Step By Step Reloading - Close window to return to RCBS

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Step By Step Reloading

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1. Clean and Check
Using a soft cloth, wipe each case clean to prevent dirt from scratching the case and resizing the die. Inspect the case for anything that would keep it from being safely reloaded, such as split case mouths, case head separations, excessive bulges and other case defects. Any case found defective should be thrown away.

2. Lubricate the Cases (Part 1)
Because of the force involved, you'll need to lubricate the cases before they go into a sizer die. Spread some lube on the pad and lubricate the body of the case. If you're using a carbide sizer die for reloading straight-wall pistol cases, you can eliminate this step. The carbide ring in the sizer die is so smooth that cases simply can't get stuck in the die.

3. Lubricate the Case (Part 2)
Clean dirt and powder residue from inside case necks and simultaneously add a light coating of case lube with a case neck brush. This will reduce the resizing effort and prevent excess working of the brass. Roll the brush across the lube pad after every three or four cases for just the right amount.

4. Install the Shell Holder
Snap a shell holder into the press ram with a slight twisting motion. The shell holder will securely grip the head of the cartridge case. Check out our latest catalog or see your local dealer for help in selecting the correct shell holder.

5. Install the Sizer Die
Thread the sizer die into the press until the die touches the shell holder when the ram is at the top of the press stroke. Raise the press handle and turn the die down another one-eigth to one-quarter of a turn and set the large lock ring. If you're using a carbide sizer die, leave a 1/16" gap between the bottom of the die and the shell holder.

6. Insert the Case
With the press handle in the uppermost position slide the case into the shell holder.

7. Resize the Case
Gently but firmly lower the press handle all the way to the bottom and run the case all the way into the sizer die. This will resize the case to the proper dimension and push the fired primer out of the case. Next, raise the press handle. This will lower the case and expand the case mouth (on bottle-neck cartridges), correctly setting the case neck diameter to hold the bullet tightly.

8. Check the Case Length and Trim if Necessary
After several firings, cases sometimes stretch and become longer than the specified maximum length. These cases must be trimmed to allow for proper chambering and for safety reasons. The trimmer works like a small lathe and can be used to trim most cases up through 45 caliber.

9. Chamfer and Deburr
Cases that have been trimmed need to also be chamfered and deburred. This will remove any burrs left on the case after trimming and will allow a new bullet to be easily seated into the case. Insert the pointed end of the Deburring Tool into the case to remove burrs and chamfer the case mouth. Fit the other end over the case mouth to remove exterior burrs.

10. Expand the Case Mouth
Because of their design, straight-wall cases need to be expanded in a separate expander die. Install the expander die in the press, place a sized case in the shell holder and run it into the die. The expander should be adjusted so the case mouth is belled outward just enough to accept the new bullet.

11. Prime the Case (Part 1)
Use the Primer Tray-2 for fast, easy primer handling. To use, first scatter primers onto the grooved surface of the tray. Then, shake the tray horizontally until all the primers are positioned anvil side up.

12. Prime the Case (Part 2)
Place a fresh primer, anvil side up, into the cup of the primer arm and insert a case into the shell holder.

13. Prime the Case (Part 3)
Lower the handle and push the primer arm all the way into the slot in the shell holder ram.

14. Prime the Case (Part 4)
Now, gently and slowly raise the press handle. As the case is drawn out of the die it will be lowered onto the fresh primer which will be seated into the primer pocket. Slightly lower the press handle to release the primer arm; then push the handle all the way up. Inspect the primer to make sure it is properly seated. In order to gain optimum primer sensitivity, the primer must be seated firmly to the bottom of the primer pocket.

15. Prime the Case (Part 5)
For a faster way to prime cases, use the Automatic Primer Feed Combo. Primers drop one at a time into the primer arm on the press.

16. Powder Charging (Part 1)
Consult the SPEER Reloading Manual to learn what kind of powder, and exactly how much is recommended to reload your cartridge. Then weigh the recommended charge on your scale.

17. Powder Charging (Part 2)
After accurately weighing the powder charge, put it into the case using a powder funnel.

18. Powder Charging (Part 3)
You can dispense a precise charge, without weighing every charge on a scale. Fill the measure with powder and throw several charges to establish flow and settle the powder in the hopper. Return this powder to the hopper. Use your reloading scale to adjust the powder measure. Weigh every charge until several consecutively thrown charges show the desired weight. Re-check the weight about every ten cases.

19. Bullet Seating (Part 1)
Thread the seater die a few turns into the press. Put a case in the shell holder and lower the press handle, running the ram with the case to the top of the press stroke. Turn the die body down until it stops. The crimp shoulder in the die is now pressing against the top of the case mouth. Back the die out one turn, raising the crimp shoulder above the case mouth. Secure the die in position with the die lock ring.

20. Bullet Seating (Part 2)
Next, unscrew the seater plug enough to keep the bullet from being seated too deeply.

21. Bullet Seating (Part 3)
With the handle in the uppermost position insert a properly primed and charged case into the shell holder.

22. Bullet Seating (Part 4)
Take a bullet and hold it over the case mouth with one hand while you lower the press handle with the other, easing the case and the bullet up into the die. After raising the handle, note the seating depth of the loaded round. If the bullet needs to be seated deeper into the case, turn the seater plug down.

23. Bullet Seating (Part 5)
Run the loaded round back up into the die, raise the press handle and check the seating depth again. A few more adjustments may be needed for the proper bullet seating depth; then, you simply tighten the small seater plug lock ring.

24. That's it!
Your first reloaded cartridge is ready to be fired. Of course, we've described only one case going through all the reloading steps. When actually reloading, you'd take a batch of cases through each operation before moving on to the next step.

