Ideal Shotshell Reloader Instructions

Reloading or "hand-loading" shot shells for use in shotguns can be an extremely rewarding and enjoyable pastime. If done properly, it can also mean significant savings over buying factory-made shot shells. A shot shell is a cartridge (usually encased in plastic) that can be loaded into a shotgun for firing. Shot shells are used for a variety of hunting, sporting, military and law enforcement applications. Any cartridge reloading is a precision activity and requires a significant amount of preparation and research to ensure the safety of the shooter. These steps for a progressive shot shell reloading press will help ensure a safe and fun reloading experience.

Things You'll Need

  • Shot shell primers
  • Smokeless powder
  • Shot
  • Plastic shot shell hulls
  • Plastic shot shell wadding
  • Multistage shot shell reloading press equipped with powder bushings
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Instructions

    • 1

      Refer to the user manual of your reloading press to find the specific brands of primers, wads and hulls that your press is designed for. Not all reloading presses are compatible with all types of hulls, primers and wads.

    • 2

      Consult your reloading manual to determine the appropriate quantities of powder and shot for the kind of shot shell you want to load.

    • 3

      Adjust your shot throw and powder throw settings to the quantities recommended by your reloading manual.

    • 4

      Fill the wad box with the appropriate type of wads. The wads are pieces of plastic or felt designed to fit between the powder and the shot.

    • 5

      Load the primer tray by opening the tray and setting a sleeve of the appropriate type of primers upside-down on the tray. Remove the sleeve and the primers should already be oriented in the appropriate direction.

    • 6

      Slide an empty hull into place into the shell plate holder for the first station.

    • 7

      Remove the primer feed shut-off pin from the primer tray. There should be a hole in the bottom-left of the primer tray where this pin can be stored so it does not get lost.

    • 8

      Work the lever to deprime and resize the hull and advance it to station 2. Replace the primer feed shut-off pin. This will prevent an overfeed of primers.

    • 9

      Work the lever again to prime the hull and advance it to station 3.

    • 10

      Switch your powder hopper to the "On" position and work the handle again. It will throw a powder charge into the hull and advance it to station 4. Switch the powder hopper back to the "Off" position.

    • 11

      Place a wad in the wad guide and work the lever again. This will insert a wad into the hull and advance it to station 5.

    • 12

      Switch the shot hopper to the "On" position and work the lever. This will fill the hull with a quantity of shot and advance the hull to station 6. Switch the shot hopper back to the "Off" position.

    • 13

      Lower and raise the handle three more times. This will crimp, final crimp and eject the completed shotgun shell. Repeat steps 4 through 13 for subsequent shells.