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Is this the correct steps of accurate reloading?

DngBat7

Silver $$ Contributor
So I am going from novice reloading, to try to be a little more advanced. Bought some equipment this week. And I am adding some steps to the process and am confusing myself a little at this point. So I am trying to get the steps in order, and want to be corrected if I am wrong or one of the steps is out of place. The only thing I did not included is weighing brass, primers, bullets. I bought a small jewelers scale of ebay, but realized how inaccurate they are and keep getting out of wack.



Steps as I understand them (lets assume new or 1 time fired brass)


1. Uniform Primer Pockets (First time only)

2. Debur Flash hole if punched, not drilled (First time only)

3. Decap old primers of fired brass (I realize most do this during sizing)

4. Tumble every 3 or 4 time

5. Anneal (I know some don't believe in this, I bought the machine, thus its gonna get used)

6. debur brass (So dont scratch inside of die)

7. lube brass

7. Size Brass

8. Lube expander mandrel???

9. Use expander mandrel (First time only)

10. Neck turn brass (First time only)

11. Resize brass again

12. Trim necks

13. Chamfer necks

14. Point bullets

15. Primer, power and seat bullets




Ok, so I tried to put these in order as I know it, I would love to hear from the benchresters any tips I can be given.


Thanks guys, you all have been great about my never ending questions.
 
Bc'z said:
#6 is for better/easy seating, and not galling bullet.
Drop expander button , get expander mandrel
Click to expand...
On number 6, I was not worried about the bullet, but the inside of the die being scratched by the outside of neck

Not using a expander button. I meant an expander die w/ mandrel

So question is, do you size before you use expander die to neck turn, and then size after as well?
 
IMOP the thing that will help you the most is to buy and use good inspection and measuring instruments, and have a good book keeping system or spread sheet to collate your data after an afternoon of shooting. From there, you'll be able to see what is working, and what is not. Many of those steps are not necessary if you're not shooting the best equipment as you won't be able to see a difference on the target, especially if you're limited to 100 or 200 yd ranges. And without that, you can't know if you're improving your abilities or the ammo/gun, or if the temperature that day was simply optimal for your load (or you got some extra sleep).

BTW; you DO know you're about to fall head first down a very deep rabbit hole? LOL
 
Texas10 said:
IMOP the thing that will help you the most is to buy and use good inspection and measuring instruments, and have a good book keeping system or spread sheet to collate your data after an afternoon of shooting. From there, you'll be able to see what is working, and what is not. Many of those steps are not necessary if you're not shooting the best equipment as you won't be able to see a difference on the target, especially if you're limited to 100 or 200 yd ranges. And without that, you can't know if you're improving your abilities or the ammo/gun, or if the temperature that day was simply optimal for your load (or you got some extra sleep).
Click to expand...
Your exactly right. And I have actually been taking those steps as well. Doing everything you mentioned. I also have all the necessary measuring instruments. As far as equipment, it’s not a benchrest rifle, but a extremely accurate custom. So the difference can be seen. I have been wanting to take my reloading skills to a higher level.
 
Im gonna mess you all up... I clean up primer pockets, flash holes, use an expander mandrel and size the necks, then load and shoot new brass.

Therea no reason to me to trim and all kinds of other junk before getting a fire form on.

Just me, not a conclusive list by any means.
 
Dan S said:
On number 6, I was not worried about the bullet, but the inside of the die being scratched by the outside of neck

Not using a expander button. I meant an expander die w/ mandrel

So question is, do you size before you use expander die to neck turn, and then size after as well?
Click to expand...

