Better jump on this money-saving promo boys and girls, because the deals expire tonight, at 11:59 pm CDT on July 12, 2019. And write down those Brownells Coupon Codes, because this special deal can save you some serious bucks: $10 off $100, $20 off $175, and a whopping $30 off $250. Plus, with each of these discount deals you get FREE Shipping as well. That could easily save you $10-$15 on a typical order (HazMat fees extra).
These Coupon Codes apply to both regularly-priced and SALE merchandise — pretty much everything currently in inventory (but no back-orders). Here are some of the current items ON SALE at Brownells.
Did you overlook your Memorial Day weekend shopping? There were some great bargains to be had at many of the USA’s best online vendors. But don’t fret. Many sales are still running, so you can take advantage of great sale prices. Here are SIX SALES that run through May 28th at 11:59 pm (or even later). But don’t hesitate too long.
1. Brownells — 10% Off $99+ and FREE Shipping
Brownells is effectively extending its Memorial Day Sale by 24 hours. Through 11:59 PM CDT on May 28th, you can get 10% Off Orders $99+ with Free Shipping. this applies to ALL products — Use Code PTD.
2. SWFA — 10% Off EVERYTHING — Optics, Rifles, Ammo & More
SWFA carries most of the top optics brands including Vortex, Schmidt & Bender, Kahles, Swarovski, Zeiss, U.S. Optics, Leupold, Leica, Nikon, Burris, IOR Valdada and more. SWFA also has a wide selection of rifles and pistols Everything in the store is 10% off through 11:59 PM CST 5/28/19. Plus FREE Shipping for $99.99+ purchases with code SHIP99.
3. Palmetto State Armory — 10% Off Guns and Ammo
Save on AR components, accessories, and ammo with Palmetto State Armory’s Memorial Day Sale running through 11:59 pm on May 28th (Tuesday). Get a stripped lower for just $39.99, or a complete lower with MagPul stock for just $149.99. There are dozens of other great deals.
4. Precision Reloading — $10 Off $100 or $30 Off $300
Through the end of the day today 5/28/19, at PrecisionReloading.com you can save $10 with Promo Code MD191 (for $100+ purchase) or $30 with Promo Code MD193 (for $300+ purchase).
The Memorial Day Sale at Creedmoor Sports is still underway. You get Free Ground Shipping and 10% Off Creedmoor-brand items. In addition, many other items are on sale.
6. Cabela’s — $10% Off Tuesday for Entire Order
This is a regular Cabela’s Promotion. Club members get 10% OFF the entire order with Code 19CLUB528. NOTE: You must be a Club Member.
Need primers? Here’s a great way to save on primers this summer. Now through August 15, 2019, There is a 25% factory rebate on Winchester primers. Here’s how it works. If you purchase at least $80 worth of Winchester-brand primers, you qualify for a $20 manufacturer’s rebate. That works out to a 25% savings ($20 is one-quarter of $80). Money saved is money earned!
And if you buy a larger quantity of primers you save even more. For example, if you buy $100 worth of Winchester primers, you get a $25.00 rebate. If you buy $200 worth of Winchester primers you get the maximum $50 back under this promotion.
This Winchester Rebate is good on purchases made on or before August 15, 2019, so you have plenty of time to shop. The rebate offer applies to virtually ALL Winchester brand primers – pistol, rifle, and shotshell. While we use Federal and CCI primers for most of our rifle hand-loads, we’ve favored Winchester pistol primers for many of our pistols. We’ve found Winchester pistol primers to be very reliable with all types of pistols and revolvers, and they work great with progressive reloading presses.
Shopping for gun parts, ammo, or reloading supplies? You will want to check out Brownells current Discount Codes. These Codes will qualify you for significant savings plus FREE Shipping. Use these Codes during check-out and the savings will reduce your net cost. Get up to $20 off on a $200 purchase — that’s a 10% savings. Plus the free shipping/handling could save you another $10-$20 easy. NOTE: Some of these discount codes may expire at any time, so don’t hesitate.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every 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.
