Reloading & Ammo  Reloading is an essential part of shooting IPSC. Your gun is only as good as your ammo. Making good competition ammo is very easy but can be a little overwhelming for the new reloader. The best way to get started is to hook up with someone that  is loading the same caliber as you.  There is many different types of reloading equipment out there. The one that 95% of competition pistol shooters use is Dillon Precision. This is for a good reason. They make a quality product and their warranty cannot be touched by any other manufacturer. Price seems to be high but you ask any shooter if their Dillon press was worth it and I bet you they say YES!. Dillon's "No Bull Shit" warranty is their calling. Break a part, call Dillon and they mail it to you for FREE!. Burn your  house down, mail them the charred remains they send you a new press. Sell your press to someone else and they break a part, no problem call Dillon and they mail it out for FREE!. Never have I been denied a part or felt their service was less than par. To sum it up... BUY A DILLON!  Cost can be anywhere from $500 up to $2200 on a IPSC specific press.  Reloaders (Dillon)  Square Deal B  -  RL 550  -  650XL  -  1050 Super Loading rounds fast and accurate is the key. IPSC is a fast paced sport that requires lots of ammo. So you want to weigh your options when purchasing a press. Dillon press's can load anywhere from 300-1200 rounds per hour. You need to  decide if you have the time to load 300-500 rounds an hour or want to do 800-1200 an hour. If you live a fast paced  life you might wish to go with a higher output press. If you have lots of time on your hands go with a lower output press. Most shooters either have a 650 or 1050, but some get away with the Square Deal or a RL 550.  The basic components required for loading are Bullets, Primers, Brass and Powder. Most competitive shooters buy these products in bulk to cut down on costs. We call loaded ammo "rounds". "Bullets" are the projectile that leaves the gun when fired.  Some accessories that come in handy for the competitive reloader.  Load Data - This is the information you require to make your loaded rounds. Fellow competitors can give you a rough starting point, but always exercise caution. Load Data Books are available from most Powder Manufacturers for FREE or check out their respective website. [Load Data 1] [Load Data 2]  Brass Tumbler - To clean your brass. You can load brass many times before having to replace it. I use crushed corn cob as a tumbling media or crushed walnut. You can normally find it at bulk pet supply stores, as it is used as a litter type material. I supplement it with a brass polishing liquid from Dillon called Rapid Polish. [Tumbler 1] [Tumbler 2] [Media] [Rapid Polish]  Media Separators - A time saver for separating your brass from the media. Dillon makes a small separator sometimes called a "Squirrel Cage". Another cost effective is the "Gold Pan" type separator with a 5 gallon bucket will do just as good.  [Media Separator 1] [Media Separator 2]  Scale - For measuring your powder loads. Calipers - For measuring the loaded rounds for proper dimensions. I prefer the electronic style. Dillon Case Lube - To help ease loading the rounds through the press. I also wear latex gloves when handling components as lead exposure is possible. Now that we have loaded ammo, we need to make sure we reach Major or Minor Power Factor. To do this we need a chrono. A chrono measures the speed of a bullet traveling over (2) light sensors. It gives you a reading in FPS which you can use to figure out your Power Factor. Chrono's are not very expensive. The Shooting Chrony is probably the most common. The only draw back it is not very good, as with all chrono's, working under artificial light. They are best used at an outdoor range.  Cost can be anywhere from $140 up to $500 on a IPSC specific Chronograph

Copyright: IPSC Alberta 1/7/2009 : 3:16:53 AM