Editing Handloading (section)

== Materials required ==
The following materials are needed for handloading ammunition:<ref name=nonte_3>Nonte, chapter 3, "Cartridge Components"</ref>

*[[Firearm brass|Cases]] or [[shotshell]] hulls. For shotshells, [[plastic]] or [[paper]] cases can be reloaded, though plastic is more durable. [[Steel]] and [[aluminum]] cases do not have the correct qualities for reloading, so a [[brass]] case is essential (although nickel-plated brass cases, while not as reformable as plain brass, can also be reloaded)
*[[Propellant]] of an appropriate type.  Generally, [[List of handgun cartridges|handgun cartridges]] (due to shorter [[gun barrel|barrel]]s) and [[shotshell]]s (due to heavier projectile weights) use faster burning [[smokeless powder]]s, and [[rifle cartridge]]s use slower burning powder. The powder is generally of the "smokeless" type in modern cartridges, although on occasion the older [[black powder]] more commonly known as "gunpowder" may be used.
*[[Projectile]]s, such as [[bullet]]s for [[handgun]]s and [[rifle]]s, or [[shot (pellet)|shot]] and [[wadding|wad]]s for [[shotgun]]s.
*[[Centerfire]] [[primer (firearms)#Centerfire|primer]]s, most commonly a [[Centerfire ammunition#Boxer primer|Boxer-type]].
Case lubrication may also be needed depending on the dies used.  [[Carbide]] pistol dies do not require case lubricant. For this reason, they are preferred by many, being inherently less messy in operation.   In contrast, all dies for bottleneck cartridges, whether made of high-strength steel or carbide, and steel dies for pistols do require the use of a case lubricant to prevent a case become stuck in a die.  (In the event that a case does ever become stuck in a die, there are stuck case remover tools that are available to remove a stuck case from the die, albeit at the loss of the particular case that became stuck.) Powder should always be stored in original containers since they are designed to split open at low pressure to prevent a dangerous pressure buildup, and any cabinet they are stored in should similarly prevent pressure buildup by allowing venting and expansion.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.alliantpowder.com/getting_started/safety/storage_handling.aspx | title=Alliant Powder - Storage & Handling }}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Brass 223 Win.jpg|[[.223 Remington]] brass
File:Bullets 270 Sierra.jpg|27-Caliber Sierra Bullets
File:Primers Large Rifle.jpg|Large Rifle primers
File:Powder Samples.jpg|Several different powder samples
</gallery>