Category: Reloading Supplies

One of the most basic understandings about reloading is that using the wrong cartridge and primer can result in injury to yourself and possibly people around you. Incorrectly loaded ammo can also be unreliable during an emergency.

A first step in safety is understanding the equipment and reloading supplies that you are working with. We offer an entire video library to help you reload safely and get the most from the experience. With an understanding of the equipment, you’ll be ready to begin the hands-on process by following these basic safety rules.

Safety Glasses and Gear

As you wear safety glasses at the gun range, you also need to wear them when reloading. Probably the most obvious reason is in case of an accidental primer explosion. If you wear prescription or reading glasses, there are safety glasses (with side shields) that fit over your regular glasses. In addition to the risk of a primer explosion, other operations such as pressures applied by presses can eject metal shavings and powder as shrapnel. Safety glasses should be a requirement for everyone in the room while you are reloading. Gloves should be worn as protection from sharp tools, pinch points, and chemicals found in reloading supplies. It’s also a good practice to wear a protective apron.

Clean and Organized Reloading Space

You only want the equipment and reloading supplies on your workbench that you need for the tasks at hand. Make sure that your workspace is clean and spacious before the next session, not only for safety purposes, but for efficiency and time. Furthermore, it is in your best interest to properly label containers to avoid accidentally mixing materials.

• Clean up any spills immediately.
• Allow only one canister of powder and primer type on the bench at a time.
• Powder and primers should be kept in their original containers. Clearly label these if using another container and discard anything you can’t identify.

Pay Attention to Details

Give reloading your complete, undivided attention, and make time to do it right. Clear the area of TV, phone, and visitors. Have your manuals and handbooks for every bullet you are reloading – never guess. Reloading is a precision process that requires you to follow instructions including load data and equipment setup instructions. Of course, no alcohol or drugs.

Keep Primers and Powder Away from Heat Sources

Think about any possible source of ignition. Any heat source can set off primers and powder including electrical sparks from power tools, open flames, and smoking. One of the wisest safety steps you can take is storing powder and primers away from all other equipment and reloading supplies (preferably in a different room and in fire-resistant containers like an ammo can). Don’t store primers in bulk because a few hundred primers going off at the same time can be the same as a hand grenade. Handle loaded primer tubes with care – a dropped tube can explode(primers should not be stored in tubes).Additionally, primers and powder should be stored away from extreme heat, cold, and humidity that can affect how they function.

Reloading Scale

Again, reloading requires precision from which a safe and accurate powder scale is required. Never use a food scale, postage scale, or any other scale not intended to weigh powder. Clean your scale before each reloading session and calibrated it regularly. It should be “zeroed” before each session. Calibrate and zero it if is bumped, jarred, or whenever the accuracy is questionable.

Avoid Lead Exposure

Lead exposure is known to cause severe medical issues. Your body accumulates lead over time and is not efficient at filtering it back out. Most primers and bullets contain lead. It can also accumulate on your equipment and workspace. Good hygiene is a best practice to protect yourself from lead.

• Wash hands after handling ammunition materials and after shooting.
• Don’t eat or drink while reloading.
• Don’t touch your face.
• Ensure proper ventilation and avoid inhaling reloading room dust.
• Use a face mask when cleaning up and emptying cases.
• Avoid reloading in carpeted areas because carpet collects lead particles and results in potentially dangerous static electricity.

Use Manuals and Keep Records

Manuals and handbooks have already been mentioned for a good reason. They provide specific instructions for caliber recipes. It’s essential to follow instructions to the letter. Leave experimentation to the professionals. Published data is FACT. If you are new to reloading, use only beginning to moderate loads until you gain experience with the cartridge, your firearm, and your loading equipment. You want to use current data because over time components change. Keep records of each lot that you reload and use starting loads before working up to the maximum in increments. Your records should include test results for each incremental step.

Keep the manual open to the cartridge type and size you are reloading for quick and easy reference during the process.

More Safety Procedures

By following the basics, you can expect to be safe and productive when reloading. But there is always more you can do for safety such as securely fastening equipment to your workbench, so a press doesn’t fall on your foot. And…

• Keep reloading supplies and components out of the reach of children.
• Educate yourself before trying a load you don’t have experience with.
• Create and follow a safety checklist for each load that you manufacture.
• Use a powder check system, either visual or manual, to make sure your bullets are not double charged or under-charged.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy in the event of accidental ignition.
• Clean your reloading press and maintain it regularly.
• Clean up spilled powered immediately and don’t reuse spilled powder.
• Don’t force primers under any circumstance after beginning the reloading process.
• Think before doing anything that you haven’t done before.
• Always make enough time to observe proper safety precautions.

