The COVID pandemic led to shortages of everything from toilet paper to baby formula. But did you know that it caused ammo shortages as well?

Like all things COVID, the main issue has to do with supply line issues. But other factors include political turbulence and a Democratic administration. For all we know, this ammo shortage could continue on long after the pandemic is over.

The answer to your problem is reloading brass. 

Reloading your ammunition allows you to reuse  brass casings to make brand-new bullets that you can use. It’s easy to do and provides a wide variety of benefits. Let’s look at why you should be reloading brass.

What Is Reloading Brass?

A metal-cased cartridge comes in four main components:

• The bullet: the projectile that leaves your barrel
• The casing/shell: a copper, plastic, brass, or steel case that holds the other three components
• The gunpowder: creates enough expanding gases to propel the projectile at the proper velocity
• The primer: a dot of chemical compound that explodes when hit by the firing pin, which in turn ignites the gun powder

The bullet, gunpowder, and primer are irretrievable after firing. But the brass casing? It’s made of durable metal that can last for many firings to come.

Reloading brass is nothing new. Drop by any gun enthusiast’s home, and they’re bound to have a reloading bench somewhere. 

The process is relatively simple. You clean the casings, fit them with new primers, and then measure out the correct weight of gunpowder. Then you wedge a new bullet into the casing, and you have new, reliable bullets.

Let’s examine just a few of the benefits of reloading your own brass.

1. It’s the Solution to Shortages and Price Hikes

There will always be shortages with ammo–especially now that supply chain issues abound. Making your own ammo lets you bypass supply chain uncertainty.

It’s often much easier to source the individual components of a bullet in bulk, from manufacturers. You can save money by buying these individual components. Then all it takes is a few hours to make some new bullets at the reloading table.

The lines can get long during ammo shortages. Gun shops may limit customers to only a few boxes of ammo at a time. If you’re reloading brass, though, you’ll never have to worry about any of that.

2. Brass Is Affordable, Making it Ideal to Purchase in Bulk

When you buy a completed bullet, you’re paying for the manufacturing process as well. But getting the individual components and assembling them yourself saves a lot of money. Luckily, the brass casing is the most affordable of the four bullet components.

As mentioned earlier, you can buy brass in bulk. This can be assorted brass if you’re looking to save some money. Or, you can buy certified once-fired brass that will allow for additional future reloads.

Just make sure that you choose the right cartridge size. Choosing a bullet that’s too big could lead to a split barrel. You need the right cartridge diameters to ensure a tight chamber seal and proper bullet release.

After a trip to the range, it might be tempting to just pick up the brass other shooters leave behind. 

However, this is a bad idea. Range brass is dirty, dusty, corroded, and oftentimes bent. You might spend hours tumbling each piece. They might require an additional acid bath to properly remove layers of carbon buildup and scale.

The end result may be brass that isn’t safe to use. All it takes is a bit of grit in your rifle’s chamber or barrel to cause irreparable damage. A split barrel or burst chamber doesn’t take much, and it ruins your gun forever.

It’s far more preferable to buy brass in bulk. You can rest assured this brass is clean and ready for reloading.

3. You Can Reload the Same Brass Multiple Times

Brass is the metal of choice for most weapons because it has good cartridge efficiency. That means you could be using the same brass on multiple shooting trips. It withstands the heat and pressure of a weapon’s BCG and comes back for more.

How many times that brass will last exactly is an open-ended question that depends on whom you’re talking to. Some will say you shouldn’t reload more than a few times. Others will say you can reload as many as 7 times.

What matters is that you only use brass that appears to be in good condition. Brass that is bent, warped, or split is not ideal for another round of shooting. Buy higher-quality brass, and you’ll be able to reload your bullets several times.

4. Reloading Brass Provides a Sense of Satisfaction

When you’ve built every bullet by hand, that changes the entire experience while at the shooting range. If you buy the ammo, it feels impersonal. You won’t feel much guilt blowing through multiple boxes over the course of the afternoon.

As a result, you may become more conscientious about your shooting. When every bullet is precious, you’ll take extra care with your shots. You’re less likely to dump a whole magazine downrange just for the fun of it.

Anything that teaches you more about your weapon is a good thing. Seeing how bullets are made and what aspects are important provides invaluable information. You’ll get a deeper understanding than if you just bought ammo off the shelf.

It may make you safer in the end, too. All it takes is too much gunpowder for a bullet to split the barrel. You’ll be more likely to spot when a round is in bad condition and should be discarded rather than shot.

Buy Your Brass in Bulk

Reloading brass is a great way to save money and avoid the woes of the ammo shortage. Reloading your own brass gives you more satisfaction with the shooting experience overall.

The first step in reloading brass is buying once fired casings in bulk. Check out Diamond K Brass for certified once-fired brass, law enforcement casings or even brand new brass that’s never been fired at all.