		1. Clean and Check Using a soft cloth, wipe each case clean to prevent dirt from scratching the case and resizing the die. Inspect the case for anything that would keep it from being safely reloaded, such as split case mouths, case head separations, excessive bulges and other case defects. Any case found defective should be thrown away.

		2. Lubricate the Cases (Part 1) Because of the force involved, you'll need to lubricate the cases before they go into a sizer die. Spread some lube on the pad and lubricate the body of the case. If you're using a carbide sizer die for reloading straight-wall pistol cases, you can eliminate this step. The carbide ring in the sizer die is so smooth that cases simply can't get stuck in the die.

		3. Lubricate the Case (Part 2) Clean dirt and powder residue from inside case necks and simultaneously add a light coating of case lube with a case neck brush. This will reduce the resizing effort and prevent excess working of the brass. Roll the brush across the lube pad after every three or four cases for just the right amount.

		4. Install the Shell Holder Snap a shell holder into the press ram with a slight twisting motion. The shell holder will securely grip the head of the cartridge case. Check out our latest catalog or see your local dealer for help in selecting the correct shell holder.

		5. Install the Sizer Die Thread the sizer die into the press until the die touches the shell holder when the ram is at the top of the press stroke. Raise the press handle and turn the die down another one-eigth to one-quarter of a turn and set the large lock ring. If you're using a carbide sizer die, leave a 1/16" gap between the bottom of the die and the shell holder.

		6. Insert the Case With the press handle in the uppermost position slide the case into the shell holder.

		7. Resize the Case Gently but firmly lower the press handle all the way to the bottom and run the case all the way into the sizer die. This will resize the case to the proper dimension and push the fired primer out of the case. Next, raise the press handle. This will lower the case and expand the case mouth (on bottle-neck cartridges), correctly setting the case neck diameter to hold the bullet tightly.

		8. Check the Case Length and Trim if Necessary After several firings, cases sometimes stretch and become longer than the specified maximum length. These cases must be trimmed to allow for proper chambering and for safety reasons. The trimmer works like a small lathe and can be used to trim most cases up through 45 caliber.

		9. Chamfer and Deburr Cases that have been trimmed need to also be chamfered and deburred. This will remove any burrs left on the case after trimming and will allow a new bullet to be easily seated into the case. Insert the pointed end of the Deburring Tool into the case to remove burrs and chamfer the case mouth. Fit the other end over the case mouth to remove exterior burrs.

		10. Expand the Case Mouth Because of their design, straight-wall cases need to be expanded in a separate expander die. Install the expander die in the press, place a sized case in the shell holder and run it into the die. The expander should be adjusted so the case mouth is belled outward just enough to accept the new bullet.

		11. Prime the Case (Part 1) Use the Primer Tray-2 for fast, easy primer handling. To use, first scatter primers onto the grooved surface of the tray. Then, shake the tray horizontally until all the primers are positioned anvil side up.

		12. Prime the Case (Part 2) Place a fresh primer, anvil side up, into the cup of the primer arm and insert a case into the shell holder.

		13. Prime the Case (Part 3) Lower the handle and push the primer arm all the way into the slot in the shell holder ram.

		14. Prime the Case (Part 4) Now, gently and slowly raise the press handle. As the case is drawn out of the die it will be lowered onto the fresh primer which will be seated into the primer pocket. Slightly lower the press handle to release the primer arm; then push the handle all the way up. Inspect the primer to make sure it is properly seated. In order to gain optimum primer sensitivity, the primer must be seated firmly to the bottom of the primer pocket.

		15. Prime the Case (Part 5) For a faster way to prime cases, use the Automatic Primer Feed Combo. Primers drop one at a time into the primer arm on the press.

		16. Powder Charging (Part 1) Consult the SPEER Reloading Manual to learn what kind of powder, and exactly how much is recommended to reload your cartridge. Then weigh the recommended charge on your scale.

		17. Powder Charging (Part 2) After accurately weighing the powder charge, put it into the case using a powder funnel.

		18. Powder Charging (Part 3) You can dispense a precise charge, without weighing every charge on a scale. Fill the measure with powder and throw several charges to establish flow and settle the powder in the hopper. Return this powder to the hopper. Use your reloading scale to adjust the powder measure. Weigh every charge until several consecutively thrown charges show the desired weight. Re-check the weight about every ten cases.

		19. Bullet Seating (Part 1) Thread the seater die a few turns into the press. Put a case in the shell holder and lower the press handle, running the ram with the case to the top of the press stroke. Turn the die body down until it stops. The crimp shoulder in the die is now pressing against the top of the case mouth. Back the die out one turn, raising the crimp shoulder above the case mouth. Secure the die in position with the die lock ring.

		20. Bullet Seating (Part 2) Next, unscrew the seater plug enough to keep the bullet from being seated too deeply.

		21. Bullet Seating (Part 3) With the handle in the uppermost position insert a properly primed and charged case into the shell holder.

		22. Bullet Seating (Part 4) Take a bullet and hold it over the case mouth with one hand while you lower the press handle with the other, easing the case and the bullet up into the die. After raising the handle, note the seating depth of the loaded round. If the bullet needs to be seated deeper into the case, turn the seater plug down.

		23. Bullet Seating (Part 5) Run the loaded round back up into the die, raise the press handle and check the seating depth again. A few more adjustments may be needed for the proper bullet seating depth; then, you simply tighten the small seater plug lock ring.

		24. That's it! Your first reloaded cartridge is ready to be fired. Of course, we've described only one case going through all the reloading steps. When actually reloading, you'd take a batch of cases through each operation before moving on to the next step.