1. TargetVision — 10% Off All Camera Systems
As a holiday promo, you can now save 10% on all TargetVision Camera systems. We think these are some of the most sophisticated wireless target imaging systems you can buy. The popular LR-2 TargetCam System, with 1 Mile (ideal) range, normally $649.00, is now $584.10 with Promo Code SAVEME10. Or, for ultra-long-distance shooting, get the ELR model with 2-Mile (ideal) range. With the 10% off Code, the ELR is $809.10, reduced from $899.00. We like the Target Vision systems — the hardware is top quality, plus the software is reliable and will display your shots on your favorite mobile device. NOTE: Some items are out-of-stock but these can be back-ordered.
2. RCBS — 2018 Buy Green Get Green Rebate Program
Act quickly — RCBS’s best rebate program of 2018 runs out at 11:59 pm on December 31st. The Holiday 2018 Buy Green Get Green promo is simple — buy ANY RCBS product over $49.99 and you qualify. There’s no restricted list of “qualifying” products. The more you spend, the more you get back — up to $175.00 total. On a $300 purchase you can get a big $100.00 rebate. And on a $500 purchase you can get a whopping $175.00 rebate — that equates to HUGE 35% net cost reduction, lowering the $500.00 item to just $325.00. The $175.00 you save can get you a very nice digital scale/dispenser, 4-6 boxes of bullets, or some nice, new dies. Or just use the money saved for other household holiday expenses.
If you are considering purchasing a single-stage press, electronic powder dispenser, progressive press, or a full reloading kit, save big with this promotion. It is good for purchases made through the end of the year, December 31, 2017. Submit RCBS Rebate Forms HERE.
3. Whidden — 10% Off Click-Adjust Sizing Dies and Lock Rings
We love Whidden Gunworks’ Click-Adjustable Dies and die Lock Rings. The adjustability makes it easy to make precise changes in shoulder “bump”. Each click provides true 1 thousandths adjustment and has .100’’ total available travel. Those loading for rifles with different headspace can easily optimize the “bump” for each rifle. And the new, patent-pending Universal Click-Adjustable Lock Ring can turn your current sizing die into a Click-Adjustable die. The ring works with any brand of 7/8 OD sizing die with standard thread pitch — e.g. Whidden, RCBS, Redding, Lee, and Forster. Now through the end of December 2018, you can save 10% on Whidden Click-Adjustable Sizing Dies and Click-Adjustable Lock Rings. Use CODE CLICKSALE to save 10%. Act soon — this sale ends at 11:59 pm EST on December 25, 2018.
4. Gander Outdoors — MEGA SALE with 25% OFF
This is an incredible SALE, good through Christmas Day at 11:59 pm. Get 25% OFF purchases at Gander Outdoors, with no minimums. This applies to everything online, except: firearms, ammo, generators, marine electronics, trolling motors, augers, and certain clearance items. But that still leaves scopes, gun cases, hunting accessories, outdoor gear, reloading tools, and countless other items for shooters and outdoorsmen. Don’t dawdle, this 25% OFF Sale ends at 11:59 pm ET on December 25, 2018.
5. Midsouth — New Lyman Reloading Presses on Sale
Midsouth Shooters Supply is running a big sale right on Lyman’s impressive new Brass Smith line of reloading presses. There are three models, each offering great performance and value for its class. You can save quite a bit of cash with this Midsouth Lyman Press sale. If you haven’t tried orange yet, we think you’ll be impressed. The little C-Frame is a steal at $69.99. The sturdy O-Frame Singles stage press is $154.99. And if you’re looking for a Turret press, the new 8-station Lyman Turret press ($192.99 on sale) is very impressive — with more stations than the competition, and enhanced strength/rigidity.
