A rifle cartridge has only four parts. The case, primer, propellant and bullet.
Handloading is the process of taking the fired case, expelling the spent primer, sizing the case, expanding the neck to accept the bullet, pressing in a new primer, re-charging with a measured charge of powder and then seating the bullet to the correct depth.
This booklet is not designed to be a complete guide to handloading. It is recommended that you should obtain a copy of one of the manuals listed at the back of this booklet. These manuals are usually obtainable from dealers in reloading equipment. It is also recommended that anybody new to hand-loading should obtain the guidance of an experienced handloader before setting up and using his new equipment. if you do not know of anyone who handloads, contact the Target Rifle Captain and you will be put in contact with a handloader.
Equipment
Essential equipment: reloading press, dies, powder scale, powder funnel, case lubricant. The following is a list of other equipment which will be needed later or which will speed the reloading process: Case trimmer or trim die, chamfering tool, primer seating tool, powder measure, vernier caliper.
It is suggested that a rigid single station press be bought. Lighter turret presses that will hold several dies provide for quick change of dies but are not so rigid as single station presses and are not adequate for full length sizing. Both full length and neck sizing dies will be needed.
It is essential to have one or more bullet blocks, to hold cases upright during reloading. These blocks can easily be made by boring 1/2-inch holes through one inch timber then backing the block with a piece of hardboard of the same size to give blind holes. Twelve rows of ten holes give a block suitable for reloading one hundred cases. Processed cases are replaced in the block two rows along from where they were removed to segregate processed from unprocessed cases. Never fill all holes in a block with cases.
The bench on which the reloading press is mounted should be of heavy construction to resist the force applied to the press. The bench should be fixed firmly as work is done on the upstroke and downstroke of the press handle.
Arrange the equipment on the bench in such a way that it is convenient for two persons to work on different operations on the same batch of cases.
Cases Suitable for Reloading
The only cases suitable for easy reloading are those with Boxer
primers. Boxer primed cases have a central flash hole which makes removal of the spent primer easy. Berdan primed cases have two smaller flash holes which are off centre. The primer is very difficult to remove and an inexperienced handloader should not attempt to use these cases.
If in doubt about the style of a primer examine the inside of the case with the aid of artificial light. Cases should be sorted carefully before you commence reloading. The decapping stem and pin of the sizing die will be damaged if a Berdan primed case is forced into the die.
When a batch of cases has been sorted out for handloading, that batch should be marked for identification and should always be treated as a batch through subsequent firing and loading. Marking the base of each case in a batch with a colored marking pen will make future sorting and checking easy. Fire cases of one batch in only one rifle. Use a different colored mark on cases for another rifle.
Try to load and fire all cases in a batch an equal number of times. This ensures that they will all be subject to the same amount of work and some will not wear out before others.
Case Sizing
Cases may be either full length sized or neck sized. Cases fired in another rifle or of unknown or mixed origin MUST be full length sized to ensure that they will fit your rifle. Cartridges known to have been fired in the one rifle should only have the neck sized. This reduces the amount of work that the brass is subject to and cases will last longer. If your rifle is rebarreled all cases will have to be full length sized to ensure that they will fit the new chamber.
The full length sizing die should be
screwed to the press until it contacts the shell shoulder firmly. If the die is not screwed down far enough cases will not be fully sized. Do not screw the die down so far that it takes undue effort to close the press against the die or you may crack the body of the press. Every case to be sized must be lubricated. Use commercial case lubricant or anhydrous lanolin. The lubricant may be applied with the fingers or by rolling the case over a stamp pad impregnated with the lubricant. Lubricant should be applied thinly and evenly. Too much lubricant will cause creases or bubbles on the shoulder of the sized case. Cases showing such bubbles can be loaded and fired as usual and the first firing will restore them to proper shape.
Never force an unlubricated case into a die. It will seize and require skill and care to remove it. It will require a gunsmith or an experienced reloader with a stuck case remover to get the seized case out without damaging the die.
When the lubricated case has been forced fully into the die the sizing is complete. The case should then be partly withdrawn and the decapping stem of the die should be screwed down until the decapping pin ejects the spent primer when the press is full closed When the press is opened the sized case is drawn over the expanding button and the neck is expanded to the correct size to take the new bullet. Always ensure that the decapping stem is tight in the die after adjustment and that the expanding button is screwed firmly on the end of the stem and so is holding the decapping pin firmly. This ensures correct alignment of the parts of the die. Misalignment will result in the stem or the pin being bent.
