{"id":1907,"date":"2023-11-07T08:00:30","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T08:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/?p=1907&#038;fishpig=1634136394&#038;preview=true"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","slug":"reloading-rifle-ammo-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/reloading-rifle-ammo-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"Reloading Rifle Ammo for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/reloading-rifle-ammo-for-beginners\/#Reloading_Rifle_Ammo_for_Beginners\" >Reloading Rifle Ammo for Beginners<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/reloading-rifle-ammo-for-beginners\/#Anatomy_of_a_Cartridge\" >Anatomy of a Cartridge<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/reloading-rifle-ammo-for-beginners\/#Loaders\" >Loaders<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/reloading-rifle-ammo-for-beginners\/#Manuals\" >Manuals<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/reloading-rifle-ammo-for-beginners\/#Gear_Reloading_Rifle_Ammo_for_Beginners\" >Gear Reloading Rifle Ammo for Beginners<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reloading_Rifle_Ammo_for_Beginners\"><\/span><b>Reloading Rifle Ammo for Beginners<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p><strong>Reloading <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/7-ways-to-sharpen-your-rifle-shooting-skills\/\">rifle<\/a> ammo for beginners can be daunting. However, the rewards of having built a stockpile of bespoke ammunition is reward enough.<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With the market in flux for the past decade, commonly available ammo has skyrocketed in price. Occasionally and when it is available, it&#8217;s often the most generic load around. Whether you are looking for a heavier bullet so you can<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">hunt with your .2<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2-250 or are attempting to make your .30-06 <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/getting-kids-into-hunting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tame for your kids<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to use, reloading gives you the ability to adjust the projectile and the powder behind it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many of us who collect firearms will soon realize that most shops from Cabela&#8217;s to mom and pop stores won&#8217;t have a selection of most rifle calibers, not to mention the obscure ones that seem to have largely faded from the earth. Bringing life to an old <a title=\"Shooting a 22LR Rifle in a Whole New Way\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/shooting-22lr-rifle-in-a-whole-new-way\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"534\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle is a great way<\/a> to connect to the past and even save a few bucks when haggling for the rifle in the first place. So when rifle season winds down this winter and temperatures drop, what better way for <a title=\"The Phases of a Deer Hunter\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/the-phases-of-a-deer-hunter\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1212\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunters and shooters to spend time before next deer<\/a> season than reloading rifle ammunition.<\/span><\/p><figure id=\"attachment_1372\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1372\" style=\"width: 970px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/riflescopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1372 size-full\" title=\"Rifles Scopes\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/TRACT-ELR_970x250.jpg\" alt=\"Rifle Scopes\" width=\"970\" height=\"250\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1372\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-6-5mm-creedmoor-rifle-round\/\">Rifle Scopes<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><p style=\"text-align: center\"><a title=\"Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tractoptics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\"><strong>FOLLOW US: FACEBOOK<\/strong><\/a><\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Anatomy_of_a_Cartridge\"><\/span><b>Anatomy of a Cartridge<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">So what parts do you need to replace to reload? What parts do you need to save? A rifle cartridge is comprised of:\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>The Case:<\/strong> This piece of <a title=\"The Growing Popularity of the 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle Round\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/the-growing-popularity-of-the-6-5-creedmoor-rifle-round\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1818\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">brass holds the powder<\/a>, primer, and bullet. Cases are reusable and well worth the effort to <a title=\"Building Your Own Rifle Range\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/building-your-own-rifle-range-2\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1821\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">save them after your range<\/a> trip. Brass of all shapes and sizes can be purchased from major manufactures like Lapua and Starline. Having brass from one manufacturer makes it easier to keep track of what has been loaded with what.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Primer:<\/strong> The primer is the small-cap at the base of the case that when struck by the firing pin ignites the gunpowder. Primers are often purchased in bulk and vary depending on the size of the cartridge such as large and small pistol and <a title=\"Rifle Scope Accessories You Might Consider\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-scope-accessories-you-might-consider\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"844\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle<\/a> primers. Certain calibers will have different primer requirements. A <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/tract-toric-34mm-4-5-30x56-1220yard\/\">.338 Lapua magnum<\/a> takes a larger primer than a .22 Hornet because of the amount of gunpowder that needs to be ignited quickly.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a title=\"Big Bore Builds\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/big-bore-builds\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1816\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gun Powder: The propellant burned to launch the bullet<\/a>. You can get a <a title=\"Finding the Right Ammo for Your Rifle\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/finding-the-right-ammo-for-your-rifle\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1817\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">powder that burns faster for short barrels<\/a> or slower for longer barrels, this must be carefully measured to avoid looking like Elmer Fudd. You will see below when we talk about equipment how even a beginner can safely reload ammo.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Bullet:<\/strong> The projectile. With common calibers, you can <a title=\"Getting Started as a PRS Shooter\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/getting-started-as-a-prs-shooter-by-luke-laprad\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1819\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">custom load bullets<\/a> for any need. For example, with a .30-06 you can load 125 grains for coyotes and up to 220-grain slugs for deep penetration on a bear \u2014 or as Hemingway put to the test on a rhino and water buffalo.