Brass wont scratch the die...if it could then deburring the neck wouldn't help. You are shoving a brass case under a lot of pressure into the die and dragging it back out... again under a lot of pressure. If brass, by and of itself could do it we'd all be in trouble.
Dirt and/or grit on the brass can scratch the die. You might want to incorporate some simple chemical cleaning in your load process to eliminate this issue. I like to punch the primers out, uniform the pockets and then clean the brass, then resize.
"Tumble every 3 or 4 times"??? Tumble in what, for what?? Is this some kind of semi that is going to throw your cases all in the mud??
Everything else looks okay to me and it will work, but some of it might not be necessary. As Texas10 suggested, you might want to get good measuring tools and think about a lot more QC as you go thru the rounds and make improvements and load. An example might be this: I would rather have cases sized to an exact shoulder length {headspace} than ones with necks turned way down, but used in a SAAMI chamber.
You also might want to load up some simple, plain old, nothing real happy special rounds as "control" ammo so you get a base idea and have something to compare to while trying to make all these "improvements". Let the data drive you, not what the rest of the world does {tells you they do} to make accurate ammo.

Edit: as to your scale...it may not be as "inaccurate" as you think. In fact it might be touchy accurate. Proximity to florescent lights, not being set up on a rock solid base, general movement in the building where you are trying to use it, wind, heat ducts, noise, etc. can all affect those scales. I believe you are supposed to turn it on and let it "warm up" for about 30 minutes or so before you even try to use it.
 
Last edited:
Dan S said:
Not using a expander button. I meant an expander die w/ mandrel

So question is, do you size before you use expander die to neck turn, and then size after as well?
Click to expand...

If you use a k&m neck Turner and their pilot, you'll need to use their expander. Their pilot is larger in diameter than most. They say it's a more consistent turn that way, but they also sell an expander that way. Either way I have it and think it works well.

I use a uniformer after they have been fired once, and I use it every time to clean primer pockets.

Also after firing, before you anneal, or do anything to the necks, take 0000 steel wool and clean them up. Keeps dirt out of your dies, and I think if you anneal it makes things more consistent.
 
"... BTW; you DO know you're about to fall head first down a very deep rabbit hole?...."

I no longer shout upwards towards the entrance to the hole since I can speak directly to the several other thousands of hole dwellers right there with me at the bottom.

To the OP- even though it is going to take several hours to make your first round, it will get better. Good luck.
 
Fotheringill said:
"... BTW; you DO know you're about to fall head first down a very deep rabbit hole?...."

I no longer shout upwards towards the entrance to the hole since I can speak directly to the several other thousands of hole dwellers right there with me at the bottom.

To the OP- even though it is going to take several hours to make your first round, it will get better. Good luck.
Click to expand...
hahaha. The only thing falling down a hole is my wallet
 
Fotheringill said:
"... BTW; you DO know you're about to fall head first down a very deep rabbit hole?...."

I no longer shout upwards towards the entrance to the hole since I can speak directly to the several other thousands of hole dwellers right there with me at the bottom.

To the OP- even though it is going to take several hours to make your first round, it will get better. Good luck.
Click to expand...
This is SOOOO true! Kinda like a black hole that sucks you in.:D
 
Dan S said:
So I am going from novice reloading, to try to be a little more advanced. Bought some equipment this week. And I am adding some steps to the process and am confusing myself a little at this point. So I am trying to get the steps in order, and want to be corrected if I am wrong or one of the steps is out of place. The only thing I did not included is weighing brass, primers, bullets. I bought a small jewelers scale of ebay, but realized how inaccurate they are and keep getting out of wack.

Thanks guys, you all have been great about my never ending questions.
Click to expand...


Read the article from technical data on this website. Probably other good info by top shooters on the tech section of this website. You will probably get 50 responses. Keep it simple look at what the top shooters do. If you don't have a top quality rifle none of this stuff will probably help very much.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/reloading/complete-precision-case-prep/
 
Webster said:
Read the article from technical data on this website. Probably other good info by top shooters on the tech section of this website. You will probably get 50 responses. Keep it simple look at what the top shooters do. If you don't have a top quality rifle none of this stuff will probably help very much.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/reloading/complete-precision-case-prep/
Click to expand...
It looks very interesting. I will give it a read after work. Thank you
 
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