Common Mistakes When Reloading Firearms-Part Two

Last time we talked about some common mistakes when reloading firearms, including inadequate crimping, cracked cases, cases dented by sizing lube and excessive powder charge, now we will talk more about the reloading mistakes.

1. Inadequate Primer Seating

Primers that are not quite fully seated can lock up actions. And the protruding portion of the primer can be sensitive to impact, especially in semiautomatic firearms that ram fresh cartridges toward the chamber. It's important to keep primer pockets clean of fouling buildup and be sure to seat primers fully in their pockets. They should be seated just a few thousandths deeper than the plane of the case head. Using hand tools is the easiest way to accomplish this. Particularly, you should make sure that no loose powder particles or other debris find their way to the top of the primer ram, denting primers and interfering with clean, straight seating.

2. Overzealous Primer Seating

As discussed previously, it's important to have primers seated fully below the surface of the case head. Ramming them too firmly into the primer pocket can actually cause problems. The anvil can begin to crush the priming compound prematurely, causing ultra sensitivity in the primer. Develop a feel for seating primers firmly without crushing them.

3. Untrimmed Cases

Trimming cartridge cases is a lousy job. Using untrimmed cases that are too long is one of the most common mistakes reloaders make. Depending on your chamber dimensions, you may get away with it for a while with certain firearms. Bolt actions, with their superior camming strength, will usually chamber cases that are too long. But if the case neck becomes long enough that it begins to contact and crush against the end of the chamber, accuracy decreases. Semiautos, on the other hand, are easily crippled by cases of excessive length.

Unfortunately, semiauto rifles tend to cause more case stretch than any other type of firearm. Grit your teeth and trim those cases when they grow out of spec. It will save you from considerable pain in your hindquarters later.

Here are 3 mistakes about reloading your firearms, if you want to know more about it, our next article will talk more about it.