Ever go about your day doing the same things you’ve done a thousand times before and then WHAM! something unexpected happens? That’s what happened to me recently when I was shooting some 44 Magnum handloads. Having just gotten my S&W 329 PD setup for summer carry, I thought I would test some ammo with it. […]
Category: Reloading Safety
Reloading Safety: Conclusion and Summary
Well, it’s time to sum up the results of the series on reloading safety here on Ultimate Reloader. We started with a high-level look at reloading safety concepts, and then took a deep-dive into the various products available for validating your powder charge. Here’s a quick set of links for the articles that we’ve covered: […]
RCBS Powder Checker Die
There’s one more powder check system that we’re going to look at on our reloading safety series- the “RCBS Powder Checker Die”. This unit is very simple, easy to setup, and works well. It’s comparable to the “Hornady Powder Cop Die”. This system is quite versatile, and intuitive to setup and use. Let’s take a […]
Hornady Powder Cop Die – Overview
If you’ve been following the “powder check systems” blog series, you may be wondering about how the Hornady Powder Cop die compares with all of the other powder check systems. Well, in this article we’ll take a look at this system, examine its features, and walk through setup with this die. The Hornady powder cop […]
RCBS Lock-Out Die Part II: Setup and Maintenance
In the first RCBS Lock-Out Die article, I discussed how the RCBS Lock-Out Die works. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to setup the die, and also how to disassemble and reassemble the die for cleaning and maintenance. There are multiple ways to skin a cat, and likewise, there are multiple ways […]
RCBS Lock-Out Die Part I: Theory of Operation
Most reloaders have heard of the RCBS Lock-Out Die. This device will allow the reloading press to cycle normally when there is a proper powder charge, but will “lock up” the press if there is too much powder in the charge, or not enough powder in the charge (including no powder – a “squib load”). […]
Dillon XL-650 / 1050 Powder Check System
Recently, I’ve been writing about reloading safety. This is perhaps the most important thing to incorporate into your reloading workflow! In my last post, I gave a high-level view and comparison of the various popular powder check systems that are on the market today. There are really quite a few options that are tailored to […]
Reloading Safety: Powder Check Systems Overview
In my last post, I outlined some basic principles for reloading safety. One of the basic ways that you can ensure your safety while reloading is by using a quality powder check system- especially when loading with a progressive reloading press. So next, I thought it would be a good idea to look at some […]
Reloading Safety – A basic primer
If you are like me, the thought of playing with gunpowder and bullets is inherently interesting. It goes without saying that it is also very dangerous. I personally feel lucky to have all of my fingers, toes, and other appendages intact (thinking back to 4th of July as a kid). I’d be happy to keep […]


































































