Thread: Reloading Process and Steps Performed

Greetings all,
Reloading process can be quite personal. Much of what we do is by choice rather than need so here is my routine, make of it what you will.
1. Cases are deprimed in a punch and base set from a Lee Loader. Primer pockets are cleaned with a small screwdriver and the outside of the cases cleaned with a Scotch Brite pad or steel wool if really dirty.
2. Cases are inspected for any cracks and signs of a head separation.
3. Cases are annealed every second load with the candle method.
4. Cases for light loads are neck sized. Those for the .303 are sized in a Lee Loader and the others with appropriate neck dies. Full power loads have cases Full Length sized using the Redding competition shell holders to set the head space. I have been thinking of sizing without the expander button fitted and then running the expander button in and out as a separate step as this supposedly can deliver straighter necks. The jury is still out on this one.
5. Cases are trimmed in a hand trimmer to 0.1mm short of max.
6. Cases are primed in a hand primer.
7. Powder is weighed on an electronic scale and checked on my old beam scale. A bit of OCD going on here, more later.
8. The powder charge goes in the case and the case transferred to the press looking down to see that the case is charged and the projectile seated. I have always done it this way and see no reason to change.
9. Finally the completed cartridge is weighed to ensure that there is powder in every one.
10. Loading records are completed for each batch of handloads and the rounds boxed with data under the box lid.

I don't sort new cases by weight or volume but do have batches of cases of the same weight but different head stamp to more easily keep track of the load count.

Regards Grandpamac.