- 01: Introduction
- 02: History
- 03: Propellants, Firearms, and Ammunition Development
- 04: Modern Firearms Manufacture
- 05: Small Arms Ammunition
- 06: Evidence Handling Procedures
- 07: Equipment and Instrumentation
- 08: Examination of Firearms
- 09: Cartridge and Shotshell Examination
- 10: Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles
- 11: Bullet Comparison and Identification
- 12: Gunshot Residue and Distance Determination
- 13: Toolmark Identification
- 14: Communicating Results
- Resources
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice ProgramsNational Institute of JusticeThe Research, Development, and Evaluation Agency of the U.S. Department of Justice
Reloading Process
Home > Small Arms Ammunition > Shotshell Assembly > Loading > Reloading and Handloading > Reloading Process
The reloading process is similar for handgun and rifle ammunition with minor exceptions:
- Removing the old primer using a decapping die (depriming)
- Cleaning the cases using soap and hot water or a commercial case cleaner
- Optional polishing using a cleaning medium in a tumbler or vibrating cleaner
- Inspecting cases to ensure physical integrity
- Lubricating the cases prior to resizing in a cartridge case resizing die
- Resizing the cases
- Trimming the case to length, if necessary
- Priming the cases (swaging used military cases)
- Charging the case with the correct amount of powder
- Seating the bullet using a bullet seating die
- Crimping the cartridge case mouth into a bullet cannelure used as a crimping groove
- Inspecting the result for physical flaws
- Testing the ammunition for accuracy
Reloading equipment provides a mechanical advantage and the dies to form the cases and assemble the components. The basic tool is the single-stage press, which produces one completed cartridge at a time. More advanced reloading machines have multiple die stations set up on a rotating base allowing several operations to be performed with a single stroke of a lever.
These operations include the following:
- Depriming
- Resizing
- Expanding the case neck
- Seating the primer
- Charging with powder
- Seating and crimping the bullet
The dies and tools used in these operations can leave unique, identifiable toolmarks on the ammunition produced. Firearms/toolmarks examiners and crime scene personnel should realize the implications for associating fired or unfired ammunition with reloading equipment.
Potentially identifiable striated or impression-type marks on cartridge cases may be produced by
- the cartridge case holding tool, which secures the base of a cartridge case in the reloading press,
- resizing dies used for returning expanded cartridge cases to their original dimensions,
- crimping tools used at the mouth of some types of cartridge cases.
Reloading marks on bullets may result from bullet-seating dies and may be in the surface of a bullet, especially the nose.
Shotshell ammunition reloading is similar to handgun and rifle ammunition reloading using either a single-stage press or a semiautomated operation. However, fewer potential toolmarks are left by the equipment. The toolmarks of interest would be on the brass base of most shotshells made by a resizing die.
