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Old 01-09-2003 | 10:02 PM
  #7  
hornetguy
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Allen Texas USA
Default RE: Warning! Rookie alert.

I guess first of all, do you have it fixed in your mind what the basic steps of reloading a centerfire cartridge are? If not, then read the first part of the manuals... preferrably all of them, to get the same lesson presented to you in several different ways. The way I see it is basically this... to turn a fired case into a loaded cartridge, you need to:
Resize the case... squeeze it down to its original dimensions. Anything other than straight-walled cases must be lubricated before sizing.. the straight-walled ones don't need it, if you have carbide sizing dies..if not, lube them.
Knock out the spent primer... this usually happens when you size the case.
Put a new primer back in the case...seated fully to the bottom of the primer pocket. Try not to touch the primer with anything oily (like your fingers, etc..) oil kills primers. Primers can also explode... be careful with them.
Put a correct charge of powder in the case. For most pistol cartridges, the case mouth should be slightly flared, or "belled" before putting the powder in. This "belling" allows the bullet to be seated more easily.
Seat the bullet in the case, crimp it if necessary. Crimping is usually done on pistol cartridges, and rifle cartridges that will be used in a semi-auto rifle, or perhaps a rifle with a tubular magazine, like a lever action.
That's the basic steps. You can load shootable ammo just by doing these steps. You can elaborate on any of the steps by any number of ways, such as, trimming the cases to a uniform length, chamfering the case mouth, deburring the primer flash-hole, uniforming the primer pocket, cleaning the primer pocket after the old primer is knocked out, tumbling (cleaning) the brass cases, etc...... start out knowing the basics, and add your own personal touches as you go, and your knowledge develops. Ask any question, anytime... listen to ALL the answers before you make up your mind... mostly, be safe, and enjoy the sport.....

"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness..those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Santayana
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