| First and foremost, what do you need? An | | | | to seat the primer in the pocket. Run your finger |
| updated reloading book to reference proper | | | | across the bottom of the casing and check if you |
| powder charge, bullet weight, and bullet seating | | | | properly seated primer the primer. Do not force |
| depth, a press, reloading dies, and a scale. | | | | the primer into the pocket because you can |
| Concentration and attention to detail is another | | | | accidentally set off the primer and cause injury. |
| important must have while reloading and is just as | | | | The primer should be flush to the case. |
| critical as your reloading book. | | | | Using factory ammunition to compare your |
| The 30.06 rifle caliber is one of the most common | | | | reloads, purchase the same weight bullets as |
| and versatile hunting round to reload. | | | | those you have been using. Cross reference the |
| Re-using once fired brass is a cost cutting | | | | bullet weight with an appropriate powder to use. |
| measure that most reloaders will often do. I | | | | Doing this will yield two things; proper powder |
| recommend cleaning your brass with treated | | | | charge and seating depth. Never exceed the |
| crushed walnut shells to get a nice shine. | | | | recommended powder charge in your loading |
| Damaged or questionable cases should should | | | | manual. The amount of powder will mandate the |
| NOT be used and recycling them is a good way | | | | speed of the bullet and the pressure that your |
| of recouping a small amount of money. | | | | firearm will sustain. Use a powder measure to get |
| It should be noted that there are two kinds of | | | | the correct charge and periodically check it with a |
| primer pockets for rifle brass. Berdan primed | | | | scale. It is very important not to double charge |
| brass have two small flash holes at the bottom of | | | | rifle loads because the consequences can and will |
| the case, whereas Boxer primed brass only has | | | | be catastrophic. Before seating each bullet, look at |
| one. To verify whether or not you have Berdan | | | | the tray of charged casings. The powder level |
| or Boxer, shine a light inside the case and check if | | | | should all be the same. Any missed or double |
| there are two flash holes. | | | | charged casings should be redone. |
| Insert the proper shell holder and sizing die. Roll | | | | Install the bullet seating die. Set the bullet into the |
| the casings lightly across a lube pad or spray case | | | | casing and slowly seat the bullet. Measure the |
| lube on the cases that your are going to be | | | | over all length of your ammunition as you seat |
| working on. With the sizing die in the press, run | | | | the bullet, and refer to the load manual for the |
| the press one full cycle to size and deprime. | | | | maximum or minimum bullet length. Make slow |
| Measure the over all length of the casing with a | | | | adjustment until the desired length is obtained. |
| caliper and trim the cases to the proper length if | | | | Inspect each round for uniformity in over all |
| needed. | | | | length, condition of the casing, and primer seating. |
| Since we are loading for a 30.06, you will need to | | | | Your measurements should not exceed the |
| use Large Rifle Primers (LRP). Using a priming tool, | | | | recommended ratings in your reloading book and |
| insert your brass into the shell holder, press firmly | | | | have fun with your new ammo. |