Hornady Manufacturing

1. Hornady Manufacturing Reloading 101 Instructor:

2. Reloading 101Class Rules • Ask Questions- as soon as you have them. • There are no stupid questions. • No Smoking. • No food or drink during the hands-on portion of class.

3. Reloading 101 The Basics: • NO SMOKING !!! • No eating or drinking while reloading. • No distractions. • Buy, read and use a reloading manual. • Always label the powder measure. • Never deviate from the loads in the manual.

4. Reloading 101Why Reload? • Reloading is safe. • Reloading is enjoyable. • Reloading allows you to customize your ammunition in many ways. • Reloading gives you total control over the performance of the ammunition. • Loads can be tailored to individual rifles to optimize accuracy.

5. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 1: Sort and inspect cases • Cracked necks • Split bodies • Head separations • Folds in neck or shoulder • Dents • Excessive corrosion

6. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 2: Case Cleaning Dirty cases can: • Can scratch the size die. • Can scratch the chamber of the gun. • Are more prone to sticking in the die. Ways to clean cases: • One at a time with a rag. • In batches by using a vibratory tumbler or Hornady Ultra Sonic Cleaner.

7. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading An example of a vibratory tumbler

8. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 3: Case Length Measurement • When Cases get too long they will not fit in the gun. • Cases stretch or grow when they are sized. • Inconsistent case length makes crimping difficult. Use a Dial Caliper to measure cases:

9. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 4: Case Trimming • If cases are longer than the listed Max. Case length, they will need to be trimmed to the Case Trim Length also listed in the book. • Trim straight wall cases before sizing. • Trim bottleneck cases after sizing. Case Trimmer

10. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 5: Case Chamfering & Deburring • Cases should always be chamfered and deburred after trimming. • Be careful not to remove too much material; just remove any burrs or sharp edges • Chamfering and Deburring makes it easier for the bullet to enter the case. • Chamfer & deburr all cases Chamfer & deburr tool

11. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 6: Case Lubrication • Cases need to be lubed so they don’t seize in the die. • There are a many types of case lube. • It is important not to over lubricate the cases, this can cause oil dents. • Many lubes will contaminate primers and care should be taken to keep lube away from primers. • Some handgun cases do not require lube. • Case lube should be removed from finished ammo before it is fired. Residual lube can increase bolt thrust and cause undue wear to the gun.

12. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Various types of Case Lubrication Paste lube One Shot aerosol Lube pad

13. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 7: Size die set-up • Make sure that the decap pin is protruding from the bottom of the die. (see fig. 1) • The expander ball should not extend past the bottom of the die, as in fig. 2 • When the decap pin is properly positioned, tighten the spindle lock. (fig. 1) (fig. 2)

14. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 8: Adjusting the size die • With the appropriate shell holder in place, raise the ram to the top of the stroke. • Screw the die down until it touches the ram. (see fig. 1) • Tighten the lock ring. (fig. 1)

15. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 9: Priming • Primers contain an explosive compound. • Primers are sensitive to shock, heat, and pressure. • Primers must be stored in their original packaging. • Oil will contaminate primers.

16. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 9: Priming From Left to Right • Primer seated upside down. • Primer seated sideways • Properly seated primer • High primer

17. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 9: Priming Things to remember when priming • Always seat the primer flush or slightly below flush with the base of the case. • Never reuse primers. • Dispose of primers properly. • Never Vacuum primers Primer seater arm

18. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 10: Weighing Powder • A scale can be used to weigh each individual charge or may be used to set a powder measure. • Use of a powder measure is recommended, it will save time. • When using a powder measure, be consistent in the way you operate the rotor. In consistency can cause variation in thrown charge weights. • Check the powder measure often, every 5 or 10 cartridges is not too often.

19. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 10: Weighing Powder • Use scale to adjust the charge that the powder measure throws. Balance scale Powder Measure

20. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 10: Weighing Powder.

21. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 11: Powder Charging Things to keep in mind when charging cases with powder. • Be consistent when operating the powder measure. Variation in operation can lead to variation in charges thrown. • Be careful not to double charge cases. This is more of a concern when loading pistol cartridges as charge weights are much lower and double charges will fit in the case. • Always give the handle an extra tap or two at the bottom of the stroke, this will help make sure all the powder drops into the case. • Keep the powder level in the hopper even. This can effect weight of the charges you are throwing.

22. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 12: Bullet Seating Adjusting the seater die • Insert an empty case in the shell holder and raise the ram to the top of it’s stroke. • Back the seater stem out until you can see the O-ring. • Screw the die body down until it contacts the case mouth. Back the die body off half a turn and tighten the lock ring. • Lower the ram and place a bullet over the case mouth.

23. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 12: Bullet Seating Adjusting the seater die (continued) • Raise the ram back to the top of its stroke. • Screw the seating stem down until it contacts the bullet. • Lower the ram and screw the seating stem down until the desired cartridge overall length is achieved.

24. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 13: Crimping • Loosen the lock ring and back the seating stem off until you can see the O-ring. • Insert a round of ammunition with the bullet seated to the proper depth. If you are loading a cannelured bullet, approximately 2/3 of the cannelure should be covered by the case mouth. • Screw the die body down until you feel contact. Lower the ram slightly and lower the die a fraction of a turn. Raise the ram. You should feel a little resistance as the die crimps the case mouth.

25. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 13: Crimping Reasons for crimping • Crimping will help keep the bullet seated in the proper position. Bullets can be pushed deeper into the case when the gun recoils. This can lead to inaccuracy. • Crimping holds the bullet in the case as the primer ignites the powder charge giving more even pressures and velocities. • Crimping pistol cartridges helps them to feed properly.

26. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 13: Crimping Keep in mind when crimping • A little goes a long way, it’s easy to over do. • Some handgun cartridges use a separate crimp die. Autoloaders often use a taper crimp die, and some heavy recoiling cartridges, like the 454 Casull, use a taper-roll crimp die that puts a very heavy crimp on the case mouth. • Case length will effect crimp once the die is set. Make sure the cases are all a consistent length.

27. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 14: Finishing up • Load one round without powder or primer and make sure that it fits in the magazine and chamber of the gun that you’re loading for. • Seat bullets in the remaining charged cases. • One of the most important parts of reloading is writing down what you did so the loads can be reproduced later.

28. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 14: Finishing up Always record the following information: • Type of Case • Make and model of Primer • Manufacturer, type and amount of powder • Make and model of bullet • Date

29. Reloading 101Steps to Reloading Step 15: Clean up • Return the powder to it’s original container. Leaving powder in the powder measure and exposed to the atmosphere can change it’s properties. • Return extra bullets to their original box. • Wipe any debris off of the dies and shell holder and return them to their box. This helps to prevent corrosion and accidental misplacement. • Return any unused primers to their original factory packaging.

30. Reloading 101Powder Safety & Burn Rate • Smokeless powder is flammable, not explosive. It should be treated with the same respect as chemicals like gasoline. • Powder should always be kept out of the reach of children. • Burn rate is the standard way to describe how reactive a powder is. The faster the burn rate, the more reactive the powder.

31. Reloading 101Powder Safety & Burn Rate • Powder should always be stored in it’s original container. • Powder has a good shelf life, however if it is exposed to the atmosphere or subjected to extreme heat or cold it’s properties can change. • Always store powder in a cool, dry area out of sunlight.