Reloading? That's easy, you just press the mag release, put a new mag in, tap it, or tug it to make sure it's seated and press the bolt release. O, you mean reloading ammo, as in, reloading the cartridges? Well, that's a different beast altogether.

Jokes aside, every gun enthusiast has, at least once, dabbled in reloading and handloading their own ammunition, or at least thought about it. 

If you're one of those gun enthusiasts, and you're looking to make your 9mm rounds actually blow the lungs out of somebody's chest with your own handloads, but you don't know where to start, this little guide is for you!

Why Reload in the First Place

First things first, let's examine why you would reload, or handload your own ammo. After all, there are plenty of companies out there where you can buy either premium-grade ammo for competition shooting or cheap ammo for plinking. Reloading can be a time-consuming and complex process, so why bother in the first place?

One of the first things that come to mind is that you're saving money. It is a known fact that you can reload ammo at a fraction of the cost of buying pre-made ammo per round.

However, this fact is both true and untrue. Yes, you save money per round, but people who reload their rounds also tend to shoot more. So, at the end of the day, you did shoot more rounds per dollar spent, but you also spent the same amount, so you're neither richer nor poorer at the end of the day.

We should also mention that the cost is also tightly associated with caliber. If you're shooting a lot of 9mm, it might not save that much on reloading, and you're better off buying the ammo, as it will save you a lot of time, but if you're shooting match grade .308. or some more exotic caliber, reloading might be worth it for you.

But shooting is more than just the money - it's also about rubbing your sub-MOA groupings in your friends' faces. 

Reloading, or, in this case, handloading, allows you to create custom ammo that is specifically tailored to your weapon or your style of shooting. This means you can create some really accurate loads, giving yourself the edge you need, whether you're out hunting, competing or just trying to impress your local range's gun bunnies. 

Finally, some people simply do it for the sake of the hobby. Reloading and handloading can be time-consuming - yes, you can crank out 1000 rounds with your progressive press, but reloading also requires prep, such as prepping the cases, measuring powder loads, a hefty amount of research, so you don't Kentucky Ballistics yourself, and a decent chunk of time devoted to testing the rounds.

Equipment

Ultimately, whatever your reason for entering the hobby, you're going to need some equipment. 

As with any equipment, you can find reloading tools at varying prices, from varying manufacturers - but that's an article (or multiple) in itself. For now, let's see what tools you need to actually get into the hobby.

Presses

The alpha and omega of reloading and handloading is the press. Your press will do most of the heavy lifting, shaping cases, pressing bullets and priming your cartridges.

There are three types of presses: single-stage, turret presses and multi-stage presses.

Single-stage presses are called this because you have to do every stage of creating a new cartridge individually rather than all at once.. Single-stage presses are recommended for newcomers, as they can become intimately acquainted with the reloading process and because single-stage press kits are relatively inexpensive.

Turret presses are slightly more advanced and, thus, reload cartridges slightly faster. Their main feature is the eponymous turret that can hold multiple dies. This means that you don't have to switch out dies when resizing the case and seating the bullet, or reloading different calibers, making the entire process much faster.

Progressive presses are the fastest of the bunch, but also the most expensive. A progressive press allows for the creation of multiple cartridges at once, with multiple stages of the process being completed at one time. As we hinted at the beginning, a good progressive press can create around 1000 rounds an hour.

Dies

Dies are the heart and soul of a reloading kit. They are hollow, cylindrical tools without which you won't be able to resize your cases, crimp them, or seat the bullets. 

Reloading dies come in different sizes, each size corresponding to different calibers. Dies are usually not interchangeable between calibers (except in certain, very rare cases), so you will need to obtain specific dies based on what caliber you want to reload. 

Typically, you will require 3 die sets for pistol calibers and 2 die sets for rifles.

Powder Measure

Though not essential, you might want to also obtain a powder measure. Powder measures exist as both electronic and manual items, and they're used to determine specific custom loads.

Most press kits come with a powder measure included, but if you're into creating your own custom loads, you might want to invest in one that has more calibration options.

Micrometer

For those that want to load their match-grade ammunition with absolute precision, a micrometer is a must. Most are relatively simple, but some tools like the RCBS Case Master Gauging Tool can really let you dial those numbers in through multiple measurements.

Case Trimmer

If you're looking to reload rifle cartridges, you might also need a case trimmer. When fired, cases tend to expand and stretch a little, and you'll need a trimmer to shape the cases back to their proper size. 

Case Cleaning Tools

Cases that have been fired are dirty and need to be cleaned before you reload them. Most people usually use a simple case tumbler that uses walnut shells to clean off your brass. Others use ultrasonic cleaners and case dryers for the same job.

Reloading Process

Now that you've got your tools, let's get on with the reloading process!

At its core, the reloading process is a fairly simple matter - take the case, put the primer in, then the powder, and seat the bullet. However, the process requires a lot of research and a fair bit of attention to detail to make sure your rounds are properly prepared, and don't blow up your gun (and/or you).

Case Prep

Before you actually start priming and putting the powder in the case, it has to be properly prepared. If you're reloading, you're most likely using already fired cases. As we said, these cases are both deformed and dirty, and need to be cleaned and bent back into shape.

This will, then, be your first step. If using spent cases, you will need to introduce them to a tumbler or an ultrasonic cleaner, so that they're stripped of any dirt or residue that might cause damage to the case or fouling of the load. 

After that, the case has to be bent back into shape, as the fired cases expand. Following that, you'll need to trim the case back to its original form, and you're ready to go.

Additionally, you will also need to remove the spent primer, to make way for the new primer to be introduced into the case.

Deburring and chamfering is also something you'll need to do if you end up trimming the case. This will fix any sharp edges the top of the case might have, and avoid problems when seating the bullet.

Priming

Now that you've prepped the case, it's time to put in the primer. The primer goes in the back of the case, and it serves as the initial ignition that ignites the powder in the case. 

Priming can be done by hand or on your reloading press.

Powder

Now that you've got your primer in, time to put in the boom. 

Putting the powder in your cases is usually done by individual powder measures, or powder measures that are a part of your press. 

When it comes to powder, this is where you'll have to do the most research. Certain cartridges require certain loads to prevent case rupture due to excessive pressure. In addition, certain bullet weights (even within the same caliber) will require proper loads in order to be effective, or, again, to avoid overpressuring the case and causing a fatal malfunction.

Bullet Seating

Finally, we can put the bullet in.

This is, perhaps the easiest part - all you have to do is put the bullet in the appropriate seating die and put it into the press, and voila! Your cartridge is complete.

However, you shouldn't relax too much during this stage. Some bullets require that you crimp the case properly (press the rim of the case around the bullet tighter), in order to avoid squibs (bullets that fail to exit the barrel due to lack of pressure/powder). Additionally, you'll have to "flare" some cases (expand the rim slightly) in order to seat certain bullets, because the cases might be too tight. 

Either way, after you've done with this stage, your round will be ready for use, and you get to do it all over again!

Conclusion

And, with that, our little guide on ammo reloading is finished! As you've seen, at its very core, this hobby isn't particularly technically challenging, nor does it require advanced tools to do.

However, what it does require is a fair bit of dedication - both in terms of time and research. This is a time-consuming hobby, and, while it won't make your ammo expenditures any better, you'll still feel a certain sense of pride in your own craftsmanship and a great deal of satisfaction when you finally get that handload just right.