Reloading Components
Reloading components are the individual pieces that make up the cartridges you put into your gun. You will need to purchase some of each of these components before you can begin reloading. This is part of the fun of reloading though, as you can pick and choose which reloading components you want based on exactly what you are making the bullet for. All cartridges have these 4 basic parts:
A primer
A case (commonly called the brass)
Gun powder
A bullet
There are a seemingly endless number of the different types of these reloading components, each for a different purpose. Let me break down some of the details.
Primers 
Primers are the ignition source for modern cartridges. They are composed of three parts, the cup, the anvil, and the explosive. These pieces are assembled together at the factory and the reloader presses them into the head (or bottom) of the case. The primer is the single most dangerous reloading component in the modern cartridge due to its being impact sensitive. Primers can be detonated simply by dropping the box containing them and therefore should be treated with extreme caution. Commonly available primer brands include CCI, Federal, Remington, Winchester, and Wolf. All of these brands are of very good quality but most competitive shooters that I know opt for Federal or CCI primers. Click here to learn more about primers.
The Case 
The case is the brass cylinder that all other reloading components are assembled into. It is the only reusable component. The case is also the only 100% caliber specific part of ammunition. A case is formed by stamping brass into the dimensions of one certain caliber. Good brass is the single most expensive piece of ammunition and it is the piece that the most work goes into. The number of times a case can be reloaded depends greatly on the load, the caliber, the gun, and a host of other factors. I have some .308 brass with 10 firings on it that is still going strong, but some of the belted magnum cartridges are only good for 3 or 4 loads. Brass cases are available from several reloading component companies including Remington and Winchester. You also have the option of purchasing “custom” brass from Hornady, Lapua, Norma, or Nosler. A final option for sourcing brass is to get military surplus material, this is generally the cheapest route to take (except for picking brass up on the range). The best military surplus brass is from Lake City. If you purchase Remington, Winchester, or Mil. Surp. brass you will need to do a good bit of work on it to get it match ready, this is called brass prep. Click here to learn about brass prep. The custom brass may need just a small amount of touch up work, but overall it is of the best quality. Click here to learn more about brass cases.
The Gunpowder
The gun powder is the propellant that is poured into the primed case prior to the bullet being pressed in. Many people incorrectly believe that gun powder is a highly dangerous explosive. It is correct to say that gun powder, like all flammables, is dangerous, but it is far from explosive. Black powder, the predecessor to smokeless powder, is an explosive. Modern gun powder is a propellant, it’s a fuel. If you pour out a spoon full of modern smokeless powder and light it on fire it will burn, kind of like a sparkler. Gasoline is actually more explosive then smokeless gun powder. Click here to learn more about gun powder.
Modern smokeless powder is available from many companies including Accurate, Alliant, Hodgdon, IMR, Vihtavuori, and Winchester. Many good powders are had from all of these manufacturers, I personally use IMR. It is the most available to me and I think a very good balance of quality and price.
The Bullet 
The bullet is the actual projectile that is sent downrange when the cartridge is fired. It is most typically made of a lead core with a copper jacket, however due to the recent “green” movement there are more and more solid copper and no-lead bullets available. Many reloading component like Barnes, Berger, Hornady, Nosler, Remington, Sierra, Speer, and Winchester make great bullets. This is just a sample of the good bullet manufacturers available.
There are many different bullet styles and designs available, each with its own purpose. Click here for more information on bullets and how to choose the correct bullet for your shooting.
These four reloading components are what make up every single bullet made. Different selections for each and the skill used in assembling these components are all that make the differences between ammo capable of shooting a one hole group or barely hitting the target.
Now that you have your reloading components all you will need is some reloading equipment and you are ready to begin making your own ammunition. Click here to learn about the reloading process.
Head to the top of Reloading Components
Head back to Reloading
Head back to the Home Page
|
