{"id":1070,"date":"2024-05-20T21:16:12","date_gmt":"2024-05-20T21:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1070"},"modified":"2024-05-20T21:16:13","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T21:16:13","slug":"reloading-technique-how-to-properly-skin-a-cat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1070","title":{"rendered":"Reloading Technique: How To Properly Skin A Cat"},"content":{"rendered":"<div> <!-- image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"td-post-featured-image\">\n<figure> <noscript><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-feature-768x496.jpg\" alt=\"Reloading Technique: How To Properly Skin A Cat\" title=\"Reloading Technique: How To Properly Skin A Cat\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">There\u2019s more than one way to skin a cat. Photo: Massaro Media Group.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-dissertation-on-reloading-technique-and-practices\"><strong>A dissertation on reloading technique and practices.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cWhat are you doing? I would never run dirty brass though my resizing die!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Talk to 10 dedicated reloaders, and I\u2019ll wager you get 10 different techniques and opinions, even if the differences are subtle. Is there one proper technique for the process of reloading centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition? There are, after all, myriad tools available to the reloader.<\/p>\n<p>While some are deemed frivolous, others are must-haves. Flip through the front section of almost any worthy reloading manual and you&#8217;ll find some sort of step-by-step instructions pertaining to the procedure of reloading metallic cartridge ammo.<\/p>\n<p>While those generic instructions are not wrong, somewhere along the line we all develop certain habits and adopt techniques that might work for some \u2026 while seeming completely foreign to others. Referring to my opening quote, some folks will run any old dirty piece of brass into a resizing die, while others insist the brass be not only already de-primed, but cleaned, tumbled and polished before it changes shape.<\/p>\n<p>Which is the proper method?<\/p>\n<p>Well, it\u2019ll depend on your personal taste, and how much of a neat freak you are. You certainly shouldn\u2019t put any case with actual dirt on it\u2014say a pickup from the range\u2014into your die, but if there\u2019s some burnt powder residue, it won\u2019t hurt your die, especially if you clean your dies regularly, which I definitely recommend. If the idea still offends you, perhaps the use of a universal de-capping die\u2014one designed for the sole purpose of removing the spent primer\u2014will allow you to clean the case inside and out before resizing it. This does minimize residue and debris in the die, and I do this sometimes, especially when reloading cases that were previously loaded with especially dirty-burning powder.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1021\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-primers.jpg\" alt=\"reloading-technique-primers\" class=\"wp-image-293905\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-primers.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-primers-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-primers-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-primers-696x436.jpg 696w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-primers-670x420.jpg 670w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1021px) 100vw, 1021px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">How do you prefer to install your primers, from the press or via hand primer? <em>Photo: Massaro Media Group.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Primers can be another hotbed of discussion\u2014whether they\u2019re installed with a hand-priming unit or primed from the press. Some guys demand absolute uniformity in primer-seating depth, while others feel that so long as the primer is seated flush or slightly recessed, all is right in the universe.<\/p>\n<p>Having spent a fair amount of time at the Norma Ammunition plant in Sweden, I&#8217;ve seen the effects of uniformly seated primers\u2014they have special tools to measure the depth of primers before their ammo is sent to the public\u2014and it does make an appreciable difference. Where the precision shooter will be very concerned with this feature, the high-volume loader who knows how to consistently work the handle of Dillon 550 will be perfectly happy with what that excellent machine provides.<\/p>\n<p>Personally, I like to install my primers by hand, as I feel the press can generate too much force at times.<\/p>\n<p>The method of loading powder and seating bullets\u2014whether you charge all the cases in a block and then begin seating projectiles, or charge an individual case and then immediately seat the bullet\u2014is debatable as well. You\u2019ll see photos of large blocks of cases, sometimes a hundred at a time, being charged with powder, each awaiting a turn for its projectile. While I know this system works well for many folks, I&#8217;ve also seen it lead to near-disaster.<\/p>\n<p>If, for example, you were loading for a .300 Weatherby Magnum, the sheer volume of the powder required will easily prevent a double charge; the case simply won\u2019t hold it. But switch to a .357 Magnum, .38 Special or .45 ACP, and it\u2019s a much different story. Not only can all of these cases easily be double charged, but the charge weight may also be so small that a double charge might not be immediately visible.<\/p>\n<p>In this author\u2019s opinion, safety takes precedence over time saved, and my own technique is to charge a case with powder and then immediately seat the projectile. This way I can visually verify that there is no powder (or anything else) in the case before dumping the powder charge, and once installed there is no risk of double charging. Habits are going to form\u2014good or bad\u2014and I always err on the side of caution.