6. Grafs.com — Magnetospeed Sporter $178.99
Good deal on a great chrono. Priced at just $178.99 at Grafs.com, the Magnetospeed Sporter model costs less than half as much as Magnetospeed’s V3 models. This chronograph attaches directly to your barrel so you don’t have to go downrange to position tripods and set up skyscreens. For most people the Sporter Model contains all the features they need. Using Magnetospeed’s XFR adapter (sold separately), data can be transferred easily from the display module to your mobile device. This is also available from Amazon for $183.99 with free shipping. READ Magnetospeed Sporter Review.
7. ARMorALLY.com — Nosler RDF Bullets, $23-$31 per 100
Nosler’s line of RDF (Reduced Drag Factor) bullets have high BCs for their weight. Precision shooters are reporting outstanding accuracy. Given their high performance and consistency, RDF bullets represent a superior value. At ARMorAlly you can get Nosler RDFs for under $26 per 100 for popular 6mm sizes. That’s up to $25 less per box than some other premium brands. And the .22-Caliber RDFs are even cheaper. ARMorAlly also has great pricing on Nosler Ballistic Tip, Custom Competition, Accubond, ABLR, and Lead Free bullets. All Nosler Bullets HERE.
8. CDNN — Ruger LCP .380 ACP, Just $169.99
If your carry gun is too big and bulky, you probably won’t carry it, which sort of defeats the whole purpose. The Ruger LCP is light (9.6 ounces) and compact (5.16″ OAL), so you’re more likely to carry it regularly. The little LCP is small enough to fit in a pocket. The .380 ACP cartridge is not as powerful as a 9x19mm or 40 S&W to be sure, but when your life is on the line, a small gun is certainly better than no gun. For those looking for a very light-weight, easy-to-conceal handgun, this little Ruger is a solid choice. Owner reviews have been positive and the $169.99 price is as cheap as you’ll ever find for a major manufacturer’s pistol. If you can live with the bright yellow frame, this is a steal.
A clean gun is a happy gun and since patches are the core of any cleaning regimen why not grab some great patches for a great price? Amazon sells 1000-count packs of Boosteady Professional Cleaning Patches starting at just $8.99 for 1″ square patches — a great bargain for 1000. Now you won’t feel so bad running a few extra patches every time you clean just make sure you got the last bit of crud out. Boosteady patches are very highly rated by purchasers and come in 1″ square ($8.99), 2″ square ($11.99), and 2.5″ square ($13.99) sizes, inside a convenient box.
10. Amazon — Two Rolls of 3″ Neon Target Stickers, $12.99
We like these bright, Neon EasyShot 3″ target stickers. They are big enough to see easily at 600 yards, giving you a 1/2 MOA target center at that distance. For $12.99 at Amazon.com, you get 250 3″-diameter self-adhesive centers (125 targets per roll) that stick to almost any surface The high-contrast fluorescent red/orange color provides an excellent HI-VIZ aiming point, along with good contrast for bullet holes that fall within the 3″ circle. To help line up your reticle cross-hairs, the target centers feature black markers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 0’Clock. NOTE: These stickers qualify for FREE Shipping.
Wintertime is here, the season of cold and damp… and RUST. There’s snow on the ground in many parts of the country. If you want your fine firearms to remain pristine and rust-free through the winter months, it’s wise to protect then while they are stored in a safe. You should protect blued surfaces with a rust-blocker. In addition, we recommend storing guns in protective sleeves. Our take on Bore-Store Gun sleeves is simple: They work great, so buy them and use them — for ALL your valuable firearms.
These thick, synthetic-fleece sacks cushion your guns, preventing nicks and scratches. The breathable fabric wicks away moisture, and the fibers are coating with corrosion inhibitors. I personally use Bore-Stores for in-safe storage with all my guns, and I have never had one of my guns rust inside a Bore-Store, even when I lived a stone’s throw from the ocean.
Bore-Stores are offered in a wide range of sizes, so you can find something to fit everything from a Snub-nosed revolver to a 32″-barrelled 50 BMG. Rifle-size Bore Stores can be purchased for $13.00 – $21.00 from Brownells. For long F-Class or tactical rifles, we recommend the 10″x52″ Scoped Shotgun Bag, Brownells item 132-000-003WB. You can also order direct from the Bore-Store manufacturer, Big Spring Enterprises, www.BoreStores.com. Big Spring will also craft custom sizes on request.
Consider Military-Style, Triple-Layer Bags for Long-Term Storage
While we prefer Bore-Stores for regularly-used guns, if you have heirloom firearms that will be kept in storage for very long periods without seeing any use, you may want to grease them up and place them in the thin, but rugged three-layer storage bags sold by Brownells. The bags are made from a three-layer laminate of polyester, aluminum, and polyethylene film, with a shiny silver exterior. Though the laminate is thin, the Brownells storage bags are puncture-resistant, and have a 0% moisture transmission rating so moisture can’t get inside. These bags are also resistant to petroleum-based chemicals and they won’t break down even in contact with soil or moisture.
Here’s one VITAL bit of advice for using these bags. Be absolutely sure, before you seal up the bags, that your guns are DRY and that all metal surfaces have been coated with an effective anti-corrosive, such as BoeShield T9 or Eezox. Brownells’ storage bags are inexpensive. A three-pak of 12″x 60″ rifle sacks (item 083-055-003WB) costs just $22.99 — under eight bucks a gun. That’s cheap insurance for rifles and shotguns that may cost thousands of dollars.
Get Your Guns Out of Foam-lined Cases — They Are Rust Magnets
Just about the worst thing you can do in the winter (short of leaving your rifle outside in the rain) is to store firearms in tight, foam-padded cases. The foam in these cases actually collects and retains moisture from the air, acting as the perfect breeding ground for rust.
Remember, those plastic-shelled cases with foam interiors are for transport, not for long-term storage. Don’t repeat the mistake of a wealthy gun collector I know. He stored four valuable Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolvers in individual foam-padded cases, and locked these away in his gun safe. A year later, every one of his precious SAAs had rusted, some badly.
A pre-cut hole at the rear of each receiver allows easy insertion of a cleaning rod to clean the bore from the chamber. The Brownells BRN022 receiver will take all accessories/parts made for the Ruger 10/22. You can order factory bolt parts, and a premium barrel.
Now you can build the ultimate 10/22 with an affordable railed receiver. Precision-machined from billet 6061 aluminum, the Brownells BRN-22 receiver is fully compatible with components for the Ruger 10/22 platform. Brownells offers both standard factory 10/22 top profile (with drilled/tapped scope mounting holes), and a Railed Receiver (shown above) with an integral Picatinny top rail. We think most buyers will get the railed version shown above. At $69.99 (on sale), it’s only $7 more than the $62.99 basic version.
Some folks may ask — “Well why not just purchase a production Ruger 10/22 rifle from the factory? It will come complete with barrel, trigger, and stock…” The answer is the components. By starting with a bare bones receiver you can have better-than-factory components from the start — a better barrel, a premium trigger. Plus the Brownells BRN-22R Railed Model comes with a built-in Picatinny rail — that makes it easy to mount optics. And, if you want a specialty stock — say for rimfire tactical games — you can purchase an aftermarket stock that fits your requirements. Finally, the action has a port in the rear so you can insert a cleaning rod to clean from the breech end. This avoids potential cleaning rod damage to the muzzle.
The first part of the video features the all-new Brownells BRN-22R Railed Receiver:
Railed Receiver with Installed Barreled for $139.99
Brownells also sells BRN-22 receivers complete with pre-installed .22 LR barrels. The BRN-22 Barreled Receiver features a 16″ long barrel in either sporter or heavy contours, threaded at the muzzle. SALE Price is $134.99 (std) and $139.99 with Railed Receiver with either sporter or heavy barrel. We recommend the railed Heavy barreled receiver on sale. Then you can add the remaining components — your choice of trigger, stock, sights/optic, and muzzle device.
NOTE: This is NOT a complete barreled action — you will still need bolt, bolt handle, and trigger group — but all those parts can be easily acquired by direct mail-order. Like the bare BRN-22 receiver, this barreled receiver is the “gun” component for ATF purposes, so this must be shipped to your FFL. If you don’t want the rail, get the standard barreled receiver and save $6.00.
