Top 20 Reloading Myths, Misunderstandings & Misconceptions
A Reality-Based Guide for Data-Driven Reloaders
By Aaron Peterson – Founder, Hawkeye Ammosmithing
"Data-driven ballistics, tested & proven."
1. “Cold Welding” Between Bullet and Brass
Myth: Bullets and cases “cold weld” together over time.
Reality: What’s really happening is galvanic (dissimilar-metal) corrosion between copper and brass when moisture or salts are present.
Prevention: Keep components dry, avoid bare-hand handling, and apply a barrier such as graphite, mica, HBN, or moly before seating. Factory ammo prevents this with corrosion inhibitors and clean assembly environments.
2. Flattened Primers = Overpressure
Myth: A flat primer always means excessive pressure.
Reality: Primer flattening depends on cup hardness, headspace, and firing-pin design. It can occur well below maximum pressure.
Better indicator: Track velocity jumps, case head expansion, and extraction feel instead of relying on primer shape alone.
3. You Can “Read Pressure” From Brass
Myth: Brass and primer appearance tell you the exact pressure level.
Reality: They’re symptoms, not measurements. True chamber pressure can vary thousands of PSI without visible signs.
Best practice: Work up loads slowly and watch velocity trends — not cosmetic brass clues.
4. Manuals Are Conservative — You Can Safely Exceed Max
Myth: Published maximum loads leave lots of room to spare.
Reality: Manual data applies only to the test firearm and components used. Slight changes in brass volume, bullet shape, or seating depth can spike pressure dramatically.
Rule: Treat manual maximums as limits unless you have instrumentation and experience.
5. More Velocity = More Accuracy
Myth: Faster bullets always shoot tighter groups.
Reality: Accuracy peaks inside harmonic “nodes,” not at max speed. Pushing past them often opens groups and increases SD.
Tip: Let the barrel’s harmonics dictate load choice, not the chronograph’s biggest number.
6. Seating Into the Lands Is Always More Accurate
Myth: Best precision comes from jamming bullets into the rifling.
Reality: Some bullets prefer it, but many modern hybrids and hunting designs shoot best with a small jump.
Consideration: Start with 0.020"–0.050" off and tune from there. Jamming raises pressure and can reduce consistency.
7. Annealing Is Only Needed When Necks Begin to Split
Myth: If you aren't getting some split necks on fired cases, it doesn’t need annealing.
Reality: Work-hardening begins after the first firings and resizing. Annealing restores uniform neck tension, improving ES and brass life long before visible damage occurs.
Guideline: Every 3–5 firings for bottleneck rifle brass is a good balance, after every firing is best for absolute consistency.
8. Wet Tumbling Is Always Better
Myth: Stainless-pin wet tumbling is the best cleaning method, period.
Reality: It cleans thoroughly but strips protective residue and can promote corrosion if cases aren’t fully dried.
Balance: Dry tumble for maintenance; wet tumble when heavy carbon buildup needs removal.
Additional tip: Wet tumble first, then dry tumble after resizing to remove lube — this will give you the best of both worlds.
9. Pressure and Velocity Are Linear
Myth: Increase charge weight → proportional velocity and pressure.
Reality: Internal pressure rises exponentially near a powder’s efficiency limit. A 0.3 gr jump at the top end can spike several thousand PSI.
Takeaway: Approach maximum loads in tiny increments and watch velocity curve flattening.
10. Ball Powders Are Always Dirtier and Less Accurate
Myth: Stick (extruded) powders are “match” powders, ball (spherical) powders are cheap and dirty.
Reality: Modern spherical propellants like StaBALL and Power Pro feature additives that help them burn clean, meter precisely, and can be extremely consistent.
Key: Match powder type to case volume and burn rate, not shape.
11. SD/ES Define Accuracy
Myth: Low standard deviation guarantees tiny groups.
Reality: SD/ES describe velocity consistency, not harmonic alignment. A 12 fps SD load may group worse than a 25 fps SD if it’s out of tune.
Lesson: Use chronograph data to confirm consistency, not predict group size. Look for velocity plateaus.
12. Neck Sizing Always Improves Accuracy
Myth: Neck-sized brass shoots tighter than full-length sized.
Reality: It can — until chamber tolerances or bolt lug seating change. Slight full-length sizing often yields better repeatability and easier chambering.
Use case: Bench guns may neck-size; field and precision rifles benefit from full-length sizing.
13. Compressed Loads Are Unsafe
Myth: If powder crunches when seating, you’re overpressure.
Reality: Many safe, tested loads are compressed. Pressure depends on internal volume, not whether powder is compacted.
Note: Ensure consistent case volume and seating depth — compression can improve ignition uniformity, but it can also create resistance with bullet seating and thus inconsistent COAL.
