I have mentioned before that I like to reload ammunition. My friend John Cooper is an expert at it. The way I do it there are quite a few steps. I don't mind taking the time because it is really fun and challenging. It is very satisfying to end up with boxes of clean, reliable ammunition. Over the years I have added a couple steps to end up with a better result. In the process I have also learned quite a bit.

So what is the process I use?
1. When shooting at the range I inspect each spent cartridge to look for cracks and deformations that would preclude reloading it.

2. I use a special decapping die to remove the primer. The particular die I own decaps all the cartridges I use.

3. I wash the brass to get the dirt and crud off it. Modern smokeless powders can be messy.

4. The next step is resizing using a die to squeeze the case down to a desired diameter. The cases expand to fill the chambers when fired.

5. Now the neck needs to be expanded a tiny bit so that the new projectile can be inserted.

6. A new primer is inserted into the primer pocket.

7. The cartridge is charged with gunpowder.

8. The new projectile is inserted and crimped into place.

This is a long process, for sure. I reload .38 special, .357 magnum, .41 magnum, .44 magnum, .45 ACP and .30-30.

Today's photo is of 200 rounds of .357 magnum I finished up this afternoon. I color the bottoms with magic marker to keep lot integrity in certain cases, and this is one of them.