Reloading Supplies & Equipment

A Firearms Certificate (FAC) is required to purchase smokeless reloading powder, primers and loaded ammunition components for rifle and pistol cartridges. A Shotgun Certificate (SGC) is sufficient for shotgun primers and shotgun-specific components. Unprimed cases, bullets and equipment such as presses, dies and scales do not require a certificate.

For many rifle and pistol calibres, reloading is significantly cheaper than buying factory ammunition, particularly for larger calibres like 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester and .45-70, where savings of 40–60% per round are common. Shotgun cartridge reloading offers more modest savings but gives you control over shot type, load weight and velocity. The bigger benefit for most shooters is accuracy tuning rather than cost.

A basic reloading setup includes a single-stage or turret press, a calibre-specific set of reloading dies, a powder measure or scale, a priming tool and a case preparation kit (deburring and chamfering tools). Starter kits from Lee Precision, Hornady and RCBS bundle these essentials together and are the most cost-effective way to begin. You'll also need reloading components, brass, primers, powder and bullets in your chosen calibre.

Primers are categorised by size (small or large) and by the cartridge they ignite. Small pistol, large pistol, small rifle, large rifle, magnum rifle and shotgun primers each have specific cup thicknesses and priming compound formulations matched to the chamber pressure and ignition requirements of that cartridge type. Substituting the wrong primer can cause unreliable ignition or dangerous pressure spikes. Always follow published load data.

Yes, at present lead shot remains legal for reloading, though its use is being phased out for live quarry shooting by 2029 under a voluntary and regulatory transition. Steel shot, bismuth and tungsten alternatives are increasingly available for reloaders. We stock non-toxic shot options alongside traditional lead shot and the wads suitable for each.