<\/p>\n<p>Want to start an argument among reloaders? Ask whether you should weigh every powder charge. Oh, will the sparks fly! \u201cBenchrest shooters load by volume.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve used a powder thrower since I was a boy.\u201d \u201cOnly certain powders will meter properly in those volumetric powder throwers.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re wasting your time weighing every charge; it just isn\u2019t that important.\u201d Some of these statements may be true and applicable, but after spending more than 3 decades handloading the vast majority of my ammunition, in rifle calibers ranging from the .17s up to the .500s, I&#8217;ve found that uniformity leads to consistency, and therefore accuracy.<\/p>\n<p>Just as I wouldn\u2019t want to purchase a box of projectiles only to find the weight varies drastically, I want my powder charges to be as uniform as possible. Weighing each individual charge has given me the best results, and should you have an alternative method that works (and maintains safety), so be it. The modern electronic powder dispensers operate quickly and easily enough to accommodate my reloading style, and I sleep better at night knowing each charge was weighed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1021\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press.jpg\" alt=\"reloading-technique-press\" class=\"wp-image-293907\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press-696x436.jpg 696w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press-670x420.jpg 670w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1021px) 100vw, 1021px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1021\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press.jpg\" alt=\"reloading-technique-press\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-293907\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press-696x436.jpg 696w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reloading-technique-press-670x420.jpg 670w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1021px) 100vw, 1021px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The progressive presses, like the Dillon 550 shown here, are certainly efficient, but you must give up some of the hands-on methods of reloading.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I also get many questions about the use of progressive presses, especially regarding the consistency, uniformity and safety. Certainly, the Dillon progressives are at the top of the heap, and the RCBS stuff of late is much better than it ever was, but the fact remains that there are so many operations happening simultaneously that it\u2019s nearly impossible to monitor all at once. Call me a control freak, but I want to have my hands on these operations, so that I can ensure that something hasn\u2019t come out of adjustment\u2014such as the volumetric powder dispenser\u2014and that all the primers are not only present, but seated properly.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t get me wrong: I\u2019ve shot some wonderful ammunition made on a Dillon 550 or 650, but my own personal tastes and preference lean so heavily toward single-stage loading that the Redding T7 turret press is about as far as I feel comfortable going. If you like the idea of a progressive press, and there are many reasons to do so, realize that rigorous inspection of the final product is a fantastic idea; it may save a firearm \u2026 or a life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can\u2019t do that.\u201d Sometimes it rings true, and other times we reloaders need to realize there\u2019s more than one way to skin a cat.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Editor&#8217;s Note:<\/strong>\u00a0This article originally appeared in the July 2024 issue of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/gundigestservice.com\/customer\/subscribe.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gun Digest the Magazine<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><strong>More On Reloading:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-39\" style=\"margin: 8px 0; clear: both;\">\n<div style=\"border: 2px solid #e5e5e5; padding: 20px; border-radius: 10px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-271572\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300-300x235.jpg\" alt=\"44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300\" width=\"300\" height=\"235\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload alignright size-medium wp-image-271572\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300-300x235.jpg\" alt=\"44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300\" width=\"300\" height=\"235\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #333; text-align: center;\">Next Step: Get your FREE Printable Target Pack<\/h2>\n<p>Enhance your shooting precision with our 62 MOA Targets, perfect for rifles and handguns. Crafted in collaboration with Storm Tactical for accuracy and versatility.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Subscribe to the Gun Digest email newsletter<\/strong> and get your downloadable target pack sent straight to your inbox. Stay updated with the latest firearms info in the industry.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- CONTENT END 1 --><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There\u2019s more than one way to skin a cat. Photo: Massaro Media Group. A dissertation on reloading technique and practices. \u201cWhat are you doing? I would never run dirty brass though my resizing die!\u201d Talk to 10 dedicated reloaders, and I\u2019ll wager you get 10 different techniques and opinions, even if the differences are subtle. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1071,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tactical-gear"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1070"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1072,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1070\/revisions\/1072"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}