Category: Blog

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Avoiding Lead Exposure

Reloading Supplies

Reloading is a safe hobby when proper safety protocols are observed. However, some of the reloading supplies a reloader deals with do come with hazards and must be treated with care. Lead, for example, has been shown to cause serious harm to the body if exposure is not controlled. All reloaders must be aware of the dangers of lead exposure and should work proactively to limit direct contact with this needed reloading substance.

Here are some general guidelines on avoiding lead exposure during your reloading sessions:

Keep Your Hands Clean

Always wash your hands when you’re finished reloading. You can also wear safety gloves during the reloading process for extra protection. Washing your hands after handling reloading supplies ensures you don’t carry lead around with you for the rest of the day.

No Eating or Drinking

This sounds like common sense, but you shouldn’t be eating or drinking while reloading. Not only does it contaminate your reloading space, it makes it easy to accidentally ingest lead or other harmful chemicals.

Keep Your Space Clean

Use a damp cloth to wipe down your reloading station after every session. No matter how careful you are during the reloading process, lead will slowly accumulate in your workspace. Regular cleaning helps limit exposure by removing this built-up lead before it becomes a problem.

Wear a Mask

If you use a dry tumbler for cleaning your cartridge cases, make sure to wear a mask when you pour the cleaning media out afterward. Lead from your cases accumulates in the dust and can be accidentally inhaled during this step of the process.

Avoiding lead exposure is easy if you’re careful with your reloading supplies and maintain a clean workspace. For further information about reloading supplies or best practices, contact Titan Reloading at 262-244-7023 or visit www.TitanReloading.com.

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Reloading Dangers

lee reloading supplies

At Titan Reloading, we work hard to support the growth of the reloading community and to inspire new shooters to take up the hobby. Reloading is cost-effective, enjoyable, and safe — as long as it is done according to established safety protocols. However, working with your own reloading supplies does carry inherent risks, and it’s important to understand these risks before you start down the reloading path.

Consider the following when determining whether reloading is right for you:

Injuries and Firearm Damage

Double-charging a round or using too much powder can create a dangerous situation that can result in permanent damage to your firearm or personal injury. This is one of many reasons it is recommended you only reload when you can work uninterrupted and with full focus. Old shell casings can crack, working with lead is always slightly risky, and ignoring manufacturer guidelines can create hazardous situations.

Do not start reloading if you’re not prepared to give it your full attention and follow established guidelines.

Reliability

As a rule, reloaded ammunition is more reliable and more accurate than factory ammunition. However, this is only true when the reloader understands the reloading process and uses his or her reloading supplies correctly. Failure to follow instructions could put you in a vulnerable position. You must be ready to accept responsibility for the performance of your ammunition.

Again, reloading is only for people ready to take it seriously and approach it with the proper care.

Titan Reloading offers free reloading clinics every month that cover the basics of reloading supplies and established safe practices. For further information or any questions about reloading, good habits, or how to ensure your ammunition always performs as expected, contact us at 262.244.7023 or visit www.TitanReloading.com.

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A Quick and Easy Reloading FAQ

Reloading is an exciting hobby that gives you more control over your rounds and can even save you money in the long-term. At Titan Reloading, we consider ourselves firm advocates of safe reloading in addition to being providers of high-quality reloading supplies. That’s why we offer free reloading workshops and use our blog as a channel through which to share useful reloading tips.

Today, we’ve compiled a relatively brief FAQ representing some of the most common questions we see from the reloading community.

Is Reloading Cheaper?

Yes and no. In some cases it’s more cost efficient to buy ammo, in others to reload. It depends on what you shoot and how often you shoot. Additionally, reloading takes a considerable amount of time, so it helps if you enjoy the process for what it is. Simply reloading to save money might not be the right approach.

Is Reloading Safe?

Reloading is extremely safe as long as you follow established storage protocols, treat your reloading supplies with respect and adhere to verified load data. Clean workspaces and attention to detail are critical, but most important is sticking to the guidelines that are already available. Reloading, like many hobbies, is as safe as you make it.

Is the Equipment Expensive?

Stocking a full reloading setup can be quite costly, but the expense is largely upfront. Once you have the equipment and reloading supplies you need, you can continue to use that equipment for decades as long as you take proper care of it. The only time you’ll need more equipment is when you decide to start reloading a different ammunition type.

Overall, it’s best to speak with a professional to get an exact idea of what you’ll need and how much it may cost. Titan Reloading is ready to help answer and walk you through any questions you may have. Feel free to contact us at 262.244.7023 or visit www.titanreloading.com for more information.

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Simple Tips for Accurate Ammunition

Accurate Ammunition

One of the most common reasons shooters start reloading their own ammo is to increase the accuracy of their rounds. Factory ammunition is accurate to a point, but if you’re attempting to move up to competition-level shooting or want greater control of how your rounds perform, reloading is likely your best option. Using your own reloading supplies to create your rounds is a solid strategy for creating rounds that fire accurately and, most importantly, consistently.

If you’re new to the world of reloading, here are some simple tips for making more accurate rounds:

Start with Established Loads

Search the web for information on your rifle or handgun. There’s a veritable treasure trove of information out there for reloaders that can help you cut the guesswork and narrow down the most accurate loads quickly and efficiently. Search through powder manufacturer’s data and reloading manuals to start yourself off on the right foot.

Use the Right Tools

You’ve probably noticed that there’s a never-ending list of necessary tools for perfect reloading. The right tools have a major impact on your ability to create highly accurate rounds. For example, using tools like a COL gauge and bullet comparator, you can determine the optimal bullet seating depth for your rounds. Perfect bullet seating gives you less wobble in your rounds and more accuracy overall. Equip yourself with the necessary tools for success.

Ask Questions

There’s nothing wrong with being new! You’ll find plenty of great reloading communities both on the web and locally — Titan Reloading offers a free reloading clinic every month. Meeting with other reloaders and asking questions is a great way to capitalize on the experience of others.

Titan Reloading is here to help, for more information or inquiries please visit www.titanreloading.com or contact us at 262-244-7023.

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Safety Tips for New Reloaders

Reloading tips

When executed properly, reloading is a perfectly safe hobby that yields reliable, accurate ammunition. However, there are certain dangers to working with the flamable powders and other materials involved in the reloading process. Reloading supplies are intended for use by experienced, educated reloaders who understand the safety hazards and take the practice seriously enough to mitigate them.

If you’re new to the world of reloading, consider the following safety tips as you prepare your reloading supplies:

Powder Type – Never mix smokeless powder with black powder. Never substitute one for the other. Modern ammo usually uses smokeless powder that is more powerful than older powder solutions. Know what type you’re working with and keep your powders separate.

Follow Directions – Follow all reloading recommendations exactly to avoid creating a safety hazard for yourself and other shooters. Never exceed the recommended reloading data.

Learn the Reasons – To be a good reloader, you need to understand the “why” of what you’re doing. If you don’t know why you’re performing a certain step, take time to understand it by researching the process or attending a class. Reloading supplies are engineered to be used in a very specific order.

Don’t Be Careless – Don’t smoke while you reload. Wear safety glasses. Keep your reloading supplies away from heat, sparks, and flames. Don’t eat while you’re working with lead. Common sense safety practices go a long way.

Keep it Clean – A clean, organized reloading work bench is a safe one. Keep your workspace uncluttered and place all components in labeled and sealed containers that make it easy to identify what you’re working with.
For more information or questions about reloading supplies and their safe use, please contact us at 262-244-7023or visit www.titanreloading.com.

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Deciding on the Right Reloading Press for Your Needs

Reloading Press

Before you start looking at reloading supplies and the accessories you may need, you need to choose the right reloading press. Anyone starting out with reloading rifles or pistols will need to take a few minutes to figure out which press makes the most sense. Here is a breakdown of the three main types by Lee Precision.

Single Station Press

If you don’t mind a slow-going system for reloading and want to hit between 40 and 60 rounds in an hour’s work, you could choose a Lee Precision single station press. This press does the job the old-fashioned way, providing beginners with a way to learn the system at a very affordable price. There is no sacrifice in quality when using a single station press. If you plan to work in small batches, this press will do the job.

