Tag: reloading supplies

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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.

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Simple Tips for Accurate Ammunition

Accurate Ammunition

One of the most common reasons shooters start reloading their own ammo is to increase the accuracy of their rounds. Factory ammunition is accurate to a point, but if you’re attempting to move up to competition-level shooting or want greater control of how your rounds perform, reloading is likely your best option. Using your own reloading supplies to create your rounds is a solid strategy for creating rounds that fire accurately and, most importantly, consistently.

If you’re new to the world of reloading, here are some simple tips for making more accurate rounds:

Start with Established Loads

Search the web for information on your rifle or handgun. There’s a veritable treasure trove of information out there for reloaders that can help you cut the guesswork and narrow down the most accurate loads quickly and efficiently. Search through powder manufacturer’s data and reloading manuals to start yourself off on the right foot.

Use the Right Tools

You’ve probably noticed that there’s a never-ending list of necessary tools for perfect reloading. The right tools have a major impact on your ability to create highly accurate rounds. For example, using tools like a COL gauge and bullet comparator, you can determine the optimal bullet seating depth for your rounds. Perfect bullet seating gives you less wobble in your rounds and more accuracy overall. Equip yourself with the necessary tools for success.

Ask Questions

There’s nothing wrong with being new! You’ll find plenty of great reloading communities both on the web and locally — Titan Reloading offers a free reloading clinic every month. Meeting with other reloaders and asking questions is a great way to capitalize on the experience of others.

Titan Reloading is here to help, for more information or inquiries please visit www.titanreloading.com or contact us at 262-244-7023.

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Safety Tips for New Reloaders

Reloading tips

When executed properly, reloading is a perfectly safe hobby that yields reliable, accurate ammunition. However, there are certain dangers to working with the flamable powders and other materials involved in the reloading process. Reloading supplies are intended for use by experienced, educated reloaders who understand the safety hazards and take the practice seriously enough to mitigate them.

If you’re new to the world of reloading, consider the following safety tips as you prepare your reloading supplies:

Powder Type – Never mix smokeless powder with black powder. Never substitute one for the other. Modern ammo usually uses smokeless powder that is more powerful than older powder solutions. Know what type you’re working with and keep your powders separate.

Follow Directions – Follow all reloading recommendations exactly to avoid creating a safety hazard for yourself and other shooters. Never exceed the recommended reloading data.

Learn the Reasons – To be a good reloader, you need to understand the “why” of what you’re doing. If you don’t know why you’re performing a certain step, take time to understand it by researching the process or attending a class. Reloading supplies are engineered to be used in a very specific order.

Don’t Be Careless – Don’t smoke while you reload. Wear safety glasses. Keep your reloading supplies away from heat, sparks, and flames. Don’t eat while you’re working with lead. Common sense safety practices go a long way.

Keep it Clean – A clean, organized reloading work bench is a safe one. Keep your workspace uncluttered and place all components in labeled and sealed containers that make it easy to identify what you’re working with.
For more information or questions about reloading supplies and their safe use, please contact us at 262-244-7023or visit www.titanreloading.com.

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Gift Ideas for Reloaders

Titan Press Covers

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means it’s time to start making your shopping list (and checking it twice). The easiest people to buy for are always those with hobbies; if you have a reloader in your family or circle of friends- you can’t go wrong with reloading supplies. We at Titan Reloading know that the reloading hobby can seem confusing from the outside, so we’ve cooked up this short list of easy gift options that any reloader will love.

Press Covers

Titan Reloading’s press covers are made from heavy cloth and are designed to fit neatly over a reloading press to prevent dust buildup and exposure to the elements. We have press covers for a wide range of presses; covers are designed to fit a press with mounted accessories just to ensure they’re as convenient as possible.

Shooting Accessories

Most reloaders are also avid shooters. Thus, shooting accessories make incredible gifts. Try the Sonic Boom exploding target for a bit of destructive fun, or a Jammit target stand to make shooting practice even easier. For the precision shooters in your life, the MTM K-Zone shooting rest is a powerful tool in sighting rifles and improving accuracy and Competition Electronics’ Pro Chrono Digital helps analyze individual shots for differences in velocity, standard deviation, and spread.

Bullet Molds

If you’re a bit more familiar with the type of reloading your loved one traditionally does, bullet molds can make an excellent gift. Titan Reloading stocks bullet molds for all sorts of ammunition types including buckshot, slugs, bullets, black powder, and more. If you need help picking the right mold, contact our friendly support staff or stop by the store.

Books

Titan Reloading is a big fan of the Lee Modern Reloading Manual, something many would consider the prime book on reloading and reloading supplies. If the reloader in your family doesn’t already have a copy of this book they will certainly be delighted to find it in their stocking Christmas morning.

For more information about our reloading supplies please visit www.titanreloading.com or contact us at 262-244-7023.

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Properly Storing Your Reloaded Ammunition

Reloaded ammunition

Reloading supplies are just one part of a successful reloading hobby. For most reloaders, the fun comes down at the range when testing out their reloaded rounds. Professional and competitive shooters reload for increased accuracy; others do it for greater control over their equipment or simply to save money. Whatever your reason for reloading, it’s important to remember that proper storage of ammunition plays a big role in successful shooting days and a safe working environment.