14. Ladder Tests Tell You Everything
Myth: One-shot ladder tests reveal the perfect load.
Reality: They help locate flat velocity zones but ignore seating depth and repeatability.
Better: Combine ladder testing with group validation and chronograph data for reliable node discovery.
15. Barrel Length Only Affects Velocity
Myth: Short barrels just lose FPS — nothing else changes.
Reality: Barrel length alters dwell time, pressure curve, and harmonics. A powder that’s ideal in 26" may behave erratically in 18".
Tip: Tune powder and charge to the barrel, not a book velocity target.
16. Case Fill Dictates Consistency
Myth: Higher fill = more uniform ignition.
Reality: Over- or under-filled cases can both hurt consistency. Efficiency, ignition characteristics, and powder shape matter more than fill percentage alone.
Goal: Find the charge that gives uniform velocity and burn, not just 100% case fill.
17. Powder Lot Variations Don’t Matter
Myth: Same powder label = same performance.
Reality: Manufacturing variances can shift burn rate enough to alter pressure by several thousand PSI.
Best practice: Re-chronograph every new lot, especially near maximum charges.
18. “Temperature-Stable” Powders Eliminate POI Shift
Myth: Extreme or Enduron powders (for example) don’t change with weather.
Reality: They’re more stable, not immune. Expect small MV and POI shifts across wide temperature swings.
Solution: Verify dope in both hot and cold conditions. Find a wide node, if able, and put your load as close to the middle as possible to account for temperature swings.
19. More Case Prep = More Accuracy
Myth: Uniforming, turning, and deburring everything always tightens groups.
Reality: Past a point, gains are negligible. Focus on consistent neck tension, seating depth, and powder charge instead of chasing perfection in every dimension.
Rule: Do what measurably affects ES and concentricity — skip the rest.
20. Primer Type Doesn’t Affect Pressure
Myth: All primers of the same size are interchangeable.
Reality: Different brands vary in brisance and cup hardness. Switching primers can raise or lower pressure enough to require a charge adjustment.
Tip: Re-test whenever changing primer brand or type.
Closing Thoughts
Reloading thrives on shared experience, but repeated advice can harden into myth. By understanding the actual science behind each step — metallurgy, ballistics, and internal pressure behavior — reloaders can make informed, data-driven decisions.
Keep questioning, keep testing, and keep learning.
Aaron Peterson
Founder – Hawkeye Ammosmithing
Data-Driven Ballistics, Tested & Proven
A Reality-Based Guide for Data-Driven Reloaders
By Aaron Peterson – Founder, Hawkeye Ammosmithing
"Data-driven ballistics, tested & proven."
1. “Cold Welding” Between Bullet and Brass
Myth: Bullets and cases “cold weld” together over time.
Reality: What’s really happening is galvanic (dissimilar-metal) corrosion between copper and brass when moisture or salts are present.
Prevention: Keep components dry, avoid bare-hand handling, and apply a barrier such as graphite, mica, HBN, or moly before seating. Factory ammo prevents this with corrosion inhibitors and clean assembly environments.
2. Flattened Primers = Overpressure
Myth: A flat primer always means excessive pressure.
Reality: Primer flattening depends on cup hardness, headspace, and firing-pin design. It can occur well below maximum pressure.
Better indicator: Track velocity jumps, case head expansion, and extraction feel instead of relying on primer shape alone.
3. You Can “Read Pressure” From Brass
Myth: Brass and primer appearance tell you the exact pressure level.
Reality: They’re symptoms, not measurements. True chamber pressure can vary thousands of PSI without visible signs.
Best practice: Work up loads slowly and watch velocity trends — not cosmetic brass clues.
4. Manuals Are Conservative — You Can Safely Exceed Max
Myth: Published maximum loads leave lots of room to spare.
Reality: Manual data applies only to the test firearm and components used. Slight changes in brass volume, bullet shape, or seating depth can spike pressure dramatically.
Rule: Treat manual maximums as limits unless you have instrumentation and experience.
5. More Velocity = More Accuracy
Myth: Faster bullets always shoot tighter groups.
Reality: Accuracy peaks inside harmonic “nodes,” not at max speed. Pushing past them often opens groups and increases SD.
Tip: Let the barrel’s harmonics dictate load choice, not the chronograph’s biggest number.
6. Seating Into the Lands Is Always More Accurate
Myth: Best precision comes from jamming bullets into the rifling.
Reality: Some bullets prefer it, but many modern hybrids and hunting designs shoot best with a small jump.
Consideration: Start with 0.020"–0.050" off and tune from there. Jamming raises pressure and can reduce consistency.
7. Annealing Is Only Needed When Necks Begin to Split
Myth: If you aren't getting some split necks on fired cases, it doesn’t need annealing.
