Pistol Cartridge Reloading How To




Pistol Cartridge Reloading How To

Where do you start? As with any project. A cost analysis should be done. It has been my experience that if you are EXTREMELY diligent in locating components. Then buy in bulk. You will only be able to cut the cost of a box by half. Say a box of 50 is now $40. The most you will save is $20. That might seem a lot but, if the cost of a reloader is $80 to $4500. That’s 4 to 225 boxes just to break even. (200 to 4450 cartridges). That does not include your time or polishing, and manufacturer defects. Plus, I have never purchased components that were consumed equally. There is always a little left-over powder, primers, and projectiles in a batch.


How much time are you going to spend at the range? Are you going every weekend and shooting?

Now that we have jumped over the rational thought process. What type of reloader do you need? A single stage, multi stage or progressive power house. I purchased a Dillion 550 in the late eighties. I never looked to replace it, in the 34 years of use. I have produced thousands of pistol cartridges. The quick change design allows caliber swap with easy. Of course, it’s been maintained with diligence and has a few replacement parts. Which were covered under the lifetime warranty. Most of the problems I've had with it. Were self-induced because I did not clean it and pushed the machine to fast.

What components should you purchase? You need to pick a projectile. Then a recipe for a load. Once you pick a recipe you CAN NOT mix and match other projectiles. You can substitute different powders in accordance with load manual data. You can mix different head stamped brass. You’ll find nowadays that you cannot get the components needed. You will have to compromise. Find something that works. I try to keep it cost effective.


If you ever noticed excess smoke from the barrels of guns at the range, they reload. It’s my opinion the powder is holding excess water. In order to dry the powder. I use a homemade desiccant bag and desiccant cap. The glass preval paint bottle unscrewed, is then placed in the oven to regenerate. If the moisture indicator lays in the powder, it will turn gray. Another homemade tool is a cap that is cut out to slow the rate of powder being dispensed.

Now that we have all the components needed. I hope you bought a reloader. Set the reloader to the manufacturer’s instructions. Set the powder dispenser for the recipe. The powder will compact in the hopper as the machine is operated. Run a few empty cases. Measure the powder drop until the powder charge becomes consistent. Dump the powder back into the hopper.

It is better to inspect all your brass after cleaning and before starting to reload. Distractions during the process will lead to more defective cartridges. Especially look for cracks and debris inside the case. I clean the brass in a corn/walnut media vibrator. With a liquid brass polish added. For one to two hours, depending on how dirty the cases were. You can be real retentive here by measuring and trimming the cases to length. I’ve never measured or trim pistol cases. I set the cartridge overall length on the Dillion to an average length. Then just ran with it.

The sequence for pistol cartridge reloading: Clean and polish Brass De-prime: Push the primer out of the primer pocket. Some machines de-prime and resize the brass at the same time. Reprime: Press a new primer into the primer pocket. Add the powder charge. Seat the projectile. Roll crimp.
Perform a visual inspection. Then check with a cartridge case length/headspace gauge. Disassemble any defectives.

You'll immediately know if you did not pay attention while reloading when you get a squib load. For lack of powder. The projectile will not leave the barrel. The brass will not eject on an auto. A squib rod will be needed to push out the barrel obstruction. The best way to remove the projectile is from the muzzle end, pushing it back to the breach. MAKE SURE THE GUN IS UNLOADED FIRST. DO NOT USE A SCREW DRIVER. IT WILL GOUGE THE BARREL.

REMEMBER YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS!



These writings and website contain my recollections, opinions, and things I’ve done in the past that have been successful for me. They might not work for you! REMEMBER YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS!