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Handloading is the process used to create firearm cartridges by hand versus those put together en masse and sold commercially, generally in packages of 6 to 50. When previously fired cases are used, the process is often called reloading. Generally only boxer primed cases (see internal ballistics) are reloaded, though there are exceptions.

Reasons for handloading

The most common motivations for handloading cartridges are increased accuracy and cost savings, though handloaders may sacrifice one for the other. Reloading fired cases can save the shooter a significant amount of money, as the case is usually the major cost of a cartridge. The handloader can also create cartridges for which there are no commercial equivalents, such as wildcat cartridges. Collectors of obsolete firearms often have to handload since many obsolete cartridges are no longer produced. Hunters may desire cartridges with specialized bullets. Target shooters seek optimum accuracy. Many handloaders customize their cartridges to their specific gun. This is usually in the pursuit of accuracy, though it can also lead to an increase in case life. For these specialty applications, cost is usually not a primary motivator, and such cartridges may cost more than commercial ones.

Variables in the reloading process

The handloading process can realize increased accuracy through improved consistency of manufacture. Each cartridge loaded can have each component carefully matched to the rest of the cartridges in the batch. Brass cases can be matched by volume and weight, bullets by weight and concentricity, powder charges by weight. Primers also play a role in accuracy and consistency, but the handloader usually has no ability to manufacture these, so the handloader is limited to experimenting with different primers available commercially. In additon to these items that are considered critical, the equipment used to assemble the cartridge also have an effect on its performance; dies used to size the cartridges can be matched to a given rifle's chamber, high precision scales can give more consistent and accurate measures of powder.

Atypical handloading

It is typically agreed that rimfire cartridges (e.g. .22 Long Rifle) are not handloaded, although there are some shooters that unload commercial rimfire cartridges, and use the primed case to make their own loads, or to generate speical rimfire wildcat cartridges. These cartridges can be remarkably labor intensive to produce, and the process of unloaded the live rimfire cases can be dangerous, since any crushing of the thin brass rim can ignite the primer and cause the case to explode.

Berdan primers, with thier offcenter flash holes and lack of self contained anvil, are more difficult to work with than the easily removed Boxer primers. The primers may be punctured and pried out from the rear, or extracted with hydraulic pressure. Primers must be selected carefully, as there are more sizes of Berdan primers than the standard large and small pistol, large and small rifle of Boxer primers. The case must also be inspected carefully to make sure the anvil has not been damaged, because this could result in a failure to fire.

Materials required

• Cases or shotshell hulls. For shotshells, plastic or paper cases can be reloaded, though plastic is more durable. Steel and aluminum cases do not have the correct qualities for reloading, so a brass case is essential.
• Gun powder of an appropriate type. Generally, handgun cartridges and shotshells use faster powders, rifle cartridges use slower powder.
• Bullets, or shot and wads for shotshells.
• Primers

• Ammunition