With the modern reloading equipment  available today, the majority of smokeless powder cartridges are relatively easy to reload. The problems like thinned out brass or unusual cartridge designs are rare and unlikely to be encountered by most. But, always establish a clear process for checking and identifying brass for quality and safety.

The majority of cartridges are suitable for reloading but especially those that use the standard diameter small (0.175”) or large (.210”) boxer type primer. Experts do not recommend reloading other primed cases. If you are planning to reload military brass, you need to be aware that you will need a special tool to remove the crimped primer, before you can reload the brass.

While reloading for most pistols and rifles has now become an easy procedure, it is still important to know there are some cartridges that are a little easier to reload than others. We provide a list of the best caliber firearms to reload.

Handgun Cartridges for Reloading

The simplest handgun cartridges to reload are the straight wall, rimmed cartridges. Classic examples of such cartridges include the 9mm, 38 special, .32 H & R Magnum, .44 Special, .42 Magnum and .44 Magnum.

The 9 mm semiautomatic is the most popular cartridge to reload. One can buy all the essential equipment for reloading at any firearm store. The .38 Special is a very popular and versatile revolver cartridge. This is an easy firearm for most people to shoot accurately. Like the 9mm, it is easy to reload and with a good return on value for the reloading. More importantly, the gun is very forgiving even if trimming of the casing is not perfect.

The majority of magnum revolver cartridges have only been developed recently and thus offer thick walled casings that result in a prolonged half-life of brass. Most experts agree that these handgun cartridges are ideal for anyone who seeks to reload. The other key advantage of revolvers is that they retain the fired casings in the cylinder, which makes it very convenient to remove. Casings in hand also avoid any damage from the range floor by accidentally stepping on them or being swept up to keep the range clear and safe.

The more difficult handgun reloads are from the semi-automatic cartridges. They usually fire smaller cartridges and can be difficult to reload. The other feature about these semi-auto pistols is that it automatically ejects the brass which increases the possibility of damaging the casing. Another feature that makes these firearms least desirable is the headspace on the casing mouth, which prevents an easy roll crimp.

Small casings require more labor and are difficult to handle compared to a larger casing. Most experts caution that you should gain consistent experience with the easier cartridges before choosing autoloading pistols and small casings if you are just beginning reloading.

Rifle Cartridges for Reloading

Like handguns, there are some rifle calibers that are easier to reload than others. Experts indicate that the easiest rifle calibers to reload are those, which use belted, straight, or rimmed cartridges- usually those meant for single shot rifles. Classic examples of firearms with single shot calibers include the .45, .223, .458, and .45-70 Winchester magnum. Other modern rifle calibers that are relatively easy to reload include the .222 and .280 Remington, and .257 Roberts.

The reloading process is similar to the standard revolver casing except that crimping of the bullet is not required for use in a single shot rifle. It is also important to know that belted and rimed casings have a big advantage over rimless bottleneck casings because there is less likelihood of inconsistency to the head spacing. However, it is possible to resize improperly which can lead to degradation of the headspace of any cartridge and this can lead to a potentially hazardous situation. Rimless bottleneck rifle casings that have a headspace on the shoulder are widely available. There are some reloading friendly rimless bottleneck casings with long necks, moderate body taper, and a full diameter head. A great example is the 6 mm Remington.

The bottleneck belted magnum casings can be a little more tricky to reload vs. the rimless types because of the head expansion that occurs just in front of the belt. That expansion can make it difficult to fully resize. Even given those precautions, the majority of rifle calibers are relatively easy to reload. Both the 6 mm Remington and the .243 Winchester are two great examples of popular and reloadable ammunition cartridges.

Choosing Calibers for Reloading

The best advice is to choose the calibers that you shoot often and enjoy reloading. Simple straight walled cartridges are easier to learn for beginners, but different neck sizes and wall thickness can easily be reloaded with proper tools and practice. Follow well published and tested load specifications and never exceed published maximum loads. Adhere to all CIP and SAAMI specifications and enjoy the process of learning more about the full process of shooting sports from reloading to visiting the range.

Looking for specific caliber brass to get started with a new reloading setup? See the full list of popular and specialty type cartridge brass available from Capital Cartridge.

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