Here are some basic tips for storing ammo:

Control the Temperature
Your ammunition can handle regular, moderate temperatures, but will falter under extreme heat or long-term temperature fluctuations. Don’t leave your ammo in the car or anywhere else it might be exposed to catastrophic heat. Try to keep your ammo in a temperature-controlled area just to be on the safe side.

Control the Humidity
Humidity is a massive threat to your ammunition. Anywhere moisture is encouraged can prove to be a terrible environment for ammo storage. Corrosion is one factor here, but so is the way humidity affects the size and shape of your brass. When storing ammo, dry is definitely the environment you want to strive for.

Control the Access
Ammunition isn’t going to jump up and shoot someone, but does contain harmful chemicals that could cause problems for pets and children. If your reloading station is in your garage or home, invest in lockable storage containers for all of your supplies and ammo. Controlling who can access your gear protects both the people and animals in your house and the gear and ammo itself.

Overall, storing ammunition isn’t too complicated. Keep it dry and prevent it from seeing extremely high temperatures and it should last for years. Follow the same rules in storing your reloading supplies and you’ll fully protect your hobby and your investments. For more information about reloading supplies or maintenance questions please contact us at 262.244.7023 or visit www.titanreloading.com.

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Gun Range Etiquette for New Reloaders

about Reloading Supplies

Heading down to the range to fire off your first collection of reloaded ammunition is a big day. You’ll probably feel a healthy mix of anxiety and excitement as you step up to the firing line. It’s not uncommon for new reloaders to worry that their ammunition might not fire correctly, or that other shooters will notice irregularities with their ammunition. Luckily, you can put most of those worries aside. As long as you show strong gun range etiquette, other shooters won’t take much notice of you or your reloaded ammunition.

Follow All Posted Rules
Using reloading supplies to pack your own ammunition does not exempt you from a gun range’s policies nor does it make you more knowledgeable than any other person at the range. Treat staff and customers with respect and understand that the rules apply to everyone. If you notice another shooter violating safety protocols, alert an employee rather than sparking a direct confrontation (unless there is an immediate and severe danger).

Listen to the Range Supervisor
The range supervisor, also called a range officer, is there to keep you and your fellow shooters safe. Follow his directions exactly as specified. Ignoring the range supervisor is not just a safety hazard — it could get you banned from the range. You are responsible for your actions at the range, but the range supervisor’s job is coordinating everyone’s actions for increased safety.

Contact the Range Before Showing Up
Not all gun ranges permit personally reloaded ammunition. It’s a good idea to call around to find out which local gun ranges are okay with you bringing your own ammo. And remember, just because the spent brass found around a range seems like a good way to grab free reloading supplies, some ranges have specific rules regarding whether customers are allowed to collect it. It’s always better to ask first.

It is your sole responsibility to learn the rules of any gun range and work to stay within them. Rules exist to prevent accidents and to ensure the safety of all shooters and observers. Working with reloading supplies does give you a deeper understanding of firearms, but does not exempt you from basic range etiquette. For more information or reloading supplies please visit www.TitanReloading.com or contact us at 262.244.7023 with any questions.

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Rules of Safe Gun Handling

Gun Safety Rules

At Titan Reloading, we’re big believers in your Second Amendment rights. We believe that carrying a firearm is one of the absolute best ways to protect yourself and your family from harm. Generally speaking, people seeking reloading supplies are experienced enough with firearms to handle them safely and with common sense. However, it’s always worth reiterating some of the core rules of safe gun handling — we see frequent accident reports that could have been avoided had these rules been followed.

Firearm Management

Firearms should only be loaded when you are prepared to use them, either via concealed/open carry or at the shooting range. At home, store your weapons and ammunition separately in a safe area that children cannot access. Your firearms are your responsibility. Your reloading supplies should also be stored in a secure location.

Pointing the Gun

The most important rule in firearm safety is this: Never, ever point a gun at something you are not intending to shoot. The muzzle of your weapon should always be aimed in a safe direction. Accidents can and do happen; you can avoid them with proper muzzle direction. Always assume a weapon is loaded and hot.

Trigger Discipline

Watch movies or television and you can tell the difference between trained shooters and actors pretending to know how to handle a weapon. Keep your trigger finger away from the trigger until it is time to pull — your finger should always be outside of the trigger guard unless you are actively shooting. Don’t be afraid to correct poor trigger discipline of friends and family.

Double-Check Your Target

Remember that bullets move at extremely high velocity and will often penetrate their targets. Know what’s in front of you, but also know what’s behind your target. You are responsible for the rounds fired, regardless of your intentions. Checking behind your target is a simple step that can avoid major problems.

Take a Firearms Safety Class

Regardless of your level of shooting experience, a firearms safety class can teach you how to handle a weapon, how to clear jams and other problems, and how to clean and maintain your weapons in between uses. Unless you’ve been trained in some official capacity (via the military or the police, for example), you will learn new things in a safety class.

Titan Reloading considers itself a member of the greater shooting community and hopes that all reloaders will act safely and responsibly when handling their weapons. For more information or to attend one of our classes please visit www.TitanReloading.com or contact us at 262.244.7023.