Reloading questions.

Tommy87

Hi all,

I just have a couple of questions regarding loading your own rifle ammo. I know you can't do it without permission and I know about the secure accommodation for powders/propellants.

I want to load my own some time in the future, but what I want to know is: can I be buying bits and pieces as I go so I can offset the cost of the equipment,

So what can I buy without breaking the law??


1: can I buy the equipment, ie press, dies, case trimmer, etc

2: can I buy primers?

3: can I buy bullet heads, cases?

What I'm thinking is the restriction is only on the powder, and can't be bought without the permission. Am I right in saying this??

Also, in the UK can all of these including the powder be sold freely from gunshops.

Thanks in advance

Tommy

The Aussie

Buy books, plenty of books...

Start educating yourself, join a good Forum and ask plenty of questions.

Reloading is like Cooking, there are so many recipes and then you start tweaking around to suit your and your rifles needs, brilliant hobby.

Here is a good book to start off with.

Tackleberry.

Hi, you can not just buy
Heads
Brass ( you can keep old brass)
they have to be imported correctly(within the law).

You can't buy
Primers or Powder
More because you can't store them at home.

You can not reload at home, but you can prep your brass..

Stay within the law, or risk losing everything.

Cass

Tommy87 wrote: »

1: can I buy the equipment, ie press, dies, case trimmer, etc

Yes.

Equipment is not illegal to own, but buying it may flag you. IOW why would you have the gear and not be reloading. Be aware.

2: can I buy primers?

No. classed as explosives.

3: can I buy bullet heads, cases?

Yes.

Under authorisation of your gun license and for the caliber on that lcicense only. However all buying must be accompanied by the necessary import paperwork.

What I'm thinking is the restriction is only on the powder, and can't be bought without the permission. Am I right in saying this??

No.

Restriction is o the propellant and primers. Another aspect is the empty cases. Empty ones are classed as live rounds. So if you have 100 round limit on your license, and you have 100 live rounds and 100 empty cases you are in breech of your license. Also the heads can be bought, but must be imported.

Also, in the UK can all of these including the powder be sold freely from gunshops.

And Germany, France, Spain, America, etc, etc. Has absolutely no bearing on Irish law.


The laws regarding secure accommodation, etc. are outdated and also no licenses are or have been issued for personal reloaders (afaik) and not at home. Not saying it cannot be done, but it's an uphill battle.

FISMA

Tommy87,
If you want one inexpensive book will tell you pretty much everything you need to know to get started, I recommend the NRA Guide to Reloading.

Reloading manuals, such as Hornady, Lyman, and Speer also have great resources in the beginning to get you on your way.

I went with all four of the above in order to cross reference my recipes. Where I am, it is legal to reload.

It is best to read a two or three different sources. You'll find there are slight variances in loads. Also, it is nice as a sanity/double check, just in case the publisher had a typo.

Finally, find someone somewhere that reloads, watch, and learn. Youtube is a great resource as well.

EWQuinn

If its reloading data you are looking for, a lot of published data from mfg available on line. Also a lot of "unofficial" data too (like the last link below), for which you need a manual(s) or mfg data as a reference check. Lyman 48th Ed and "A B Cs of Reloading" are excellent how to manuals, which is of course a must if you get into it. If you want to reload, perhaps you can join a club in Northern Ireland or UK and reload and shoot there on weekends , just don't bring any restricted stuff across the border? (plenty of reloading at my gun club in the clubhouse on match days, ideas are free.....)

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

http://www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/

http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reloading/vihtavuori-reloading-data/relodata/5

http://www.norma.cc/en/Ammunition-Academy/Loading-Data/

http://www.6mmbr.com/reloading.html

The Aussie

EWQuinn wrote: »

plenty of reloading at my gun club in the clubhouse on match days, ideas are free.....

That sounds like great craic, good way of bouncing ideas off more experienced people.

EWQuinn

Yep its really a good way to go. Setup at benches or tables in the clubhouse, load and shoot.

rowa

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/


Good site for everything ballistics as well as reloading info.