Reloading is as Safe as You Make It

Safety is all about learning what to do, what NOT to do, and having the discipline to do it right.

Titan Reloading is dedicated to helping novice and veteran shooting enthusiasts safely and properly reload their own ammunition every time. If you follow these tips, you’ll have a great experience while avoiding harm or malfunctions to yourself and equipment.

Titan Reloading wants to be part of your reloading experience. You’ll find a constantly updated stream of insights and tips from our blogs, newsletters, help videos, and FAQs.

Titan Reloading is a Master Distributor of Reloading Supplies & Equipment online. Choose from Lee Precision, Dillon, Hornady, Redding, Mec, & Lyman. For more information and to shop our online store please visit www.TitanReloading.com or contact Titan Reloading the Master Distributor of Lee Precision reloading equipment & supplies at 262.397.8819.

Millions of new people have taken up shooting in the past year or so. Millions more have been buying ammunition and reloading supplies at record rates. All at the same time that COVID-19 reduced the output of supplies and equipment. The shelves might be close to bare at the moment but the scarcity could be ending soon.

If you are being impacted by these shortages, one of the best things you can do is have the ability to reload your own ammo in case your favorite ammo is again in short supply. If 2020 was the year of record gun sales, 2021 is going to be the year of record ammo sales.

When the shelves are bare, it’s a darn good feeling to be able to reach for your own pound of powder, a box of bullets, and some primers to load your own. Having a good set of reloading dies, some components, and a reliable manual makes it possible to keep shooting the same cartridges for years to come.

Reloading also gives you knowledge that you can’t get by using only factory rounds. Using only factory ammunition means not having hands-on knowledge of bullet components. You’re unlikely to learn the intricacies and the importance of consistent bullet weights and how it affects accuracy. You won’t be aware of the powder types suitable for a particular cartridge.

Knowledge of reloading supplies and several special loads gives you multiple options beyond the factory offered combinations. If you need or want a particular bullet, type or weight, or powder not factory offered for your cartridge, reloading is the quickest and best way to solve that problem. You can use commonplace bullets when available at an attractive price or go with something of your own choosing. You can also hand load the best bullets money can buy. You can improve accuracy by sizing only the case’s neck. By reloading, you call the shots and have a lot more possible solutions to any ammo shortage.

Once you’ve loaded your own ammunition, you’ll never look at factory ammunition the same again.

Reloading is in Your Future

Experience, knowledge, and the right reloading supplies are how you increase your options and improve accuracy with any rifle or handgun. You can fine-tune (or detune) individual rounds for an almost endless combination of bullet/cartridge/velocity to fit your needs in this moment or your needs in the future. We’re all in the same predicament trying to keep up our ammo supplies today. We also know that the industry will again match supply with demand even at a higher level of demand. But the future will surely bring new causes for shortages. You want to have options when it comes to keeping your guns loaded. If you have always relied on factory ammo, now is the time to begin learning how to reload and stocking reloading supplies.

Let us hear about. Titan Reloading wants to be part of your reloading experience. Share your ammo reloading tips and stories at mailto:dennis@titanreloading.com. You’ll find a constantly updated stream of insights and tips from our blogs, newsletters, help videos, and FAQs.

Titan Reloading is a Master Distributor of Reloading Supplies & Equipment. Choose from Lee Precision, Dillon, Hornady, Redding, Mec, & Lyman. For further information and/orto shop and peruse our online store please visit www.TitanReloading.com or contact Titan Reloading at 262.397.8819 with any questions.

All of us feel it. The volatile political climate, physical threats from the virus, and economic turbulence.

We’ve implemented important changes to assure we deliver the best possible customer service during this time. Titan Reloading has suspended all international shipping due to unpredictable deliveries. Also, we have temporarily suspended all Back-ordering and Pre-ordering due to unpredictable stock availability. Importantly, we have implemented our ‘Notify System‘ found in every listing to keep you updated when the reloading supplies and equipment you want are back in stock.