Reality: Work-hardening begins after the first firings and resizing. Annealing restores uniform neck tension, improving ES and brass life long before visible damage occurs.
Guideline: Every 3–5 firings for bottleneck rifle brass is a good balance, after every firing is best for absolute consistency.
8. Wet Tumbling Is Always Better
Myth: Stainless-pin wet tumbling is the best cleaning method, period.
Reality: It cleans thoroughly but strips protective residue and can promote corrosion if cases aren’t fully dried.
Balance: Dry tumble for maintenance; wet tumble when heavy carbon buildup needs removal.
Additional tip: Wet tumble first, then dry tumble after resizing to remove lube — this will give you the best of both worlds.
9. Pressure and Velocity Are Linear
Myth: Increase charge weight → proportional velocity and pressure.
Reality: Internal pressure rises exponentially near a powder’s efficiency limit. A 0.3 gr jump at the top end can spike several thousand PSI.
Takeaway: Approach maximum loads in tiny increments and watch velocity curve flattening.
10. Ball Powders Are Always Dirtier and Less Accurate
Myth: Stick (extruded) powders are “match” powders, ball (spherical) powders are cheap and dirty.
Reality: Modern spherical propellants like StaBALL and Power Pro feature additives that help them burn clean, meter precisely, and can be extremely consistent.
Key: Match powder type to case volume and burn rate, not shape.
11. SD/ES Define Accuracy
Myth: Low standard deviation guarantees tiny groups.
Reality: SD/ES describe velocity consistency, not harmonic alignment. A 12 fps SD load may group worse than a 25 fps SD if it’s out of tune.
Lesson: Use chronograph data to confirm consistency, not predict group size. Look for velocity plateaus.
12. Neck Sizing Always Improves Accuracy
Myth: Neck-sized brass shoots tighter than full-length sized.
Reality: It can — until chamber tolerances or bolt lug seating change. Slight full-length sizing often yields better repeatability and easier chambering.
Use case: Bench guns may neck-size; field and precision rifles benefit from full-length sizing.
13. Compressed Loads Are Unsafe
Myth: If powder crunches when seating, you’re overpressure.
Reality: Many safe, tested loads are compressed. Pressure depends on internal volume, not whether powder is compacted.
Note: Ensure consistent case volume and seating depth — compression can improve ignition uniformity, but it can also create resistance with bullet seating and thus inconsistent COAL.
14. Ladder Tests Tell You Everything
Myth: One-shot ladder tests reveal the perfect load.
Reality: They help locate flat velocity zones but ignore seating depth and repeatability.
Better: Combine ladder testing with group validation and chronograph data for reliable node discovery.
15. Barrel Length Only Affects Velocity
Myth: Short barrels just lose FPS — nothing else changes.
Reality: Barrel length alters dwell time, pressure curve, and harmonics. A powder that’s ideal in 26" may behave erratically in 18".
Tip: Tune powder and charge to the barrel, not a book velocity target.
16. Case Fill Dictates Consistency
Myth: Higher fill = more uniform ignition.
Reality: Over- or under-filled cases can both hurt consistency. Efficiency, ignition characteristics, and powder shape matter more than fill percentage alone.
Goal: Find the charge that gives uniform velocity and burn, not just 100% case fill.
17. Powder Lot Variations Don’t Matter
Myth: Same powder label = same performance.
Reality: Manufacturing variances can shift burn rate enough to alter pressure by several thousand PSI.
Best practice: Re-chronograph every new lot, especially near maximum charges.
18. “Temperature-Stable” Powders Eliminate POI Shift
Myth: Extreme or Enduron powders (for example) don’t change with weather.
Reality: They’re more stable, not immune. Expect small MV and POI shifts across wide temperature swings.
Solution: Verify dope in both hot and cold conditions. Find a wide node, if able, and put your load as close to the middle as possible to account for temperature swings.
19. More Case Prep = More Accuracy
Myth: Uniforming, turning, and deburring everything always tightens groups.
Reality: Past a point, gains are negligible. Focus on consistent neck tension, seating depth, and powder charge instead of chasing perfection in every dimension.
Rule: Do what measurably affects ES and concentricity — skip the rest.
20. Primer Type Doesn’t Affect Pressure
Myth: All primers of the same size are interchangeable.
Reality: Different brands vary in brisance and cup hardness. Switching primers can raise or lower pressure enough to require a charge adjustment.
Tip: Re-test whenever changing primer brand or type.
Closing Thoughts
Reloading thrives on shared experience, but repeated advice can harden into myth. By understanding the actual science behind each step — metallurgy, ballistics, and internal pressure behavior — reloaders can make informed, data-driven decisions.
Keep questioning, keep testing, and keep learning.
Aaron Peterson
Founder – Hawkeye Ammosmithing
Data-Driven Ballistics, Tested & Proven
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