Turret Press

A turret press has either 3 or 4 dies rotating above a single casing and offers a more efficient system for reloading. By pulling the lever once per die, you get a full round reloaded. Once you get the hang of the job, you can load 200+ rounds per hour using the Lee Turret Press.

The Value Turret Press reloads pistol calibers and also works for rifles up to 2.312” long. Anything longer can be reloaded if you disable the auto-index and rotate the turret manually. The Classic Cast Turret Press handles reloading in rifles up to 3.060” long before you need to disable the auto-index. Reloading supplies are available for each of these presses from Titan Reloading.

Progressive Press

Like the turret presses, a Lee Progressive Press has a minimum 3 dies (as many as 5 dies) depending on the type you choose and the dies are stationary above rotating cases. The difference comes when you pull the lever. Rather than pulling the lever for every die, a Progressive Press does the operation for 3-5 dies at once, giving you an entire round with every pull of the press lever. Using this system, you can reload as many as 400+ rounds per hour.

Once you decide on the right press and have your reloading supplies, you are ready to begin. For more information about any of our presses or reloading supplies please visit www.titanreloading.com or contact us at 262-244-7023.

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Gift Ideas for Reloaders

Titan Press Covers

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means it’s time to start making your shopping list (and checking it twice). The easiest people to buy for are always those with hobbies; if you have a reloader in your family or circle of friends- you can’t go wrong with reloading supplies. We at Titan Reloading know that the reloading hobby can seem confusing from the outside, so we’ve cooked up this short list of easy gift options that any reloader will love.

Press Covers

Titan Reloading’s press covers are made from heavy cloth and are designed to fit neatly over a reloading press to prevent dust buildup and exposure to the elements. We have press covers for a wide range of presses; covers are designed to fit a press with mounted accessories just to ensure they’re as convenient as possible.

Shooting Accessories

Most reloaders are also avid shooters. Thus, shooting accessories make incredible gifts. Try the Sonic Boom exploding target for a bit of destructive fun, or a Jammit target stand to make shooting practice even easier. For the precision shooters in your life, the MTM K-Zone shooting rest is a powerful tool in sighting rifles and improving accuracy and Competition Electronics’ Pro Chrono Digital helps analyze individual shots for differences in velocity, standard deviation, and spread.

Bullet Molds

If you’re a bit more familiar with the type of reloading your loved one traditionally does, bullet molds can make an excellent gift. Titan Reloading stocks bullet molds for all sorts of ammunition types including buckshot, slugs, bullets, black powder, and more. If you need help picking the right mold, contact our friendly support staff or stop by the store.

Books

Titan Reloading is a big fan of the Lee Modern Reloading Manual, something many would consider the prime book on reloading and reloading supplies. If the reloader in your family doesn’t already have a copy of this book they will certainly be delighted to find it in their stocking Christmas morning.

For more information about our reloading supplies please visit www.titanreloading.com or contact us at 262-244-7023.

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Properly Storing Your Reloaded Ammunition

Reloaded ammunition

Reloading supplies are just one part of a successful reloading hobby. For most reloaders, the fun comes down at the range when testing out their reloaded rounds. Professional and competitive shooters reload for increased accuracy; others do it for greater control over their equipment or simply to save money. Whatever your reason for reloading, it’s important to remember that proper storage of ammunition plays a big role in successful shooting days and a safe working environment.

Here are some basic tips for storing ammo:

Control the Temperature
Your ammunition can handle regular, moderate temperatures, but will falter under extreme heat or long-term temperature fluctuations. Don’t leave your ammo in the car or anywhere else it might be exposed to catastrophic heat. Try to keep your ammo in a temperature-controlled area just to be on the safe side.

Control the Humidity
Humidity is a massive threat to your ammunition. Anywhere moisture is encouraged can prove to be a terrible environment for ammo storage. Corrosion is one factor here, but so is the way humidity affects the size and shape of your brass. When storing ammo, dry is definitely the environment you want to strive for.

