Let’s assume you are going to take the Big Step and start reloading your own ammo.

After you have purchased the needed equipment, you still need the components to assemble the rifle, pistol or shotgun shells.

First of all you must have powder. What kind, you ask? It depends on what caliber you are going to load. Powder is made up of two basic kinds, “BALL” and “Extruded”, but that is not as important as the “Burning Rate” of the powder.

Small cases like 22-250, 222 and 308 usually take a “faster” powder than the 30-06, and the Big Magnums use even a slower powder.

How do you choose which powder(s) to purchase? Actually it is not as difficult as you might think. For example, buy some IMR 4895 or 4064 and Alliant Reloader # 15 or 19. With those you can load 22-250, 220 Swift, 308 Win, 30-06, 30-30, 8 x 57, 7 x 57, 7-08, 375 H&H and 416 Rem. Those are “mid-burning rate powders” and they work well in cartridges that are not “over Bore Capacity”.

Also purchase some “slower” burning powders, like Alliant Reloder 22 and try some IMR 483l or 4350. Maybe even get some IMR 7828 or Alliant Reloder 25, if you are loading the 300 Mags, 7mm Mag, or 30-378 Wby. These are “over-bore capacity” cartridges, and they require a “very slow” powder.

Primers are the next things you will need. Get some “standard” 210 dia. primers if loading large rifle or there is also a “small” rifle primer for the small cases if you are loading the 222, and 223 cartridges.

Now, if you are going to load Pistol ammo, you will need the proper Pistol primers. They make both standard and magnum types for pistols too. There are reasons for using either, and your loading manual can tell you what kind is recommended for the type of pistol ammo you are loading.

If you are going to load any of the “Magnum” rifle calibers, get some “Magnum” primers also. All primers are good, just a little different from each other. In load development, changing primers is the one component that will “normally” least change the results of groups and velocities.

Bullets are very specialized. You must purchase the proper dia. (caliber) for each gun you are loading for, but which ones should you buy? It depends on what you want to accomplish with that bullet.

From Elephants to Deer to Prairie dogs, there is a special bullet for every one. Each bullet maker has a very complete assortment for you to choose from. There is no way I can even begin to suggest what to buy, except to try buy a bullet suitable for what you want it to do. After a while, you will accumulate many boxes of different kinds always searching for those prefect groups or performance.

If you are getting into SHOTGUN reloading, you will need the proper wads for the empty case you are going to reload, along with shot. Powder for shotguns is a different kind so you will need the proper one for the type of shell you are going to reload. Also Shotgun Primers come in a variety of types and sizes, each matched to a specific requirement.

The Powder company manuals are very specific as to what wads, and primers to sue with their powders to achieve good results.

That about sums it up for “Components”.

Now go read the manual one more time, and then proceed slowing and be very careful. Read, check the scale, and check it again. Also be sure your eyes are good. I’ve had one fellow tell me eh could not read the “fine print” and what he thought was a 48 gr was really a 43 gr load. When he fired the first shell, he locked dup the bolt and blew the primer with a 5 gr over load.

Also, don’t get confused with powder numbers. There is IMR 4831 and 3031, both are very good powders, but 3031 is medium speed and 4831 is slow burning. If you should happen to load 3031 instead of 4831, you are in for Big trouble.

If you have a special question, call Terry Blauwkamp days at 616-896-6500 or write at tblauwkamp@superior-sales.com