| Shotgun reloading is the solution you have been | | | | pushes the spent primer out of its pocket in the |
| looking for to control the ammunition expenses on | | | | hull's base, on pulling the lever. |
| your weekend shooting. In fact, the recent price | | | | Resizing: The next important step at the first |
| increases of factory shotgun shells have many | | | | station is resizing the hull's plastic body (sliding |
| shooters resorting to shotgun reloading. It will | | | | between the mandrel and an outer cylinder) to |
| allow you to shoot more for the same amount of | | | | factory dimensions with the help of a resizing clip |
| money. | | | | that slips over the brass base. |
| If you have never tried shotgun reloading yourself | | | | Priming the Shotshell: At the second station, you |
| and need some advice, it is advisable to go | | | | need to place the hull on a hollow rammer tube |
| through the basics involved in the process and | | | | while placing a primer in a spring-loaded cup. On |
| also the components you need. Here is an | | | | pulling the lever, the rammer guides the hull onto |
| overview of the shotgun reloading process which | | | | the primer while the cup's spring allows the primer |
| may go a long way to help you manufacture | | | | to sit in the empty pocket. |
| shells and cut down your shooting costs. | | | | Charging with Powder, Wad and Shot: At the third |
| A reloading press is the most important device | | | | station, get ready for three important operations. |
| that allows you to reload the ammunition. Most | | | | The first operation is charging with the powder. |
| reloading presses have five stations that perform | | | | Here, the lever inserts a drop tube into the hull. |
| all the steps needed for reloading the shells. It | | | | On pushing the charge bar to the left, the powder |
| contains all the necessary accessories, including | | | | bushing is moved from beneath the powder |
| the dies, bushings, and charge bars. It holds the | | | | bottle and drops its load down the tube into the |
| dies that reform, prime and reload the shells. A | | | | hull. The charge bar beneath the shot bottle also |
| charge bar contains a powder bushing that | | | | gets positioned, filling the shot receptacle. Next, |
| meters out a specific amount of powder and | | | | you need to place a wad over the bottom of the |
| throws a specific amount of shot. | | | | tube by lifting the lever. The tube will seat the |
| Before you start with the shotgun reloading | | | | wad on top of the powder once you release the |
| process, it is critical to ascertain the amount of | | | | lever. The third important step at this stage is to |
| powder being thrown by the powder bushing and | | | | get the shot column complete. Here again, you will |
| the charge bar. Since each powder varies in | | | | need to lift the lever slightly and push the charge |
| density, the same bushing throws different | | | | bar to the right. It will move the shot receptacle |
| amounts of various powders. For this, you may | | | | over the tube and drop the shot into the wad's |
| refer to the table that comes with the press and | | | | shot cup. |
| shows which bushing throws out how much of | | | | Pre-crimp: At the fourth station, crimp is started |
| powder. It is also advisable to use an accurate | | | | which sets the proper folds in the plastic hull. |
| reloading scale to get just the right amount of | | | | However, it is important that it leaves the end |
| powder drop. This will help you choose a larger or | | | | slightly open. |
| a smaller bushing, as required. | | | | Final Crimp Station: Here, the crimp is fully closed |
| Once you get the right amount of powder drops, | | | | by a punch. The top of the shell gets a slight |
| you are ready to move ahead with the process. | | | | recess. This station also tapers the shell slightly so |
| The shotgun reloading press comes complete with | | | | it will enter the shotgun chamber without force. |
| a lever that operates all stations, which in turn | | | | With this, your shell is ready to fire. With little |
| perform all the steps. The 8 basic steps involved | | | | practice and by paying attention to details, you will |
| in shotgun reloading process are as follows: | | | | find that shotgun reloading is a simple and |
| Depriming: It is the first basic step that occurs at | | | | repetitive process. You can make many shells |
| the first station. Here, the punch (bulging out from | | | | even on a basic press, every hour. |
| the bottom of a mandrel, fitted inside the hull) | | | | |