This page is under development but will outline the key steps we use in Rifle Reloading. There are some great books out there and youtube channels for those looking for more detailed information. I’ll provide links to a couple of resources at the bottom.
This is somewhat optional, but I prefer removing the spent primer prior to any work on the press to keep my dies clean.Once the batch is deprimed, I give them a quick 15 minute tumble to remove any dirt or grit.Summer sun works great for drying.Once dry, I like using a ziplock bag to contain the brass and case lube. I spray, toss a bit, spray again, toss a bit more then a final spray and shake and bake to distribute the case lube. Time to resize. I tend to set my resizing die to have about 1/4 turn past touching the shell holder to give a slight cam-over. This varies by cartridge and rifle so check using your own parameters.All resized and ready for trimming.I’ve used everything from a bench precision hand trimmer to a World’s Finest Trimmer and a World’s Cheapest Trimmer. It is all a matter preference and how much precision you need.Once all trimmed, it’s time to clean up the case mouth with a quick chamfer and deburr.Hard to tell in this picture but the case mouth is pretty nasty after trimming.It’s hard to tell in this picture but these last steps really make seating your bullet much easier.After the resize, trim, chamfer and deburr, I like to give my brass one final wash to get the lube and brass shavings off. Maybe another 15-20 minutes does the job.Texas summers work wonders for outdoor drying. Be 100% certain that all your brass is dry before going on to the next step. Time to seat some primers!Time to seat some bullets!I picked up this dry erase board on a whim and it has been a great way to jot down my intended testing plan. The first 3 characters like OU1 are my own naming convention to help me keep track of how I’ve loaded my batches.If I’ve loaded a combo before that I like, I’ll keep a reference case without primer or powder to help me get my seating die close and only need fine tuning.I use a sharpie to label the case in the event that I get my cartridges out of order somehow.And ready to go do a first pass of testing!
There is obviously so much more to this and I’ll refine over time. If you have any questions or suggestions, please drop a comment.
Also here are some great resources for more detailed information:
