Today is 4/30/25, the final day of April 2025, and there are some significant savings you can get at Precision Reloading, a leading vendor for reloading supplies, tools, shooting accessories, and hunting gear. With discount codes your can save up to $50 on your orders today. But act quick — these discount codes expire on May 1st, 2025.
Precision Reloading Spring Savings Discount Codes
Save up to $50 with Coupon Codes:
$50 Off Orders over $500 (Code:4325)
$25 Off Orders over $250 (Code:4225)
$10 Off Orders over $100 (Code:4125)
Get FREE Shipping at MidwayUSA
In addition to these discount codes, MidwayUSA is running a great promotion — you get FREE SHIPPING on purchases of $49.00 or more. This can save you $10, $20 or more on many purchases. There are some exclusions, but this is still a great deal. Simply Apply CODE FS042925 when you start your order. CLICK HERE for details.
NOTE — There are exclusions. FREE Shipping does NOT apply to clearance, drop ship, quantity limited products, guns, large/irregular products, select ammo crates, some products with a shipping weight over 20lbs, out of stock or special order products.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Graf & Sons — Primed Pulled Down Brass Sale
⏺️ » Good choice for high volume shooters — low cost primed brass
If you need reliable plinking brass and don’t want to spend a lot of money, consider pulled down primed factory-ammo brass. This is name-brand ammo that has been pulled apart for various reasons. NOTE: You get PRIMED big-name brass at very low prices (way less than new brass alone). Most of the brass is Federal or CCI. Choose among many rifle and pistol cartridge types including: 9mm Luger, 22-250, 22 Creedmoor, 6mm Creedmoor, .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .280 Ackley, 7.62×39, and .30-06 Springfield.
2. CDNN Sports — Walther P22 Target with StopBox, $219.99
⏺️ Very good .22 LR Target/Training pistol plus FREE security case
All shooters should have a quality .22 LR rimfire pistol with a good trigger, ergonomic grip, and excellent accuracy. With the Walther P22 Target Model, you can get all those things for just $219.99 at CDNN Sports, a great deal. Plus with your purchase (before 4/30/25) you get a FREE Walther Stop Box by mail-in rebate. The Stop Box ($99 MSRP) is a secure transport case with a programmable push button lock system. The P22 Target pistol is a nice rimfire handgun with a 5″ barrel plus forward ported compensator. The ergonomic grip has interchangeable backstraps.
3. Midsouth — Lee Challenger Press with BONUS Die Set, $83.99
⏺️ » Get good single-stage press AND die set
The LEE Challenger is the world’s best-selling single station press. The latest Gen III Challenger features an ergonomic lever plus convenient drop-tube for spent primers. Right now LEE is offering a FREE carbide die set with the purchase of the LEE Gen III Challenger Press. Chose one of five cartridge types: .223 Rem, 9mm Luger, .38 SPL/.357 Mag, .44 SPL/.44 Mag, and .45 ACP. Another good feature of the LEE Press is the Breech Lock Quick Change Die System — change dies instantly with a twist of the wrist.
4. Natchez — Spring Cleaning Event Sale, Up to 30% Off
⏺️ » Huge selection of cleaning products and tools on sale
If you need ANY kind of gun cleaning supplies and/or tools, definitely head over to Natchez for the Spring Cleaning Sale. You’ll find solvents, brushes, jags, cleaning rods, bore guides, mats, and even gun vises on sale. This is a great one-stop option for your gun maintenance needs. With this Natchez Annual Spring Cleaning Event you’ll find every type of cleaning product up to 30% off.
⏺️ » Very good choice for service rifle optic, now on SALE
Designed for Service Rifle competition, the Sightron S-TAC 1-4.5x24mm SSP SR1 Scp[e has precise windage/elevation controls and quality MC-333 lens coatings. This scope provides the max 4.5-power service rifle magnification with very good low-glare views through the glass. With a 30mm tube, the S-TAC 1-4.5x24mm SR1 is shockproof and nitrogen-charged for waterproofing.
6. MidwayUSA — Frankford Arsenal Tumbler Combo Kit, $94.99
⏺️ » Complete tumbling kit — tumbler, separator, bucket, and media
Cleaning brass is a key step in the reloading process. Here’s a complete brass tumbler set-up at a great price. The Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler Kit (#ad) includes: Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler, Quick-N-EZ Rotary Media Separator, 4 oz. Brass Polish, 3 lb. Cleaning Media and a Plastic Bucket. Current price is $94.99 at MidwayUSA. This may ship FREE with a total MidwayUSA purchase of $99 or more.
⏺️ » Excellent funnel that fits perfectly on various neck sizes
Powder transfer into cases can be faster, cleaner, and more precise with the RCBS MatchMaster Aluminum Powder Funnel Kit. One of our editors uses this now because it’s the only funnel he’s tried that has never bridged powder. This $84.99 kit includes the fastest powder funnel on the market, six precision-fit adapters for popular calibers (.22, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, .30, 338), and a nice, compact storage case. Another funnel kit option at a lower price point ($31.99) is the Lyman BrassSmith Pro Powder Funnel System which also features caliber-specific aluminum inserts that fit well.
7. Amazon — Precision Ball Micrometer, $34.99
⏺️ » Handy tool great for measuring neck wall thickness
There’s no better tool for measuring case-neck thickness than a ball micrometer. This quality HFS Precision Tube Micrometer with Ball Spherical Anvil (#ad) is just $34.95 at Amazon. The manufacturer claims accuracy to 0.0001″. The thimble design works well and the laser-etched scale and satin chrome-plated surface provide fast, accurate read-outs without glare.
⏺️ » Versatile 2-part shooting rest for pistols and hunting rifles
For sighting-in a hunting rifle or testing pistol loads, you’ll want a good basic gun rest. The very affordable Caldwell Matrix Adjustable Rest (#ad) works with both rifles and pistols. Use the front section by itself with a handgun, then attach the rear support for sighting-in and testing a hunting rig. The spring-loaded elevation system allows for fast one-handed, no wobble adjustment.
10. MidwayUSA — Pro Series Competition Shooting Mat, $39.99
⏺️ » Excellent mat — good size with nice padding and carry handle
MidwayUSA’s Pro Series Competition Shooting Mat is on sale for just $39.99 — 20% off the regular $49.99 price. This mat is bigger and better than MidwayUSA’s basic shooting mat. The Pro Series mat measures a full 74″ x 35″ and the padding is thicker. A zippered pocket on the front extension flap holds ammo or log book. There are pockets for bipod feet so you can pre-load your bipod. At $39.99 on sale this Pro Series mat is an excellent deal. Choose either OD green as shown, or Coyote Tan.
11. Amazon — A.I. Hand Warmers Rechargeable 2-Pack, $18.99
⏺️ » Great for hunters and field competitors in cold climates
Electric handwarmers are great for hunters and outdoorsmen. These A.I. Rechargeable Hand Warmers (#ad) offer precise warming capability plus very good 6000mAh battery capacity. By continuously checking the temperature of your hands, this unit ensures precise heat control for optimal comfort. The heat output is max’d at 130 degrees for safety.
As an Amazon affiliate, this site can earn revenues through sales commissions.
When you make a reloading mistake, you may need to “pull down” assembled ammo. The embedded UltimateReloader.com video demonstrates how to use the Hornady Cam-Lock bullet pulling system.
When Reloading Goes Bad — The Danger of Over-Charging
Our friend Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com was recently reloading some 9mm pistol ammo with his Hornady progressive press. As part of his reloading procedure, he visually checks the cases — and he noticed that the charges seemed high. Sure enough, his most recently-produced rounds were about two grains over spec. He diagnosed the issue: “I was using a powder measure without a baffle. What happened was, over the course of the loading session, things settled in, and the charge level increased.”
Not knowing just when his powder measure started delivering too much powder, Gavin decided, for safety’s sake, to pull down all the ammo he had just reloaded. Yes that’s time-consuming, but it’s better than the alternative — having a dangerous Kaboom while shooting. With fast-burning pistol powders, a two-grain over-charge could cause a blown case, damaged firearm, and/or serious injury.
Watch Cam-Lock Bullet Puller Used to Remove Bullets from Loaded Ammo:
Use of Bullet Puller starts 4:00 minutes into video.
Gavin says it is vitally important to perform safety checks during the reloading process: “You’ve got to do it — check every single round to make sure there IS powder, and that there’s not too MUCH powder. Double, Triple, Quadruple check your components… and your powder charges. You can’t be too careful.”
To pull down a loaded round, first place the cartridge in the shellholder on your press ram. Then raise the round up into the bullet puller device installed where a die would go. The Hornady Cam-lock bullet puller works by clamping the bullet in a collet when you flip down the red-coated lever. Then, with the case held by the rim in the shell-holder, the bullet exits the cartridge as the press ram is lowered. It takes time, but it’s pretty fool-proof once you get the hang of it. This entire process is illustrated in Gavin’s video, starting near the four-minute mark.
The Hornady Cam Lock Bullet Puller has four (4) key components: 1. Cam-Lock die body; 2. Cam-Lock lever; 3. Stem; and 4. Collet (Caliber-specific).
NOTE: In order to use this tool, you’ll need the appropriate collet for each diameter range of bullets you intend to pull. For example use collet #3 for 6mm, collect #6 for 7mm, and collet #7 for .308 Caliber.
RCBS Lock-Out Die
A good safety option for users with progressive presses is the RCBS Lock-Out Die. This has a charge detection rod that dips into each case after powder has dropped. You adjust the die to the proper charge height for your desired load. If the actual dispensed charge is too high or too low, the Lock-Out Die senses the problem and stops the press from advancing to the next case (it does this by preventing the ram/shellplate from fully elevating). We’ve used the Lock-out die with success for both pistol and rifle cartridges. It’s sensitive to about one-half grain with pistol powders.
This Lock-Out Die works with Hornady and Dillon progressives as well as with RCBS progressives. It does take up one die station on the press.
The RCBS Lock-Out Die can also be used with some Dillon and Hornady progressive presses.
If you load pistol or rifle ammo with a progressive press, we strongly recommend you get a Lock-Out Die from RCBS. This unique reloading die will prevent your progressive press from advancing if the dispensed powder charge is more or less than about 0.3 grains too high or too low. The Lock-Out Die really works. Your Editor uses it on his RCBS 2000 progressive press. I can affirm that a Lock-Out Die has “saved my bacon” a half-dozen times over the years when there was an over-charge (which could cause a Kaboom) or a low charge (which could cause a squib load).
The Lock-Out Die works by using a central die detection rod that sets its vertical position based on the height of the powder column in the case. Through an ingenious design, if the powder column height is too low or too high, the rod locks in place as you start to pull the press handle. This halts the press before the ram can lift and the cartridge plate can advance. Unlike a beeping alarm system (which can be ignored or defeated), the Lock-Out Die physically stops the movement of the press ram and prevents a bullet being seated in the “problem” case.
It takes a bit of tweaking to get the Lock-Out Die detection rod setting just right, but once it is correctly positioned, the Lock-Out Die works smoothly in the background. The Lock-Out Die won’t interfere with the loading process unless it detects a high or low charge — and then it positively stops the progressive loading cycle.
While crafted for use in RCBS progressive presses, the RCBS Lock-Out Die can also be used on a Dillon XL Progressive (see video below) or Hornady Lock-N-Load progressive — though it does take up one station which could otherwise be used for a final crimp die (after the seating die). The RCBS 2000 has one more station than a Dillon 550/650, so it’s an ideal platform for using the Lock-Out Die.
Learn More at UltimateReloader.com
On the UltimateReloader.com website, run by our friend Gavin Gear, you’ll find an excellent two-part series on the function and set-up of the RCBS Lock-Out Die. Part One explains how the Lock-Out Die functions, using cut-away illustrations. Part Two shows how to install and adjust the Lock-Out Die on various progressive presses. The Ultimate Reloader video at the top of this article shows setup of the RCBS Lock-Out Die on the Dillon XL-650 progressive press, while the Reloading Bench video below shows the Lock-Out Die on a Hornady LnL progressive.
Need something for the walls of your “man cave” or reloading room? Looking for a great birthday gift for one of your shooting buddies? The creators of the Cartridge Comparison Guide offer a collection of wall posters showing ammunition types from 17 caliber rimfire cartridges all the way up to giant 35mm military rounds. ChamberIt.com currently offers 12 different large wall posters that display a huge variety of cartridge types. For example, the American Standard Poster (shown above) contains every standardized cartridge mass produced in the USA as of 2021. The cartridges are 100% to scale (life size). These posters feature full color images on high gloss / high quality 100-lb poster paper.
For example, the Rifleman’s Classic Poster (below), a full 38 inches wide and 27 inches tall, is the most comprehensive. This $17.76 poster displays over 300 rifle cartridge types at true size (within 4/1000 of an inch). Cartridges shown range from .17 caliber all the way up to the big boomers (including some cannon shells). The Rifleman’s Classic Poster includes nearly all American Standardized Rifle Cartridges and many European rifle cartridges.
Rifleman’s Classic Poster Click to view large size poster.
Ammunition Performance Specifications Poster
There is also an interesting Ammo Performance Specs poster. This shows dozens of popular hunting cartridges with the velocity, energy, momentum and recoil for each cartridge displayed in a bar graph.
This shows the actual size of the Ammo Performance Poster as displayed on a wall.
Lapua, respected producer of outstanding cartridge cases, bullets, and ammunition, will be attending the 154th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, scheduled for April 24-27, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. “Lapua uses the highest quality materials to provide shooters with components they can rely on” commented Director of Communications Morgan Joy-Twenter. “We encourage shooters and hunters to stop by booth #1916 to check out the wide range of Lapua products, including our new 7mm PRC, 6mm Dasher, and MaxRange Target bullets.”
New Lapua MaxRange Target Bullets
Lapua will offer new high-BC MaxRange Target bullets. These are designed for long-range precision rifle sports such as F-Class, Fullbore, PRS and other disciplines with distant targets, or where a very high-BC can help enhance long-range hits and accuracy. The first MaxRange Target offerings are a 6.5mm 144 grain and a .30 Caliber 175 grain.
New Lapua 6mm Dasher Cartridge Cases
New for 2025, Lapua will offer 6mm Dasher brass. The 6mm Dasher has long been a popular and versatile cartridge for many precision shooting disciplines such as 600-1,000 yard benchrest, varminting, and PRS/NRL competition. It is an extremely accurate cartridge that can drive 103-110gr match bullets at very accurate velocity nodes, and drive lighter 6mm varmint bullets at high speeds. With the new Dasher brass, you no longer need to spend time fire-forming 6mmBR brass into the higher-capacity Dasher. The Lapua 6mm Dasher brass is expected to arrive in Fall 2025.
New Lapua 7mm PRC Cartridge Cases
The 7mm PRC effortlessly delivers heaviest-in-class .284 caliber projectiles, which are coveted in today’s precision shooting and long-range hunting disciplines. F-Class and long-range match shooters have suffered from the lack of quality 7mm PRC cases and ammunition. Now that will change. Lapua will begin offering high-quality 7mm PRC cartridge cases for its loyal followers this fall.
New Bullets and Ammo Types from Berger
Berger, manufacturer of quality bullets and ammunition for competitive shooters and avid hunters, will attend the 154th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Atlanta Georgia. At booth #1916, Berger will showcase its entire product line, including new ammunition and bullet offerings.
For target shooters Berger now offers new .300 Norma Magnum ammunition with the 245 grain Long Range Hybrid Target bullet. This ammo has shown excellent accuracy in testing (see above). In addition, Berger has new .338 Norma Magnum ammo featured the 300 grain Hybrid OTM Tactical bullet. CLICK HERE for product specifications.
Berger has expanded its hunting ammo line to include .30-06 168 grain and 185 grain Classic Hunter, and .300 WSM 185 grain Classic Hunter. In addition, Berger will offer new hunting bullets in 2025. There’s a new 6.8mm/270 caliber 150 grain Hybrid Target bullet that should work great in .270 Winchester, .277 Fury, and 6.8 Western rifles. Berger will also offer a new 217 grain, .30 caliber Elite Hunter bullet.
NRA Event Schedule and Special Events
The 2025 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits runs April 24-27 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia (see MAP below). The large Exhibit Hall will be open 9 AM to 6 PM on Friday and Saturday, and 10 AM to 5 PM on Sunday, providing attendees with the opportunity to explore a host of shooting and hunting products. CLICK HERE for EVENT Schedule.
Winchester’s new “Introduction to Ammunition — Ammo 101” is a four-part series including custom illustrations and information for four major ammunition categories: rifle, pistol, rimfire, and shotshell. The Ammo 101 series provides a detailed overview of centerfire rifle, centerfire pistol, rimfire, and shotshell ammunition, showcasing ammunition construction, components, calibers, and common usage. The Ammo 101 resource is free to download from Winchesters.mediaassets.com. Or, simply click one or more diagrams below. Each image will launch a large PDF which you can print or download.
TIP: Click Each Image for Full-Screen Printable PDF
Shown below are the first four ammunition information sheets prepared by Winchester. These show all the key components of cartridges and shotshells, and explain the functions. These diagrams are useful for training, and for persons getting started in reloading.
Ammo 101 Centerfire Rifle Cartridge Diagram (click for PDF)
Ammo 101 Rimfire Cartridge Diagram (click for printable PDF)
Ammo 101 Pistol Cartridge Diagram (click for printable PDF)
Ammo101 Shotshell Diagram (click for printable PDF)
About the Ammo 101 Series
The FREE Ammo 101 resources can help instructors nationwide who introduce new entrants to the shooting sports and hunting. Instructors can incorporate these resources into their training presentations, use them as handouts, or have them printed locally.
“The basics of ammunition… is what we want to deliver with the Ammo 101 series,” said Matt Campbell, Winchester V.P. of Sales & Marketing. “With millions of people across the United States starting their journey in the shooting sports as new firearm owners, providing easy-to-understand information on ammunition types is one way we can help educate our customers.”
Here’s a very cool 3D Animation showing pistol rounds being fired. Computer-generated graphics provide a look inside the cartridge at the moment of ignition as the primer fires and the flame front moves through the ignited powder. It’s really kind of mesmerizing. If you’ve every wondered just what happens inside your cartridges the moment that firing pin strikes, then watch this video…
Watch Video to See Handgun Ammo Being Chambered and Fired:
Mute Enabled — Click Speaker Icon to Hear Audio. Firing Sequence Starts at 1:28.
This animated video from German ammo-maker GECO (part of the Swiss RUAG group of companies) reveals the inside of a pistol cartridge, showing jacket, lead core, case, powder and primer. Employing advanced 3D rendering and computer graphics, the video shows an X-ray view of ammo being loaded in a handgun, feeding from a magazine.
Then it really gets interesting. At 1:28 – 1:50 you’ll see the firing pin strike the primer cup, the primer’s hot jet streaming through the flash-hole, and the powder igniting. Finally you can see the bullet as it moves down the barrel and spins its way to a target. This is a very nicely-produced video. If you’ve ever wondered what happens inside a cartridge when you pull the trigger, this video shows all. They say “a picture’s worth a thousand words”… well a 3D video is even better.
This week we mark a major milestone — our 500th BargainFinder Deals of the Week! That works out to 9.6 YEARS of bargains, promos, and discounts. To mark our 500th Week of Hot Deals, we’re going big time — showcasing a total of TWENTY-FIVE deals — all under $500.00. PLUS here are great Discount Codes that can save you big bucks:
SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODES:
Brownells (APRIL25 — Save $25 on $250; APRIL50 — Save $50 on $500) Midsouth (FS417 — FREE Shipping $99+; FHM417 — FREE Hazmat $99+) Cabela’s and Bass Pro — FREE Shipping orders over $50 (no code) EuroOptic (VTX12 — 12% Off most Vortex Optics) Natchez Shooting (DG5 — 5% Off Any Order)
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: Products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are for use by minors.
Gun Rack with Pistol Rack – Holds 9 Long Guns and 8 Handguns. Amazon $79.99 + FREE Shipping over $35.
ATN X-Sight 5 3-15x50mm UHD Day/Night Scope w/ Gen 5 Sensor, $449.99 at Optics Planet with Free Shipping.
Taurus .22 LR rimfire pistol with Green Dot optic and 5 mags, $329.99 at Kygunco.com. Good owner reviews.
This SAR9 pistol has good ergonomics and great owner reviews. It’s now just $199.99 at Palmetto SA ($350 off).
Compact straight or angled Vortex spotting scope good for hunting or PRS/NRL, $399.99 at Amazon.
Great price on Blazer handgun ammo with reloadable brass and clean-burning propellants. Just $219.99 at LockedLoaded.com.
Tikka T3x rifles are now on sale at EuroOptic.com with savings up to $500. Many calibers are offered starting at $499.00.
Save $29 this week on this very popular 5-station case prep center, now just $159.99 at Midsouth.
SIG Sauer MRAD FFP Tango MSR 3-18x50mm optic is $402.47 at MidwayUSA including Alpha-MSR mount and lens covers.
RCBS press, powder measure, scale, primer tool, and more. Rebel Master Reloading Kit is $399.99 at Midsouth ($100 off).
Amazing deal on RTAC backpack with pistol holder. Tan, Black, or Camo colors for just $12.99, $47 off. 88% Five-star ratings.
After purchasing a new set of dies from Forster, Hornady, Redding, or Whidden Gunworks, you’ll want to disassemble the dies, inspect then, and then remove the internal grease and/or waxy coatings placed on the dies by the manufacturer. Below are two videos that show how to de-grease and clean dies as they come “out of the box” from the manufacturer. The videos also explain how to clean your dies after regular use. Cleaning your dies helps remove carbon, brass shavings, lube residues and other stuff that can get inside the dies.
In the first video, from Creedmoor Sports, Bill Gravatt (Creedmoor’s President) shows various methods for cleaning dies both when new and after they have accumulated carbon and lube after use. This video is definitely worth watching. In the second video, a Hornady technician shows the method for degreasing dies before first use. A convenient aerosol spray cleaner is used in the video. You can also use a liquid solvent with soft nylon brush, and cotton patches. NOTE: After cleaning you may want to apply a light grease to the external threads of your dies.
Creedmoor Sports Die Cleaning Video with Bill Gravatt
Hornady Video Showing Aerosol Cleaner
Clean Your Sizing Dies and Body Dies Regularly
These same techniques work for cleaning dies after they have been used for reloading. Many otherwise smart hand-loaders forget to clean the inside of their dies, allowing old case lube, gunk, carbon residue, and other contaminants to build up inside the die. You should clean your dies fairly often, particularly if you do not tumble or ultrasound your cases between loadings. It is most important to keep full-length sizing and body dies clean. These dies accumulate lube and carbon residue quickly.
RCBS Lock-Out Die
This animated video from German ammo-maker 
