How to Prepare a Bullet for Re-Loading

Re-loading ammunition can be a fun hobby or a business. It takes several steps to produce a good bullet. Check used brass to make sure it is in good condition. This is essential for safety and good quality ammunition. Using new brass requires less prep since it's done by casting at a factory.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Clean the brass that you are using to re-load ammunition. Use a corn-cob media (crushed corn cobs) to clean and polish, then put the media in a vibrator or tumbler. This cleans the residue off of the outside as well as the inside of your brass and makes your brass look like new. The dirtier the brass, the longer you keep it in the tumbler.
2. Size the brass to prep for bullet re-loading. Put your sizing die in the top of your press. Lower the handle of the press, making sure you have the correct shell holder in place. Run the die all the way down until it touches the shell plate. Screw the die down ¼ of a turn more and tighten the die. This normally sizes your brass perfectly for the caliber you are re-loading.
3. Prep the primer pocket. Use a small wire brush to clean out the residue. Or, use a primer pocket cleaner that cuts away the residue. Finish this step by cleaning the flash hole of your brass. The flash hole is the hole in the center of the brass where your primer goes. It is critical for this hole to be free of debris in order for your ammunition to discharge properly.
4. Trim your brass to the correct length as you prep each bullet case for re-loading. If the case is not trimmed correctly, it may not close in the gun properly. Find the correct length for your brass by looking up the caliber you're re-loading in a re-loading manual. Deburr the outside portion of the neck of the brass with a deburring tool. Then do the inside.
5. Note that using new brass for re-loading is done in a casting machine. This forms the cartridge to its correct size. Casting is a term used when you mold liquid metals.