Control the Access
Ammunition isn’t going to jump up and shoot someone, but does contain harmful chemicals that could cause problems for pets and children. If your reloading station is in your garage or home, invest in lockable storage containers for all of your supplies and ammo. Controlling who can access your gear protects both the people and animals in your house and the gear and ammo itself.

Overall, storing ammunition isn’t too complicated. Keep it dry and prevent it from seeing extremely high temperatures and it should last for years. Follow the same rules in storing your reloading supplies and you’ll fully protect your hobby and your investments. For more information about reloading supplies or maintenance questions please contact us at 262.244.7023 or visit www.titanreloading.com.

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Don’t Forget Safe Storage!

Storage of Reloading Supplies

Reloading is a rewarding hobby that helps you learn more about your firearms and saves you money in the process. It also enables you to create more consistent and accurate ammunition than is otherwise available. However, it’s unrealistic to think that you’ll spend all of your free time at your press, so it is important that you take steps to ensure your reloading supplies are stored safely.

The goal of good storage is protecting your reloading supplies from the elements and protecting people and pets in your household from your reloading supplies. Here are some useful tips:

Special Rooms

If possible, place your reloading station in a private, traffic free room within your home. This is by far the simplest method of keeping children and other unwanted guests out of your reloading supplies. If you can cordon off an area of your garage or home, you’ll be able to work in peace and protect your supplies and loved ones when they’re not in use.

Safes and Locks

It’s a good idea to keep dangerous supplies like powders and primers either in a safe or in locked containers. Your need for safety will depend largely on your household; naturally if it’s just adults in the house you don’t have to worry as much about your powder. Good containers are durable and water-resistant with a locking option.

Cleaning Supplies

Traditional household cleaners can cause serious damage to your reloading supplies. It is best to keep them in separate storage area. Ammonia especially is harmful to your ammunition and your firearms if long-term exposure is allowed. Never keep cleaners and reloading supplies in the same area or container.

Reloading is our passion at Titan Reloading. For more information about the reloading process or how to keep your equipment safe and functional, please visit www.titanreloading.com or contact us at 262.244.7023.

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Tips for Setting Up Your Reloading Station

Reloading Station

When you first begin reloading, you’ll have a relatively simple setup with just a few types of reloading supplies. However, as your interest in the hobby expands it is inevitable that you will begin to amass more specialized equipment for a variety of tasks. If you don’t approach setting up your work station with future growth and organization in mind, you could end up with a serious problem. Not only does a sloppy work station make your reloading less efficient, it can also cause safety problems down the line.

Here are some simple tips for setting up a strong work station:

Organization

Keep all of your small supplies (brass, primers) in separate storage bins. Make sure you label the bins with specific information related to the reloading supplies they contain. Knowing exactly which supply is in exactly which container helps keep you efficient during the reloading process and prevents mistakes. Organization is critical in maintaining a safe work environment. Keep hazardous and dangerous materials sealed and either locked away or high enough that kids cannot reach them.

Cleanliness

Clean your work station after every reloading session. Do not leave loose loading supplies on your work bench. Maintaining your work station is important; spilled powder and loose brass represent wasted money and significant safety threats (especially if you have kids or pets). When you design your work station, use a bench or table that is easily cleaned and exceptionally sturdy.

Comfortable Chair

You’re going to be spending long hours sitting at your bench inspecting, prepping and checking final rounds. Buy a nice, comfortable, and ergonomic chair to ensure you’re comfortable while you work so you don’t rush your tasks. A comfy chair can make marathon reloading sessions much more enjoyable!

Log Books

It’s important to record your work for easy refreshing when starting a reloading session. Get dedicated log books to keep your records in and keep them at your bench. I use two, the Research Log and the Load Log. The research log is where I record my steps and notes as I’m working up the loads. I keep notes on load recipes and the results in groupings, firearm function, firearm cleaning etc. This log is especially useful in time as you never need to reinvent the wheel. Once I have found my desired results I record this data in the Load Log for easy access.

For more information or inquiries about reloading supplies please visit www.titanreloading.com or contact us at 262.244.7023.