We speak with Joel Hodgdon of RCBS about how to get started reloading your own ammo.
When I was 15, I convinced my father I needed to handload ammunition. I purchased a kit, built a bench in my closet, and the first thing I did was stick a fired case in a sizing die. I hid that die from Dad, saved some money and bought a new one. Then, I broke the bench I’d built when I cranked down on the loading press handle, effectively demonstrating my lacking carpentry skills.
I finally figured it all out—mostly on my own—because in those days information was not as readily available. I’ve been handloading for 45 years, have gotten pretty good at it, and you can too. And you can do it all a lot easier than I did.
I think a lot of shooters are uneasy about reloading because they fear they might experience things like I did, or that they might blow their gun up. For those folks, I thought Joel Hodgdon at RCBS might be able to alleviate some of the apprehension. RCBS has been around for almost 85 years and they have all the products and educational resources reloaders need.
Joel’s family started Hodgdon powder, and Joel has spent his life immersed in ammunition. Before RCBS, he worked at Federal and Remington, and Joel knows how to make ammo, and he knows how to shoot it. I know, because we’ve been on safari together. If you’re considering reloading, you should find what he has to say interesting.
Question: What’s the first step?
Answer: “Learning to reload is like picking up any other new hobby or sport. Having a knowledge base from reading or watching video tutorials is a great way to learn the basics, but the best way is practice. Specifically, practice guided by an experienced mentor. If you don’t know who can help you, ask around at your gun club or gun store. Most handloaders enjoy helping newcomers.”
Joel’s right. There was a small specialty gun shop near my home, and even though I was still a teenager the owner was happy to give reloading advice. I’ve been handloading now for almost a half-century and I often ask advice from other handloaders, and I think because they’ve done the same at some point, they’re always as eager to help me, as I am to help others.
Question: What is the number-one fear?
Answer: “From the outside, reloading looks complicated—lots of processes to learn. Face your fears by diving in. As you learn and practice, it becomes simple, and you’ll get into a rhythm. Go slow, learn each step and you’ll quickly overcome the complexity and worry.”
The reason I stuck a cartridge case in a sizing die when I was 15 was because I did not read the simple instructions that came with the kit. I did not know rifle cases needed to be lubed before sizing. After some practice I learned how much lube they needed and the best ways to apply it. You may not need to read the instructions on assembling something from IKEA, but when it comes to reloading, instructions are mandatory.
Question: What should the first purchase be?
Answer: “I’d highly recommend a starter kit. RCBS and other manufacturers sell quality kits that include about every tool you’ll need to begin reloading. They come with instructions as well as a reloading manual full of practical how-to info. You might end up outgrowing a few of the tools, but the odds are you’ll use the press, powder measure and some of the other accessories for the rest of your life.”
I’d echo Joel’s advice and suggest a kit. Not only will you save money, but short of purchasing a kit you’re trying to put together a puzzle without knowing what all the parts are. As you learn you might discover you want a different press, powder funnel and some additional accessories, but for a beginner, get the kit.
Question: If someone only wants to load large quantities of handgun ammo, should they start with a progressive press?
Answer: “I’d recommend everyone start with a single stage press to learn the basics and practice your new hobby at a slower speed. If you’ll be primarily reloading pistol ammo, you’ll eventually want to step up to a progressive, but you’ll always be able to come back to your single-stage press for a one-off task like pulling a bullet, developing a new load or another operation.”
I think a lot of new, volume-minded reloaders make the mistake of starting off with a progressive press so they can make lots of ammo, fast. Even if that is your ultimate goal, a single-stage press is the best tool for working up loads. Whether I purchased a kit or not, I’d definitely start with a single-stage press. RCBS’s Partner press is very budget friendly, takes up a limited amount of bench space and will last a lifetime.
Question: How can a new reloader simplify powder, primer and bullet choices?
Answer: “Go back to why you wanted to get into reloading. If it was to reload to save money, simplify component choices by picking cheaper bullets, primers and powder. If you’re reloading to finally have ammo for that old hunting rifle you inherited, or for that specialty cartridge that requires ammo not commonly found on shelf, narrow down components based on availability. And, if you’re reloading for performance or a specific competitive pursuit, it’s often a good idea to ask other shooters what has worked for them.”
Any time you look at a handloading recipe you’ll see various powders, bullets and primers listed. Some powders require heavier charges, and this limits the number of rounds you can load from a pound. If you’re loading plinking handgun ammo, used brass will save you money. The more precision or performance you want, the fewer number of times you’ll able to reuse brass and the more expensive the bullets will be. There’s a lot of valuable information on the Internet but be cautious and always verify load data with a reputable source. The RCBS customer service line is a great resource. I’ve reached out to them multiple times.
Question: How important is a chronograph?
Answer: “Next to a reloading manual, or maybe the press itself, a chronograph is likely the most important tool in the handloader’s arsenal. While always paying attention to pressure signs, a quality trusted chronograph is the best way to see your handload’s performance and safety.”
I don’t know how you could safely handload good ammunition without a chronograph. It is the only way to know the velocity of the ammo you create, and in turn it gives you the most reliable look at pressure. If you create a load that’s faster than the published velocity for a specific recipe, chances are, it’s over pressure. Understand that some firearms—especially high-quality firearms—are often slow to show traditional high-pressure signs.
Question: What’s the difference between basic and advanced reloading tools?
Answer: “Whether using basic or advanced tools, the result is the same—a reloaded cartridge. A Ford or a Ferrari will both get you to where you’re going, but like reloading gear, the quality and speed with which you arrive is the difference. More advanced equipment is higher quality and gives you a more consistent process/operation, holds ammo to tighter tolerances or speeds up the process. Advanced reloaders use different equipment to dive deeper in the rabbit hole by adding extra steps beyond the basics to explore the cutting edge of accuracy and consistency.”
What might surprise you is that you do not need advanced tools to create very accurate and consistent ammunition. With a basic kit like Joel mentioned you should be able to craft very good ammo. If you want to save time, which is one thing we all seem to have less of, advanced tools like electronic powder dispensers, digital scales and calipers, and hand priming tools can help. If you want to make the most precise shooting ammunition possible, other tools like case trimmers and precision mics can help. The truth is, until you get into reloading and learn what you like and don’t like about it, you’re not going to know if you need advanced tools.
Dollars, Time and Sense
Visit the RCBS website, click the learn tab and scroll down to the step-by-step guide. It will take you through the entire reloading process. The website is also packed full of videos and tutorials. Once you feel confident you can handle the tasks, find a place where you can set up a reloading station free from distraction, order a kit and get started. Most find that after they create their first handloads they just can’t stop.
Cost should be addressed. You can save money if you handload, but you must load a good bit of ammo to offset the cost of the tools. If you shoot less than 1,000 rounds of handgun or 500 rounds of rifle ammo each year, it may take several years to recoup your investment. Time is a factor too; reloading takes time. If you already have no time to spare, reloading might not be a good fit. On the other hand, many find joy and even relaxation in handloading, and this can be a worthwhile tradeoff for the money and time you spend. Reloading is also a great way to carry your shooting interest into the nighttime hours and cold winter months.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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