After sizing, all traces of lubricant
must be wiped from the case with clean cotton rag. Firing a cartridge with lubricant on it will result in excessive bullet thrust and will affect your elevation. Do not use solvent or degreasing agents for removing lubricant as traces left in the case may affect primers.
Do not insert new primers in the case during the sizing operation as lubricant on the case may get into the primer pocket and affect the reliability of the primer.
Cases may be full length sized at least five and probably ten times. With repeated firings cases stretch and ultimately the head of the case will separate from the body. Impending case separation shows up one or two firings before the case actually separates.
The sign to look for is a fuzzy line part way round the case about 3/16inch ahead of the extractor grove. As soon as a case shows this evidence of impending separation all cases of that batch should be destroyed. If a case does separate on firing and only the base is ejected from the rifle the body of the case may usually be removed by pushing a bristle brush through it and then withdrawing the case on the brush.
When neck sizing cases, the die should be adjusted to size the case neck only to the depth that the bullet will be seated. The most convenient lubricant for neck sizing is powdered graphite. Put about 1/4-inch of the graphite in a shallow container. Before each case is sized dip the neck into the graphite. Enough will adhere to the case to lubricate both the inside and outside of the neck.
Priming
Primers must always be stored in the compartmented trays in which they are sold by the manufacturer. NEVER STORE THEM IN BULK IN A TIN OR JAR. Priming compound is an explosive which is set off when subjected to a sharp blow. A primer set off in the open travels at a velocity sufficient to cause personal injury. Primers are not to be experimented with or used for anything other than their intended purpose.
The priming operation consists of placing a primer in the priming punch of the press, placing a case in the shellholder then pressing the case down over the primer. Always use a steady
pressure to seat primers-never a sharp blow. Primers should be seated firmly to the bottom of the primer pocket of the case. The primer will then be just below the surface of the base of the case. Check by feel with the index finger as the case is removed from the press or if still in doubt, with a straight edge across the base of the case. If the primer is left above the base of the case or if the priming compound is crushed by the use of excessive force then erratic ignition may occur.
A reloading press has more leverage than is required for the primer seating operation and it is suggested that you use a separate primer seating tool. Such a tool will give more delicate control and the operator can feel when the primer is correctly seated. A separate primer seating tool enables this operation to be carried out by another person while the press is being used for sizing or seating and so speeds up the reloading process.
Primers are sensitive to contamination by oil. Cases should be thoroughly cleaned of sizing lubricant before priming and the operators hands should also be clean. The reloading press or tool should not be excessively lubricated.
Charging
Smokeless rifle powder is properly termed a propellant. The powder burns very rapidly and produces a large volume of gas and the bullet is driven from the rifle by a gas pressure of about 50,000 p.s.i.
Standard rifle powders will fill between 90-100% of the volume of the case up to the base of the bullet. This ensures that even if too much powder is put in a case in error the charge will not constitute a dangerous overload.
Never try to gain less bullet drop or wind deflection by increasing velocity above standard. Any improvement would not be detectable under range conditions. What the handloader is looking for is tight grouping and this is seldom found when operating at maximum pressures.
Powder may be measured by weight or by volume. Weighing each charge on a powder scale is both the most accurate and the most tedious method of measuring powder. If a powder measure is used the scales must be used to set the measure to throw the
correct volume. Leave the scales set up and weigh charges every so often and especially the last charge thrown to ensure that no alteration has taken place in the adjustment of the measure while it has been in use. A powder measure must always be operated in a uniform manner with exactly the same technique and force being used to throw each charge.
Remember a powder measure measures by volume not weight and any extra vibration will cause the powder to settle in the measuring chamber and a heavier charge will be thrown. If the powder measure sticks while metering a charge or is subject to any extra force or unusual vibration then do not load that charge. After charging, cases should be stood upright in rows or 1/2inch holes in a reloading board. When all cases have been charged, hold the board under a light and check that all cases appear to be filled to the same level.
Any that appear to have more or less powder should be emptied and recharged. If the powder level still appears wrong check the case for foreign objects inside. Anything that reduces the effective volume of a case will raise pressures. Never omit this procedure for checking powder levels from your reloading routine and never reload cases singly. That is, never charge a case and then seat the bullet before charging the next case. You lose the chance to compare powder levels and an overload may pass unnoticed, or a cartridge may be assembled with no powder at all.
Always store powder in airtight tins, not bottles. Powder deteriorates if exposed to air or light. Store tins in a cool place with an even temperature.
Clearly mark all powder containers as to powder type. Never use a powder if you are not sure of its identity.
