handloading
DIY ammunition making
Handloading is the practice of assembling ammunition by hand rather than buying factory-made cartridges.
The handloader combines individual components—brass casings, primers, powder, and bullets—to create custom rounds.
Shooters handload to save money, achieve greater accuracy, or tailor ammunition to specific firearms.
Also called reloading, though that term technically refers to reusing spent brass.
Copper-zinc metal mixture
- primersPreparatory coatings or introductions
- powderFine dry particles
- bulletsFirearm projectiles
- cartridgesEncased charges for firing
cases · dies · press · scale · measure · tumbler · funnel · trimmer
Degree of correctness
- consistencyReliable adherence to standards
- tolerancesAllowable limits of variation
- runoutComplete depletion of supply
- grainsSmall hard seeds
measurements · micrometer · calipers · chronograph · velocity · grouping · benchrest · uniformity
Long-barreled shoulder weapon
- pistolCompact one-handed firearm
- shotgunLong gun firing shot
- caliberBore diameter or quality
- gaugeStandard of measurement
cartridge · firearm · range · target · accuracy · recoil · barrel · magnum
Changing an object's dimensions
Skill in making objects
- tinkeringCasual, unskilled adjusting
- hobbyistRecreational pursuer of interests
- recreationalRelated to enjoyment activities
- gunsmithingFirearm repair craft
manuals · recipes · experimentation · self-sufficiency · satisfaction · customization · fine-tuning · optimizing
Path of moving object
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- energyPower to do work
- dropFall or release
- windageAir current interference
drift · expansion · penetration · pressure · fps · foot-pounds
brass
Copper-zinc metal mixture
cartridges · cases · dies · press · scale · measure · tumbler · funnel · trimmer · caliper
accuracy
Degree of correctness
- consistencyReliable adherence to standards
- tolerancesAllowable limits of variation
- runoutComplete depletion of supply
grains · measurements · micrometer · calipers · chronograph · velocity · grouping · benchrest · uniformity · headspace
rifle
Long-barreled shoulder weapon
gauge · cartridge · firearm · range · target · accuracy · recoil · barrel · magnum · wildcat
resizing
Changing an object's dimensions
crimping · annealing · deburring · chamfering
craftsmanship
Skill in making objects
- tinkeringCasual, unskilled adjusting
- hobbyistRecreational pursuer of interests
- recreationalRelated to enjoyment activities
gunsmithing · manuals · recipes · experimentation · self-sufficiency · satisfaction · customization · fine-tuning · optimizing
trajectory
Path of moving object
windage · drift · expansion · penetration · pressure · fps · foot-pounds