BRN-22 Barreled Receiver Features:
Receiver machined from 6061 T6 aluminum billet
Matte black hardcoat anodized receiver finish
1/2″-28 tpi muzzle threads for brakes and suppressors
Matte black oxide finish on barrels
Compatible with all components that fit a factory Ruger® 10/22®
FFL required for purchase
Barrels are available in Sporter and Heavy profile, both in 16″ length, while the Heavy barrel is also available in a short, 10″ length for pistol or SBR builds. All barrels come with ½”-28 tpi muzzle threads for the installation of a compensator, flash suppressor, or silencer.
Today is Black Friday, the biggest SALE day of the year. We’ve scoured the internet to find killer deals from 12 vendors. You’ll find super deals on firearms, along with reloading tools, shooting accessories, and even gun safes. Check out these deals. Some of these special offers are for Friday only, November 23, 2018. Other promotions extend all weekend, all the way through Cyber-Monday, November 26, 2018.
Graf’s — Store Sale, 15% Off All Lapua Products, Sightron Sale
If you hand-load, you know Lapua is top tier stuff — great brass, great bullets, superior loaded ammo. As a Black Friday through Sunday special, Grafs.com is offering 15% off ALL Lapua products. In addition, Graf’s has some great deals on optics, running a Sightron Holiday sale with 25% off most Sightron scopes. Many other products are on sale at Graf’s this weekend.
21st Century Shooting — 15% Off and Free Shipping
21st Century makes some of the most sophisticated reloading tools on the planet. Our editors use 21st Century case lathes, concentricity gauges, and Hydro bullet seaters. These great tools will help you load better ammo, with more consistency, in less time. And now you can save money too. 21st Century Shooting will be offering 15% Off with FREE Domestic shipping Friday 11/23/18 through Monday 11/26/18 at 11:59 PM. To get the 15% savings use Coupon Code W9es52. For Domestic orders be sure to choose “FREE SHIPPING” at checkout.
Precision Reloading — 15% Off $100+ Orders CODE “PR18BLK”
Precision Reloading is running a compelling Black Friday promotion through Sunday 11/25/2017 at 11:59 PM. Here’s the deal — starting today you can save 15% off all orders of $100.00 or more. That means effectively that everything Precision Reloading sells is 15% off (as long as you spend at least $75.00). Yes that includes powder, bullets, dies, reloading tools and more. Get your 15% savings by using CODE “PR18BLK” during check-out.
McMillan and McCubed Stocks — Save 20% Today ONLY!
You can now get big savings on high-quality McMillan and McCubed (MC3) rifle stocks. Today, Black Friday, McMillan and McCubed are offering 20% OFF stocks purchased from the online stores. This Black Friday Special also includes FREE Shipping within the continental United States. Use promo code blackfriday3 at check out. NOTE: This is a ONE-Day sale ONLY! The sale ends today, November 23, 2018 at 11:59 PM.
Credit EdLongRange for finding this sale.
Brownells — Money Off Codes, Product Sales, Gun Gift Card
There are some killer Brownells discount codes now through 11/25/18 (Sunday) at 11:59 pm. These all use the FN prefix. Get Free Shipping with no minimum with Code FN4. Get $20 off $200 with Free S/H with code FN3. Get 10% Off $300 with Free S/H with code FN2. Along with this savings codes, Brownells has discounted many popular products for the Black Friday Cyber Monday weekend. For example, you can get the LabRadar Chrono for $499.99 ($60 Off), Howa 300 WM Barreled Action (with trigger) for $349.99, and Geissele Enhanced AR Trigger for $139.99 ($75 Off). There are also great savings on Nikon optics. Plus when you buy a complete firearm, you can get a Brownells gift card worth up to $100.00.
Bullet Central — Thanksgiving Weekend Sale
BulletCentral.com is running an attractive sale all Thanksgiving weekend, starting 11/22/2018 and running through 11/26/2018. Save on Sierra bullets, SK rimfire ammo, Lapua 6mm Creedmoor brass, ThoroughClean cleaning products. And you can also get FREE Shipping on Bix ‘N Andy triggers, and Kelbly Actions. CLICK HERE for Sale items.
Midsouth — Black Friday Sale and Hornady Prize Give-Aways
Partial Selection of Featured Sale Items
Midsouth Shooters Supply is running a big sale and Prize Give-Away for the full Black Friday through Cyber-Monday period. CLICK HERE to see SALE Items, discounted up to 50%. And are you feeling lucky? Midsouth will give away 12 Hornady Lock-N-Load Reloading Tools and Presses the day after Cyber Monday. Prizes include Lock-N-Load Progressive Press, Lock-N-Load Iron Frame press, Auto-Charge Powder Dispenser, and more. Come back every day for another chance to enter.
Natchez — Multiple Promotions Through Monday 11/26/18
Natchez Shooters Supplies posted a bevy of bargains this Black Friday Weekend. Choose your best deal with a variety of PROMO CODESs good through 11:59 pm November 26, 2018:
1. $25 Off all purchases over $200 with Code DOB181122
2. 10% Off products over $49.99 with Code PO181122
3. Free HAZMAT on purchases over $150 with Code FH181122
4. Free Shipping on Orders over $99.99 with Code FS181122
In addition to these savings Natchez has some great deals right now on Leupold scopes plus rebates on Federal Black Pack ammunition.
Credit EdLongRange for finding these promo codes and discounts.
MidwayUSA — Huge Black Friday Sale — Hundreds of Items
MidwayUSA is running an extended Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale. Dozens of items are deeply discounted, PLUS you get FREE Shipping on all $49+ orders with Code CyperFS49. Look for bargains on optics, accessories, reloading tools, hunting gear, and ammunition. Hundreds of items are on sale, including LabRadar Chronographs, TargetVision Target Cams, Vortex Scopes, Hornady Reloading Presses, Athlon Spotters and much more. SEE Sale Items HERE.
Davidson Defense — Black Friday Sale on AR Kits and Hardware
Black Rifles on Black Friday? You bet! Davidson Defense has you covered. Now through Monday, November 26, 2018, save on many products in Davidson Defense’s online store: complete uppers, stocks, buffers, handguards, trigger groups, muzzle brakes, parts kits and more — pretty much everything you need to build an AR but the lower. If you love tacticool products, you’ll like the Davidson’s store, and now is a great time to buy.
Gander Mountain — 15% Off Outdoor Inventory
While Gander Mountain is a general-market outdoor sports store, not a hunting/firearms-focused retailer, Gander still offers a wide selection of products for shooters. This weekend you can get big savings on a host of products. You can save 15% on rifles, pistols, ammo, gun safes, and more. To qualify for 15% Off your order (no minimum) with FREE shipping, use Code GO2018. CLICK HERE for Gander’s Sale Items.
SWFA — 15-20% Off Vortex, Burris, Timney, EoTech, and More
SWFA, a Texas-based retailer, is offering 15%-20% discounts off major product lines, including Vortex, Burris, EoTech, Leupold, Harris Bipods, and more. In addition, prices on SWFA’s “house-brand” SS scopes have been slashed up to 50%, so you can save $100 or more. CLICK HERE for all SWFA Black Friday Sale items.
MORE DEALS, MORE DEALS, MORE DEALS
If these dozen Black Friday vendors don’t provide enough temptation for your pocketbook, you’ll find yet more Black Friday specials on Gun.Deals a bargain-finder website. In addition, The Firearm Blog (TFB) has compiled a long list of select bargains — specific items on sale during the Black Friday/Cyber-Monday cycle. Highlighted Deals include AR Uppers, Geiselle Triggers, .22 LR Ammo, Ruger Rifles, Leupold Scopes, and MagPul magazines. CLICK HERE for TFB Deals, or select by category below:
It’s not Black Friday yet… but there are already some notable bargains to be had. Brownells has kicked off its Pre-Black Friday Sale today. Along with dozens of marked specials, you can get $10 Off $99+ with code NBM (plus FREE Shipping), $15 Off $150+ with code NCS (plus FREE Shipping), and $20 Off $200 with Code M8Y (plus FREE Shipping). Jump on those code deals — they may expire soon.
