Once you purchase your choice of rifle and ammunition, you will need a dedicated set of reloading equipment to properly reload your rifle. Your choice of equipment might depend on your budget and ammunition reloading needs. Although vendors often have starter packages to get you started with efficient reloading, you can buy each tool separately as needed.
Let us look at some of the most helpful supplies for reloading rifles.
Reloading Manual
As a rule, no data source should be trusted to last an eternity. With time, multiple components can acquire new ballistic properties that might necessitate staying up to date with your knowledge of ballistics. Keeping an updated reloading manual is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the safe reloading of ammunition into your rifle. Reading and rereading the information in this manual as needed can help you remain safe and avoid any adverse consequences.
Case Cleaner
Once brass cartridge cases have been fired, they are likely to be contaminated with dirt, requiring its removal along with any leftover powder residue. Although home-based solutions are available to get your cartridges clean for reloading, investing in a dedicated case cleaner like a brass tumbler might be a wise idea to avoid any missteps during the cleaning process. The cleaner uses vibration and a tumbling medium to clean your cases thoroughly.
Reloading Press
A reloading press is an essential component to ensure proper reloading of your rifle. A single-stage press might be the best place to get started if you are new to reloading rifles. Although it performs one function at a time, it can help you in performing multiple important tasks like sizing and priming your cases, adding powder, seating the bullet, and crimping the case around it to ensure safety and efficiency.
Case Lubricant
Whenever you use a resizing die, you need to lubricate your cases to avoid jamming. A dedicated case lubricating kit and pad can help you streamline your reloading process and size your cases without worrying about any unwanted surprises during the process of reloading your rifle.
Powder Dispenser
Although it is possible to measure the weight of each powder charge manually, it is a time-taking and needlessly elaborate way of doing the task. Using a powder dispenser allows you to specify the amount of powder each charge will need and help speed up the process of reloading your rifle ammunition.
Powder Scale
To help dispense the right amount of powder for each cartridge, an electronic or mechanical scale is necessary. Over or underfilling your cartridges with powder can have dangerous consequences for anyone who uses the weapon. Although most starter kits for rifle loading supplies include a powder scale, you can purchase a separate scale if it is not included in your kit.
Calipers
At multiple points during the process of reloading your rifle, you will require a tool to measure things accurately. Reliable calipers can help you measure parameters like cartridge length before and after trimming and depth of seated primers, and more, according to the guidelines mentioned in your reloading manual. Calipers are available in multiple variants, including plastic, stainless steel, analog, digital, and more.
Conclusion
Most reloading equipment merchants offer starter kits that allow rifle enthusiasts to reload their weapons at a discounted rate. Depending on your budget and reloading needs, you can buy each component separately and reload your rifle safely and efficiently. Make sure you do the proper research on finding these materials. It’s best to make these executive decisions as efficiently as possible.
