8 Basic Rules Of Safety During Reloading Your Own Ammo
Are you scared of reloading your own ammo? Well, there are reasons why you should be. By dint of internet, you may already be aware of the massacre a wrong step while reloading the ammo can create. There are pictures and videos of handgun explosions or peeled barrels waving on the internet.
However, today, even a small mistake while operating the metallic cartridges can lead to very dangerous situations.
It’s a good thing that now you are aware of the dangers associated with reloading ammo. But don’t allow these make you too scared that you kill your potentials to be a would-be hand loader. Where there are risks, there are also ways to avoid them. Today we’re going to discuss the basic safety rules during reloading the ammo.
Follow the Manual
Though reloading ammunition isn’t difficult, you must sequentially follow certain steps. So it’s always wise to go through a manual first and memorize the instructions. You shouldn’t work even with a slight confusion. So the first thing to do is to collect a reliable reloading manual and go through it thoroughly.
Verify the Sources of Loading Data
Nowadays almost every powder and bullet company put their load data online. The talk forums also provide loading data. Too many to count. But the question is how much reliable they are.
Of course, you can trust the recipes found in a renowned company’s website. But you shouldn’t trust all the information that waves on the social media without verifying. So the data found from other than a reliable source, shouldn’t be considered in the first place.
Contact directly with a manufacturer or leave a question in the comment box. You can also compare with a good loading manual. You can do even neither. Don’t take the data into account.
Work With One Type at a Time
While you’re at the reloading bench, work with one set of the bullet, cartridge, primer, and powder. It’s because if you, by any chance, mismatch a component or overload, it may give rise to dangerous situations. For example, if you charge a 150-grain bullet in the place of a 120, you’ve already put yourself in danger.
Similarly loading a case with a powder different from the data will produce a loud noise as you trigger the gun. Working with more than one item at a time increases the chances of shuffling the quantities. So when you’re done with one powder, take it away from the bench. Then start working with a new one.
Wear Safety Glasses To Protect Your Eyes
The risk of eye damage is higher while working with primers. An unintentional blast can occur anytime while handling or seating bullets and primers. Though it may not risk your limb or life, damaging your vision is possible from a primer blast. So before anything happens to your eyesight, it’ll be wise to wear a glass when working on the reloading bench.
But it’s also important that you can see clearly with the glass while reloading. Prescription safety glass will give you the feel as if you’re wearing normal glasses. By ensuring your eye’s safety, they will also help you to see clearly.
Keep the Ammunition Separated
It’ll help you to test the loads on the range. The best way avoid mixing is to write the load specifies on them with a permanent black marker. Similarly, while working with different seating depths, write them on the case. The same goes for primers and powder charge. Keep records for loads. It’s better if you can make a list for different charge weight, primers.
Choose Top Quality Reloading Tools
Building high-quality ammunition requires high-quality equipment. Nowadays digital devices like scales, calipers, brass trimmers, dispensers are taking place of manual measurements. The results they give are quite satisfactory. But while buying them, make sure the brand is reliable.
Consider Using a Powder Check System
You have two options in this regard- visual and mechanical. The mechanical system is indeed a die system.
The visual system is adaptable only when the powder fills more than half of the case. If you forget to check the powder case whether it’s empty or not working, it’ll fail to avoid squib loads. Otherwise, a visual powder check system is the best reloading gear to spend money on. That’s why I recommend it for all practical reloading, especially progressive presses. Also, read the instruction before using it so that you can properly operate it.
Don’t Use Old Primers or Unknown Brands
The same goes for the powders. If you find any unmarked powder or old lose primers in the drawer don’t use them for building the ammunition. Just remember, the cartridges are the miniature of pipe bombs as you load them. Don’t endanger yourself and your surrounding by assembling unknown powders or primers.
Tips
- Do reloading the ammo with full isolation and concentration. Set up the reloading bench so that nothing can distract you.
- Don’t reload or test the load when a kid is around you or near the place.
- Just because the manual listed a load as the maximum will be safe for your gun. The maximum load for one gun can be over pressure for other. So choose that suits your gun.
- Keeping records of your previous good loading detail will help you to recreate it again. Keep hand notes or save notes in your laptop of the loads that goes well with your rifle. Also, record the development process.
Final Verdict
If you’re playing with bullets till today and your fingers and eyes are still protected, then you’re lucky. But luck may not favor you all the time.
So it’s time you followed all the safety rules to keep you and your dear ones safe.