To make things even better, there are some MORE Brownells discount codes in play through 11/25/18 (Sunday) at 11:59 pm. These all use the FN prefix. Get Free Shipping with no minimum with Code FN4. Get $20 off $200 with Free S/H with code FN3. Get 10% Off $300 with Free S/H with code FN3. As Brownells says these are great deals.
OK, now here are the Brownells Product deals. NOTE: These are individually discounted prices in Brownells Pre-Black Friday sale. We can’t confirm how long the sale prices will last — but there are still some great deals to be had. Such as the LabRadar Chrono for $499.99 ($60 Off), Howa 300 WM Barreled Action (with trigger) for $349.99, and Geissele Enhanced AR Trigger for $139.99 ($75 Off). There are also great savings on Nikon optics. Plus when you buy a complete firearm, you can get a Brownells gift card worth up to $100.00 — Check it Out:
In addition, there are a variety of great deals on factory loaded ammunition, including up to $100 off on Federal “Black Pack” bulk ammo.
You can never be too safe when hand-loading your own ammunition. This helpful Brownells video outlines the Seven Fundamental Reloading Safety Tips. This is important information for novice hand-loaders and a good refresher for those with reloading experience!
Summary of the Seven Safety Tips:
1. Store your reloading supplies in a safe and dry location, away from children and away from any possible source of ignition. It is also smart to keep your powder and primers separate.
2. Get and use respected reloading manuals, especially for new cartridges. Start low and work up slowly while watching for warning signs of pressure and/or case fatigue.
3. Locate your reloading activity where you will not be distracted. If you get interrupted, stop. (Distractions will eventually lead to mistakes.)
4. Do NOT mix powders. Keep your powders clearly marked and dated. You can use masking tape to write the date on the container.
5. If you load the same cartridge type for different firearms, make sure your ammo headspaces properly in each gun.
6. Check cases frequently. Look for split necks, case head separation or other signs of fatigue and excessive pressure.
7. If reloading military brass, be aware that case capacity is usually reduced, and initial loads should be at least 10-15% lower than published data.
Here are some other tips that will help your avoid making costly mistakes (such as using the wrong powder, or undercharging a case):
Powder Type — Always double-check the label on your powder containers. After placing powder in the powder measure, put a piece of tape on the measure with the powder type written on it. Some guys write the powder type on a card and place that right in the hopper.
Scale Drift — Electronic balances can drift. If you are using a digital powder scale, calibrate the scale with a test weight every 50 rounds or so.
Case Fill — If you throw more than one charge at a time, look INSIDE every case before seating a bullet. Squib charges can be dangerous if you don’t notice them before firing the next round.
Progressive Presses — When using a progressive press, consider using an RCBS Lock-Out Die. This will detect a low charge and stop the machine. These dies will work with RCBS, Hornady, and Dillon progressives.
Here’s one VITAL bit of advice for using these bags. Be absolutely sure, before you seal up the bags, that your guns are DRY and that all metal surfaces have been coated with an effective anti-corrosive, such as BoeShield T9 or Eezox. Brownells’ storage bags are inexpensive. A three-pak of 12″x 60″ rifle sacks (item 083-055-003WB) costs just $22.99 — under eight bucks a gun. That’s cheap insurance for rifles and shotguns that may cost thousands of dollars.
Remember, those plastic-shelled cases with foam interiors are for transport, not for long-term storage. Don’t repeat the mistake of a wealthy gun collector I know. He stored four valuable Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolvers in individual foam-padded cases, and locked these away in his gun safe. A year later, every one of his precious SAAs had rusted, some badly.
