention to detail are critical, but most important is sticking to the guidelines that are already available. Reloading, like many hobbies, is as safe as you make it.

Is the Equipment Expensive?

Stocking a full reloading setup can be quite costly, but the expense is largely upfront. Once you have the equipment and reloading supplies you need, you can continue to use that equipment for decades as long as you take proper care of it. The only time you’ll need more equipment is when you decide to start reloading a different ammunition type.

Overall, it’s best to speak with a professional to get an exact idea of what you’ll need and how much it may cost. Titan Reloading is ready to help answer and walk you through any questions you may have. Feel free to contact us at 262.244.7023 or visit www.titanreloading.com for more information.