Name: Women’s Only Handgun Tier 1
Start: 2024-05-28T18:00:00+00:00
End: 2024-05-28T21:00:00+00:00
Location: Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center

The Art of Reloading: An Introduction and Essential Considerations

With New York States changing laws and now a requirement for a Background check just to buy ammunition. Many see this as the state building a database of who has what. With that many in New York have considered turning to reloading their own ammunition. Reloading ammunition is a captivating and rewarding pursuit that allows firearm enthusiasts to take their shooting experience to the next level. Whether you’re a competitive shooter, a hunter looking to fine-tune your ammunition for accuracy, or simply a firearms enthusiast seeking a deeper understanding of your craft, reloading offers a path to greater control, consistency, and savings. In this article, we’ll delve into the introduction to reloading, exploring essential items and considerations for those looking to embark on this fascinating journey.

The Basics of Reloading

Reloading, also known as handloading, is the process of assembling your own ammunition from spent cartridge cases. The key components of a loaded cartridge include the case, primer, powder, and projectile (bullet). By reloading your ammunition, you gain control over these elements, allowing you to tailor your rounds to meet specific performance and accuracy requirements. Here’s a brief overview of the reloading process:

1. Collecting Brass:

The foundation of the reloading process is the spent cartridge case. After firing, these cases must be collected, cleaned, and inspected for signs of damage or excessive wear. Quality brass is essential for consistent results.

2. Cleaning and Preparation:

Dirty or corroded brass can lead to issues with reloading and negatively impact performance. Cases must be cleaned, both inside and out, using specialized equipment like tumblers or ultrasonic cleaners. Afterward, they may require resizing, trimming, and primer pocket cleaning.

3. Priming:

The primer is a small, sensitive component that provides the initial ignition of the powder charge. To reload, you’ll need a priming tool to insert fresh primers into the cleaned and prepared brass.

4. Powder and Charge:

Selecting the right type and amount of powder is critical for achieving the desired performance of your ammunition. You’ll need a reliable powder measure to dispense precise powder charges.

5. Bullet Seating:

Properly seating the bullet to the correct depth in the case is crucial for accuracy and safety. A reloading press with a bullet seating die is used for this step.

6. Crimping (Optional):

Some cartridges benefit from a crimp, which secures the bullet in the case mouth. This is particularly important for cartridges used in semi-automatic firearms.

7. Quality Control:

After assembling each round, thorough inspection is essential to ensure safety and consistency. Pay close attention to case length, overall cartridge length (OAL), and primer seating depth.

Essential Items for Reloading

Reloading demands precision and safety, and to achieve both, you’ll need a range of essential tools and components. Here’s a list of items you’ll need to get started:

1. Reloading Press:

The heart of your reloading setup, the press is responsible for performing most of the reloading operations, including resizing, priming, and bullet seating. There are various types of presses available, including single-stage, turret, and progressive presses, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

2. Dies:

Dies are specialized tools that are used with your reloading press to perform specific functions like resizing, depriming, and bullet seating. You’ll need a set of dies tailored to the caliber you plan to reload.

3. Powder Measure and Scale:

To dispense accurate powder charges, you’ll require a quality powder measure. Additionally, a reliable scale is necessary to confirm and fine-tune the powder charges for consistency.

4. Case Cleaning Equipment:

This includes tumblers, ultrasonic cleaners, or case cleaning solutions to ensure your brass is clean and free of contaminants.

5. Calipers:

Precision is key in reloading, and a good set of calipers is essential for measuring case length, overall cartridge length (OAL), and other critical dimensions.

6. Priming Tools:

A priming tool is used to seat new primers into the cartridge cases securely. There are various types available, including hand-held and bench-mounted options.

7. Case Trimming Tools:

For cases that have stretched beyond the specified length, case trimming tools help maintain consistent case dimensions.

8. Bullet Puller (Optional):

In the event of a mistake or if you need to disassemble a round, a bullet puller allows you to remove the bullet without damaging components.

9. Loading Manuals:

Reloading manuals provide essential information on powder charges, bullet types, and load data for various calibers. Always refer to reputable reloading manuals for safety and performance guidance.

Conclusion

Reloading ammunition is a deeply satisfying and skillful endeavor that offers a profound understanding of firearm mechanics and performance. It allows you to craft custom ammunition tailored to your specific needs, enhancing accuracy and consistency while potentially saving money in the long run. However, it’s important to approach reloading with the utmost care, attention to detail, and dedication to safety. Invest in quality equipment, consult reputable loading manuals, and continually educate yourself about best practices to ensure a rewarding and safe reloading experience. Remember that reloading is a journey that requires patience and practice, but the rewards are well worth the effort.

A Comprehensive Guide on Selecting the Right Ammunition

Whether you are an avid shooter, a hunter, or a responsible gun owner, selecting the right ammunition is of paramount importance. Choosing the appropriate ammunition ensures optimal performance, accuracy, and safety when using firearms. With the wide variety of options available on the market, it can be overwhelming for both beginners and experienced enthusiasts. In this blog, we will delve into the key factors to consider when selecting ammunition, incorporating valuable insights from Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center, renowned experts in the field.

Understand Your Firearm:

Before delving into the world of ammunition, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of your firearm. Consider the make, model, and caliber of your firearm as ammunition requirements vary depending on these factors. Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center recommends familiarizing yourself with the recommended caliber and ammunition type specified by the manufacturer to ensure compatibility and safety.

Purpose:

Determine the purpose for which you need ammunition. Are you planning to use it for target practice, self-defense, competition shooting, or hunting? Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center advises considering the purpose carefully, as different purposes require different characteristics in ammunition, such as bullet type, velocity, and energy. Understanding the intended use will help narrow down your options effectively.

Caliber and Cartridge:

Choose the appropriate caliber and cartridge for your firearm. Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center stresses the importance of using the correct caliber and cartridge as specified by the manufacturer to prevent malfunctions and ensure optimal performance. They recommend consulting your firearm’s manual or seeking professional guidance to determine the right caliber and cartridge.

Bullet Type:

Selecting the right bullet type is crucial, as it determines the ammunition’s effectiveness for a particular purpose. Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center suggests considering factors such as expansion, penetration, and terminal performance. They emphasize that for self-defense, hollow point ammunition is often recommended due to its ability to expand upon impact, maximizing stopping power while minimizing over-penetration.

Velocity and Energy:

Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center advises considering velocity and energy, particularly for hunting and self-defense ammunition. Higher velocity and energy generally result in greater stopping power and terminal performance. However, they also suggest considering factors such as recoil and controllability, as excessive recoil can affect accuracy and follow-up shots.

Recoil and Controllability:

Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center acknowledges the significance of recoil and controllability. They recommend finding a balance between recoil and controllability, considering your personal comfort and ability to handle recoil effectively. Balancing these factors ensures an enjoyable and accurate shooting experience.

Research and Reviews:

Do thorough research on various ammunition brands and manufacturers. Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center suggests reading reviews, seeking recommendations from experienced shooters, and consulting with professionals at shooting ranges or firearm stores. They emphasize that these sources can provide valuable insights and recommendations based on their experience and expertise. Some popular brands are Winchester, Remington, Hornady, and Federal.

Quality and Reliability:

Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center advises choosing ammunition from reputable manufacturers known for producing high-quality and reliable products. Quality ammunition undergoes strict quality control measures, ensuring consistent performance and safety. Reliability is crucial to prevent misfires, jams, or malfunctions, which could compromise your safety and the longevity of your firearm.

Budget Considerations:

Consider your budget when selecting ammunition. Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center recognizes that it is essential to choose reliable and quality ammunition, but also suggests finding options that fit your budget. They recommend comparing

What Makes Our Gun Store Different from Others

Most gun shops are born from a love for the industry, typically someone who started with home based federal firearms license. And as they grew their customer base, and volume of firearms and ammunition sales, they would start to get encouragement from those same customers to open an actual store. This love for an industry and encouragement from others is what typically develops into many of the firearms dealers you see around your community.

My story is like many of the others in this industry in that it was born from an at home idea. However I started with needing a holster that would fit inside my suit coat when I would go to do presentations or when I would visit job sites in the stormwater industry. I could not find one, so I turned to the power of the internet and YouTube. I started watching videos and learned how to work with a product known by so many as Kydex thermoplastics. I soon started making and listing my products on eBay. And holy cow they started selling. I then invited my father to join my idea of starting a holster business selling online and making them in our basements. And born from this idea was Just Holster It LLC.

We soon grew from a basement business, to a rental space, and finally to buying a building and actually hiring staff. We not only sold online, we sold exclusively holsters in our own store, and supplied many dealers across the country. We chose a Alden, New York as our home base town for Just Holster It since the town sat in the middle of 5 correctional facilities. Of course thinking forward I was always trying to envision the next big move.

It was not until I had graduated from the University of Buffalo -Center For Entrepreneurial Leadership CORE Program and in the middle of Covid my business started to grow. In fact it grew 56% a year for two years. I went from 2 employees to 6 employees at the time. I then decided it was time for the next step and I joined the CEL Mastery Program and it was there my idea of moving my holsters to a bigger and better store that encompassed not only the largest selection of holsters, but also firearms, ammunition and accessories. This was the starting point of Just Holster It Firearms & Training Center now located in Elma, New York.

As I started to develop the idea of a gun store, I started using friends and family as a sounding board. I started exploring the things they did not like at other stores they had visited in Western New York. Soon people started asking me what is different from my Gun store compared to others in the Buffalo, New York area. Why is Just Holster It Firearm’s & Training Center so different? What makes your store special. Or what do you offer that other stores do not.

Unlike many other stores in the industry I started to develop the gun shop idea on the basis of sound business facts with a team of business owners from the CEL. We needed to build a business like no other in the area, from the building to the offerings. It was a lecture in one of my classes with CEL and what we uncovered in our early years as a Holster store that drove the vision. We needed to focus on the Disney experience and create a store that engages our senses much like Disney does when you visit the park.

Though we could not capture to the level of Disney we are focused on the touch feel, education, and visual experience. We designed a store that is not your traditional rustic shop focus, but more industrial open air feeling. From the moment you approach the door and you grab hold of a 45 long Colt for a door handle as you enter the store. You are then greeted much like Norm from Cheers finally we are taking the educational level of buying to a whole new level. You are given the opportunity to touch and try not only the largest holster selection in New York, you have a variety of products you can touch, feel, and try out. You can try out the latest gun lubricant, a magnet to hide your gun, range bags you can explore, or test out some of the latest lasers, lights or RMR optics we offer. Finally if it is a firearm you are looking for, then you have the opportunity to interact even more with the expert staff we put together to help guide you and maybe even educate you as you move through the buying experience whether you are a new gun owner or a seasoned veteran.

Of course the last step is training classes guiding you through the learning experience to get your NYS License, or giving you a class on Article 35 Use of Force Training. Or maybe you are looking to be prepared for something more serious and want to take our Class Stop the Bleed. We are building out a wide selection of training classes focused on helping to make you a more proficient and safe firearms owner.

Of course none of the current store or our future stores could be possible without the perfect ownership team. I initially asked a very dear friend to consult for me on the FFL process, who later approached me and wanted to be a part of this business in a bigger way. Josh Hawkins is one of the most knowledgeable gun enthusiast I know, besides having 10 years’ experience managing and operating a Firearms Store and building it into a strong business. Josh was the perfect person to be a owner and manager of the business. Next we knew we needed to focus on training and who better then James Emmick one of the only full time firearms instructors in Western New York. James is respected as a industry expert and source for many of the agencies in the area. Students leave his classes wanting more and more. For this reason James was brought in as an owner and the ideal person to oversee our instructors and classes offered. Finally as we move from one store to the next, and so on we needed someone focused on growth and keeping us on track. Alan Pawlowski has years of experience in financial business management and business acquisitions. The final piece of the puzzle that would keep us on track financially and ready to guide us to the next 5 stores when we are ready.

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