Never smoke while reloading
Bullet Seating
Back off the stem of the bullet seating die and screw the die into the press until it contacts the cartridge case. Back the die off half a turn and lock it in place. Adjust the bullet seating stem until the bullet is seated to the required depth. Standard bullet seating depth for the 7.62 cartridge is an overall cartridge length of 2.8 inches. For best results seat the bullet so that it clears the lands of your rifle by about
1/16-inch. Different rifles require different seating depths and handloading thus enables you to match your ammunition to each rifle or to compensate for wear in the lead.
Do not adjust the seating die to crimp the cartridge case onto the bullet. This is unnecessary for target ammunition and tends to shorten case life by overworking the mouth of the case thus causing neck splitting.
To deter-mine the correct seating depth for your rifle take a fired case and insert in the neck sizing die only far enough to just size the mouth of the case. Start a bullet in the mouth of the case by hand and check that the bullet is not held so tightly that it cannot be moved by finger pressure. Chamber the dummy round and carefully withdraw it from the rifle, being careful not to disturb the lightly held bullet..
The bullet will have been forced back into the case when it contacted the rifling and you now have an overall cartridge measurement from which to work. Load your cartridges to be 1/16inch shorter in overall measurement. Take care that you do not get a false reading as the bullet may be gripped by the rifling and partly withdrawn from the case as the dummy round is extracted. Some lubricant smeared on the bullet leaves a witness mark showing the greatest depth to which it has pushed into the case.
Packing
Wipe cartridges and place back in packets base up. This enables a quick visual check to be made to ensure that all cases have been primed. Check the mark on the base of the cases to ensure that they are all of the same batch. This ensures that cases from different rifles are not mixed and cases need to be neck sized subsequently thus ensuring longer case life.
All the instructions so far have related to operations that are required every time a case is loaded.
The following section deals with procedures that only need to be carried out when repeated use of a case
makes them necessary.
Case Care
Trimming
With repeated reloadings cartridge cases stretch. When they become excessively long the mouth of the case contacts the front of the chamber. This prevents the case expanding properly on firing and raises pressures. Correct case length for the 7.62 is 2.015 inches but when cases are trimmed make them a bit shorter, about 2.000 inch, to allow for future stretching.
Instead of a case trimmer a trim die may be used. This is a simple die body which acts as a full length sizer. Any excessive case length is left protruding above the top of the die. This excess length is filed off with a sharp file. The top of the die is very hard and will not be affected by the file. After filing withdraw the case, wipe free of lubricant and chamfer the case mouth inside and out. The case will then need to be passed over the expanding plug of a sizing die to give the neck the correct Internal dimension for bullet seating
Primer Pocket Cleaning
After every few reloadings primer pockets should be cleaned by scraping with a blunt tool. Accumulation of residue from fired primers prevents new primers being firmly seated to the bottom of the primer pocket.
Annealing
With repeated reloadings case necks harden and may crack. This will not happen until cases have been loaded several times and need not concern the new reloader. Consult a reloading manual for correct procedure when the time comes to anneal your case necks.
Remember
Always sort cases to be reloaded to ensure that only Boxer primed cases are used.
Never force an unlubricated case into the full length sizing die.
Use commercial lubricant or anhydrous lanolin.
Take care that primers are never contaminated by oil.
Always use scales to check a powder measure before and after use to ensure that it is throwing the correct charge.
Check the powder level in all cases before seating bullets.
Identify reloads for each rifle and ensure that cases are never mixed .
NEVER SMOKE WHILE RELOADING
Remember this article is not designed to be a complete reloading manual. It is only a guide.
It is recommended that you should obtain more detailed information from one of the following manuals, readily available from any reputable sporting goods store:
"SPEER MANUAL FOR RELOADING AMMUNITION"
Speer Inc., Lewiston, Idaho, U.S.A.
"HORNADY HANDBOOK OF
CARTRIDGE RELOADING"
Hornady Mfg. Co., Grand Island, Nebraska, U.S.A.
"SIERRA BULLETS RELOADING MANUAE'
Sierra Bullets, Santa Fe Springs, California, U.S.A.
"LYMAN HANDBOOK"
Lyman Gunsight Corp.,
Middlefield, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Conclusion
Reloading is not difficult. It only requires care, concentration and attention to detail to see that all cases are put through exactly the same procedure at each stage of the operation. The handloader's object is to produce ammunition that is uniform in every respect so that if it is fired in a uniform manner then all bullets will land as close together as possible on the target.
The loading and the use of your own ammunition will combine to give you both more pleasure from and more interest in your sport.
