HOW TO GUIDE to Reloading Ammo for PRS, by Area419
Achieving precision in rifle ammunition requires a systematic approach and careful execution of each step. This guide outlines the essential procedures, from brass preparation to final ammunition storage, ensuring consistency and performance.
1. Brass Preparation
The foundation of accurate ammunition lies in meticulously prepared brass.
- Cleaning: The preferred method for cleaning brass involves dry tumbling with corn cob or walnut media, often with an additive like Flitz's Polish. This method is favored over wet tumbling, which can lead to issues such as pin retention within the cases or damage to the case necks.
- Annealing: Annealing the brass after each cleaning cycle is highly recommended. This process softens the brass, leading to consistent hardness across all cases, extending the lifespan of the case necks, and ensuring consistent neck tension for bullet seating.
- Sizing: Full-length sizing is generally preferred over neck sizing to maintain optimal consistency. This step involves lubricating the cases and carefully setting up a sizing die to bump the shoulder back to the appropriate dimension, ensuring proper chambering.
- Trimming: Depending on the cartridge and how much the brass has grown, trimming may be necessary. A draw trimmer is used to trim the case to the correct length, followed by chamfering and deburring the case mouth to ensure smooth bullet seating and prevent damage.
- Visual Inspection: A critical final step in brass preparation is to visually inspect each case thoroughly for any obstructions, cracks, or other damage before proceeding to priming.
2. Priming
The primer is the ignition source for the propellant. Proper seating is crucial for reliable ignition. Various tools are available, including handheld and bench-mounted priming units. After seating, it's vital to visually inspect that each primer is correctly seated to the proper depth and orientation.
3. Charging
While determining precise charge weights is beyond the scope of this guide (always consult powder manufacturer's starting load data), the process of dispensing powder is critical. Using an auto trickler ensures precise powder charges. It is essential to visually inspect every charged case to prevent dangerous double charges or spills.
4. Seating Projectiles
Proper bullet seating depth significantly impacts accuracy.
- Finding the Lands: A common method to determine where the bullet engages the rifling (the lands) involves using the rifle's bolt and an unprimed case with a seated bullet.
- Setting Seating Depth: Once the lands are identified, the seating die is set to achieve the desired seating depth, typically measured as an offset from the lands.
- Seating Bullets: The final step involves seating the bullets into the charged cases, a straightforward process once the die is correctly set.
5. Aftercare
Once ammunition is loaded, proper aftercare ensures its longevity and safety. This includes marking brass for identification, wiping down loaded rounds to remove any residue, and storing ammunition correctly in hard cases or specialized soft products, especially when transporting for travel.
Important Safety Note:
Reloading involves inherent dangers. Always adhere to safety guidelines and strictly follow the recommendations provided by powder and component manufacturers.