At times like these, many people are doing a lot more target practice. At the same time, people are building up their supply of finished ammo and ordering more reloading supplies. Furthermore, more people have decided to begin reloading and to start with basic equipment and supplies.

It’s been a near-perfect storm of influences causing the reloading supplies shortage. There are a lot more of us getting started with shooting. The FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Checks (NICS) system never captures all of the firearms sold but it does show how high the trend has been for more than a year. In 2019, the NICS recorded a total of 28,369,750 background checks. For 2020, there were 39,695,315 background checks. That’s 11,325,565 more firearms sold in 2020 than in 2019. January 2021 shows this very rapid pace accelerating even faster with an additional 4,317,804 monthly background checks. This is a new monthly high with only the last few months of 2020 coming anywhere near this many. The demand for ammo and reloading supplies continues to skyrocket.

But the shortage isn’t only caused by high demand. Raw materials and manufacturing have also been limited. It begins all of the way back at the mines for raw materials. When the economy shut down, so did mining operations for everything from copper, to lead, and most other raw materials. Some of these raw materials come from overseas where mining operations were shut down by major COVID 19 outbreaks.

When Will Reloading Supplies Be Readily Available Again?

Manufacturers tell us that they are making every effort to increase the supply but this all started during a manufacturing down cycle. A few smaller manufacturers had even gone out of business. The bigger ones had reduced operations.

It will take time. Probably a long time before demand and supply will find a new balance.All of this is happening as demand far outpaces full capacity manufacturing. Along this timeline, there will be more newcomers and everybody will start shooting more than they have been during the shortage.

Some other experts expect the shortage to lessen this spring. Others say towards the end of the year. But no one knows for sure. While we all work through the shortage, as Titan Reloading will do its best to keep prices down and supplies in stock for all. Your best action is using our ‘Notify System’ found in every listing for in stock updates.

Titan Reloading is a Master Distributor of Reloading Supplies & Equipment online. Choose from Lee Precision, Dillon, Hornady, Redding, Mec, & Lyman. For further information and/or to shop our online store please visit www.TitanReloading.com or contact Titan Reloading at 262.397.8819 or email dennis@titanreloading.com with any questions.

 

If you’re ready to start long-range reloading, you should already have the basic equipment and reloading supplies ready to go.

Precision long-range cartridges are best loaded one at a time. The Redding Big Boss 2 is a top of the line single station press that has the largest window opening and longest usable ram stroke of any in its class.

One thing that we are certain is that you have brass that has already been fired and is ready to prep and reload. Before going hands-on, it’s a good idea to read the directions and helpful guidelines, as noted below, a few times to be sure you are confident in your reloading.

Step 1: Start by cleaning your already fired brass in a tumbler using a media like Lyman Corncob Media Medium. Include some brass cleaner to improve the cleaning and extend the life of the media, as well as your reloading supplies.

Step 2: When you take the cases out of the tumbler, be sure to remove all of the media from each case. This includes cleaning the inside of the case neck with a case brush to get out any remaining powder and media residue.

Step 3: De-prime your brass using a de-capping die or universal de-capping tool. Before you insert the case into the die, be sure to sufficiently lubricate it.

If you have a match die set that includes both de-capping and full-length sizing as a single operation, steps 3 and 5 will be combined.

Step 4: Taking note of the SAAMI specifications (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute), use a primer pocket uniformer to cut the primer pocket to the correct depth. Don’t skip this step because it’s critical for the proper seating of the primer. Also, use a flash hole deburring tool to clear and clean the flash hole from inside the case. Check the flash hole in the primer pocket to make sure that it is completely clear.

Step 5: Resize the full length of the case using match dies. This is a piece of equipment that you may need to spend a few extra dollars on for long-range reloading. The Redding Type S Match FL Die Set with titanium nitride coated bushing is critical if you want maximum accuracy in your reloads. (As a reminder, be sure your cases are properly lubricated before using the full-length die to avoid sticking.)

Step 6: Use your micrometer to measure the case neck. For many cases, you’ll need to turn it down to original tolerances using a neck turning tool.

Step 7: On to the case length. You’ll need a set of calipers and a case trimmer. You shouldn’t have any problem getting the case length back to specification at increments of 0.001”.

Step 8: You need to deburr the mouth of the case and a chamfer is recommended to ease the fitting of very-long-drag (VLD) and boat-tail bullets.