<\/span><\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Loaders\"><\/span><b>Loaders<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For a simple, straightforward start to reloading I recommend a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/LEE-PRECISION-90263-Classic-Loader-45\/dp\/B00162THL4\/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&#038;keywords=lee+loader&#038;qid=1633828922&#038;s=sporting-goods&#038;sr=1-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lee Precision<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> loader. Lee makes stand-alone kits that come with all the tools needed for basic reloading. Each kit contains the set of loading dies, prep tools, instruction manual, and powder scoop. These kits run around $40 and don&#8217;t offer a ton of variation due to their simplicity. But for the <a title=\"Building Your Own Rifle Range\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/building-your-own-rifle-range\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1820\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cost of a box of ammo<\/a>, you can now practice reloading your ammo on the kitchen table with no additional tools besides a mallet.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you have gotten the reloading bug and are ready to take the plunge to higher volume loading, you will want to look at a press. There are two types of presses \u2014 single stage and progressive. The single-stage press does exactly what it sounds like. A primed and powdered shell is press-fit into the die and the bullet is seated on top. Since you will also need a powder measure, this press works well if you have a decent-sized workbench.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The progressive press is the ultimate option. Though it\u2019s more expensive in the initial setup, it completes five different steps at the same time. Essentially, everything on a progressive press is gravity fed: shells, bullets, primers, and powder are all arranged on an assembly line as you see in the ammo commercials. The difference is the &#8220;line&#8221; in the plate that rotates with each pull of the lever. Since each <a title=\"Defining Rifle Actions\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/defining-rifle-actions\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1822\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lever pull completes five actions<\/a>, a fully stocked press can churn out up to 600 loaded rounds an hour. If you\u2019re a high-volume shooter, that should sound like heaven.<\/span><\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Manuals\"><\/span><b>Manuals<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Blindly loading your ammunition can be dangerous. While there is some great information available online, there is never a substitute for a reloading manual. Manuals can be purchased from any manufacturer and give powder measures and recommended maximum loadings for a variety of cartridges. Nosler\u2019s loading manual has 101 cartridges to read up on and dream over. Hodgdon also has a fantastic <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hodgdonreloading.com\/reloading-data-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that allows you to plug your caliber and powder choice in to find information on it.<\/span><\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4527 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/reloading_rifle_ammo_for_beginners-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Reloading rifle ammo for beginners can be daunting though the rewards of having built a stockpile of bespoke ammunition is reward enough.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/reloading_rifle_ammo_for_beginners-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/reloading_rifle_ammo_for_beginners-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/reloading_rifle_ammo_for_beginners-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/reloading_rifle_ammo_for_beginners-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/reloading_rifle_ammo_for_beginners-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/reloading_rifle_ammo_for_beginners-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/reloading_rifle_ammo_for_beginners-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/reloading_rifle_ammo_for_beginners.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p><p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nosler.com\/nosler-reloading-guide-9-hard-copy.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reloading Guide #9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> consists of load data for 101 rifle and handgun cartridges with hundreds of new powder additions throughout the book.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gear_Reloading_Rifle_Ammo_for_Beginners\"><\/span><b>Gear Reloading Rifle Ammo for Beginners<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As you continue down this path of reloading, you will <a title=\"What to do When Deer Season Ends\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/what-to-do-when-deer-season-ends\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1823\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">end up purchasing other gear<\/a>. While everyone&#8217;s needs will be different, there are several pieces of <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/18-turkey-hunting-gear-essentials\/\">gear<\/a> that will save you headaches at any step of your journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First is a digital scale. Certainly for measuring <a title=\"5.56 Versus .223 The Rundown\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/5-56-vs-223\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1824\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">powder but also to check your total loaded weights<\/a> on the cartridges. Double-checking your weight can help you see if one is loaded too light and could cause a squib, or too heavy and could cause a \u201ckaboom.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Precision shooters go a step further. They organize their brass by empty weight to cut any margin of error they can when reloading. A beginning reloader would do well to buy a set of digital calipers too. Being able to measure the cartridge&#8217;s overall length (C.O.A.L.). C.O.A.L. allows you to adjust your press so you don&#8217;t seat bullets too deep. It also ensures you don&#8217;t load a batch that&#8217;s too long for your <a title=\"5 Reasons Why You Missed the Shot\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/5-reasons-why-you-missed-the-shot\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"878\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle<\/a> to chamber.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reloading rifle ammo for beginners can be daunting. But the rewards of having built a stockpile of bespoke ammunition when your buddies are scouring Bass Pro for the last box are reward enough. Being able to<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/building-a-custom-rifle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">custom tailor loads to your needs and your rifle<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> will save you plenty of heartache and headache overpaying for box after box of whatever is left on the shelf. When <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"hunting\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"345\">hunting<\/a> season ends, or maybe even before, you may be well on your way into a new hobby.<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/r2.dotdigital-pages.com\/p\/5GBO-4VS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4528 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1.png\" alt=\"reloading_rifle_ammo_for_beginners\" width=\"970\" height=\"250\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1.png 970w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1-768x198.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1-600x155.png 600w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1-150x39.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px\" \/><\/a><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reloading Rifle Ammo for Beginners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12039,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2263,2265],"tags":[2797,2998,3004,3189],"class_list":["post-1907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reloading","category-rifle-scope","tag-hunting","tag-reloading","tag-rifle","tag-shooting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1907"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11323,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1907\/revisions\/11323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}