Complete Guide to Putting Together Your Ammo Reloading Kit

Reloading is an art! We share the love for that art for various reasons. Yeah, we know that what might sound like a great reason for one won’t sound attractive to another.

But in general, most people see it as a relaxing hobby and fun to spend their recess on. Apart from this, they can also optimize those ammunition characters specific to their guns and save some money.

That’s it for the reasons. Whatever be yours, let’s not waste time and dive into the core discussion.

One of the common questions we encounter about ammo reloads is how costly can ammo reloading get. Well, there isn’t a definite answer to that question and it all depends on you and your needs.

In general, it depends on how easily you want to get the job done. If you aren’t willing to make compromises, you are going to end up spending more. In the meantime, if you are okay making compromises, you can go with investing only in the necessary tools.

Here comes the list of some of those gears that can get you through safely reloading the spent ammunition. This list has been made after consulting with veteran gunsmiths and professional marksmen. We are certain that this article will help you put together your ammo reloading kit.


The 5 must-have gears in the ammo reload kit

1.       Reloading press

With the price tag of 150$ for a good quality press, it is a considerable spend. Having a lifespan of 10+ years of moderate usage, let see what you can do with a reloading press.

  • ·         To push out the old primer, a brace case can be pressed against a decapping pin.
  • ·         To press a new primer into an emptied primer pocket.
  • ·         To press the bullet into the casing.
  • ·         To remove the bell from the expansion step.

Now that you know the advantages of having a reloading press, you should know which one to choose from.

If you are an amateur, we recommend you to go ahead with a hand-operated single-stage press. Though it can be time-consuming and tiresome to deal with, as an amateur it is best to play with presses that are the simplest to operate and maintain.  Everything is done in one action. This means you will have to resize the cases, prime them, add powder and seat the bullet and finally crimp all those cases.

Tedious! Right? But it is the simplest, easy to learn, forgiving, and inexpensive option you can practically choose.

2.       Die set

Commonly known as inserts, they are cylindrical and are made of steel which is screwed into the reloading press. Different types of die sets are available that are specifically made for unique tasks. The press jams the case into the die to accomplish those tasks. You should be aware of your purpose before investing in a die set, else the spending will end up in vain.

Let us look into the types and the service it does:


    • Decapping and resizing die

It’s a twin purpose die. Being shaped like a cartridge and identical in diameter, it pushes the cartridge to die to easily fit in the chamber. The steel rod at the center pops out the old blown-up primer.

    • Expanding die

It opens up the mouth end of the cartridge case to make room for a new bullet to go in.

    • Seating and crimping die

It also serves two purposes like a decapping & resizing die. It pushes the bullet down into the casing to the required depth and also removes the expansion created by pressing the case mouth inwards.

Note that for each caliber you have to find a different set of dies. You will also need corresponding shell holders. Summing up, it will almost cost you $50 for a good quality die set.


3.       Powder scale

You would be aware that you need to have just the right amount of gunpowder on the casing. Even a slight variation in the quantity of powder can invite danger. Know that precision is the key here. You could buy scoops to measure the powder. While it might help you save money, it is always advisable to go with weighed batching methods over volume batching.

There are two types of powder scale available in the market

·         Beam scale without batteries

·         Electronic scale with batteries

We recommend you to go with traditional beam scales as the batteries can drain up easily and it can also save you some pennies. The more accurate you want the scale to be, the more expensive it can get. While there are scales that cost $300, a $75 scale will do our job clean.

4.       Reloading manual/handbook

Don’t even dare to try reloading your ammo without reading the manual or handbook. Without proper understanding and knowledge, you will end up cleaning your own mess. You need to ensure that the reloads are safe and that it strictly adheres to the guidelines published by the bullet companies.

Know that you can’t rely on those random manuals you find online. They can only be used for educational purposes. You will have to spend an additional 25$ if your bullet company hasn't attached the manual with the kit.

5.       Case trimmer

You would have noticed the cartridge brass stretching a little each time when you reload, especially if you have played with the cartridge dimension. A $100 will be taken off from your wallet to fix this by trimming the excess brass from the mouth of the case.

We suggest going with a hand-operated manual trimmer considering the life and price tag.


To sum up

Making an estimate can cost you around $300 in total on average. While we consider it worth spending separately on the tools, you can also choose to buy a kit including all these from a supplier.

Here at OTM tactical, we have listed out all the best quality kits you can take a look at and consider buying with trust. Do visit us now for more queries and shopping. 




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