Step 9: You’re now ready to prime your prepared case. Use a hand priming tool and be careful not to compress the primer. But do make sure that it is seated level in the bottom of the pocket.

Step 10: You’re close to a precision long-range load. Now, select your powder, pick your load, and charge the cases.

Step 11: Using the correct bullet for your caliber, seat it to the desired depth. Recommended is a match grade seating die, like the Redding Competition Seating Die. Follow your manual for details about bullet seating.

These are the steps to precision reloading for long-range shooting. As you become an expert, you may find that you prefer slightly altering the sequence of the steps. But this is the most common sequence.

The equipment and reloading supplies that you select are critical to your load development. However, there is nothing like spending time on the range experimenting with different powder loads and bullets to perfect the best cartridge for your specific rifle. Two experimenting methods that you might want to check out are the Incremental Load Development Method (aka “Ladder Test”) and Load Development System (Optimal Charge Weight). Altogether, this creates the recipe that will have your buddies asking for your secrets.

Titan Reloading is a Master Distributor of Reloading Supplies & Equipment online. Choose from Lee Precision, Dillon, Hornady, Redding, Mec, & Lyman. For more information and to shop our online store please visit www.TitanReloading.com or contact Titan Reloading at 262.397.8819 with any questions.

Many people take up reloading because of the financial incentive. But with experience and by experimenting with different reloading supplies, you’ll soon come to appreciate the improved accuracy compared to factory rounds.

The basic fact is that no two guns are the same. Manufacturers develop round specifications to “best fit” as many different guns as possible. Hand loading not only allows you to fine-tune rounds to your make and model, but with practice you’ll fine-tune your rounds to match both your individual gun and the specific type of shooting that you’ll be doing with those rounds.

Why Hand loading Is More Accurate

It can’t be denied that it takes time to perfect rounds for your gun. But with a little coaching from guys that came before you, the amount of time will be greatly reduced. In a nutshell, what you want to accomplish is matching the best powder, primer, case, and bullet for your gun along with a careful and consistent process to load each round. It’s all about your choice of reloading supplies and process.

None of that happens with factory ammo. Each gun manufacture has different tolerances for the gun barrel and chamber. Some chambers are tighter than others and the free bore varies. Factory ammo is made to fit the tightest chamber and the shortest free bore. If they didn’t, their rounds will fail to chamber in some rifles. Factory ammo is not designed or made to shoot well from your specific rifle.

Precision Makes Perfect

Once you nail down the reloading supplies and process that you use, there are more advanced steps that you can take to further improve your results with hand loading. Some of these will further improve your performance or some might not fit your individual needs. As you progress from novice, to intermediate, to expert, you’ll find more precision techniques to improve your rounds.

• Determine the free bore of your rifle so that you can seat bullets with a consistent COL (cartridge overall length) within 0.02” of the rifling (some people allow .010” to .040″ jump to the lands). Minimizing bullet jump improves accuracy.
• After firing a round in your rifle, the case forms to match your chamber. That neck sizing improves your accuracy. However, after several firings, you will need to resize the full length to move the shoulder back slightly.
• Another advanced technique is separating rounds based on the case and bullet weights. The advantage over factory ammo is that allowable factory tolerances can be two or three grains above or below the stated weight.
• Other advanced techniques include neck-turning (making the thickness of the neck even all-round), a uniform/consistent primer pocket, and a uniform flash-hole.

For the Best Results, Measure Consistently

You might be surprised how frequently factory loadings change from lot to lot. This is a big advantage with hand loading when the process is to carefully measure everything. Using the same reloading supplies and process, you are able to achieve the same results time and time again even after hundreds or thousands of rounds.

The more you track the performance of your reloading supplies and fine-tune your process, the more impressed you’ll be with the results. If you’re still not positive that hand loading is more accurate do a simple test. Fire a series of five-shot groups with both factory and hand loaded ammo to see which is more accurate. If you have it right, you should find that the hand loaded ammo produces smaller groups. Results will vary but by using the right reloading supplies it’s common for hand loads to have an average group size around 0.6 MOA. Run of the mill factory ammo will likely produce> 2 MOA groups.

Titan Reloading is a Master Distributor of Reloading Supplies & Equipment online. Choose from Lee Precision, Dillon, Hornady, Redding, Mec, & Lyman. For more information and to shop our online store please visit www.TitanReloading.com or contact Titan Reloading at 262.397.8819 with any questions.