slower the burn; the larger the squares, the slower the burn. Sheets were about as thick as a 3x5inch card and cut into squares typically 1/16 inch. To slow the powder's burning rate further, it was rolled in graphite. 10. Allow the threads to dry at a very low heat and then break then into very short lengths. To control burning rate and reduce barrel erosion, modern powders have deterrent coatings added to them. One common deterrent used with smokeless powder is Centralite I (diethyldiphenylurea) . Graphite coatings also are commonly found; these reduce the amount of static electricity generated when grains of powder flow through various metering machinery and therefore aren't essential to powder manufacture. Best of all, they slow the burning rate for added barrel life. Once made, smokeless powder is relatively safe to handle but will be sensitive to heat and light. Powder should be kept in sealed metal containers and stored at cool temperatures. Chapter 3 Top Brass Unless you're using muzzle-loading firearms (which is an option you might consider), you'll need brass cartridges to reload ammunition. If you're firing a bolt-action gun or a revolver, this isn't much of a problem because it's easy to keep the empties. And, by exercising care, this brass can be reloaded up to 10 or more times, provided you avoid maximum loads, trim the cartridge to length, and thin down the neck of the case if required. With selective-fire and semiautomatic weapons, a good brass catcher makes sense, though it can increase jamming and therefore isn't always suitable for combat (but, arguably, its suitability increases as your reloadable brass decreases) . The best brass catchers are those offered by E&L Manufacturing. This company makes brass catchers for the Mini-14, AR-15/M16, HK 9 1/93/94, Uzi, MAC10/11/1 1~9, .30-caliber carbine, AK-47, and other popular firearms that the government doesn't want you to own. The E&L catchers cost about $25 each and will quickly pay for themselves if ammunition becomes scarce. If you're in an area where soldiers, rebels, or criminals are active, you might also be able to scrounge ammunition left behind after gun battles. However, you need to be cautious because these areas may be under surveillance as one side tries to ambush the other. And you might also be removing evidence if the police are going to investigate such a shoot-out. So be wary before scampering in to collect brass. When scrounging empties, you need to remember that others may be reloading rounds with such materials as with mercury fulminate, making the rounds dangerous to reload. You should also avoid aluminum-cased empties for the same reason. Steel-cased pistol ammo can be reloaded, but it's hard on your reloading equipment. Don't try to reload it. If you're forced to reload cartridges with black powder, brown powder, or any of the hygroscopic powders mentioned above, then you should take pains to wash the cartridges as soon as possible. This will not only clear out the fouling in them, but will also prevent corrosion that will eventually ruin the brass if it is left dirty. Hot, soapy water and a small brush are the best bets to get the residue off cartridges. Some reloaders report good results after placing cartridges in a tray and running them through a dishwasher. The only caution here is that the high heat many dishwashers use during their drying cycle could cause the brass head to lose its proper tempering. Therefore, caution should be exercised with any approach that exposes the cartridge to extreme heat. Even after being carefully cleaned, brass used with black powder will turn very dark because the sulfur in the powder discolors the metal. This black coloration is merely cosmetic, and the cartridges should remain strong if they don't become corroded and haven't been used with mercuric primers. A common trick on the battlefield is to booby-trap gear, and even bodies, so an enemy will be injured when inspecting them. This may become a common tactic if law and order really break down in our country. In such a situation, a case of ammunition or other goodies where they don't seem to belong should be left alone or you're likely to blow off an arm — if you're lucky. About the only way to ensure that loaded rounds you find in the field are safe is to actually strip them from a recently captured or killed criminal, soldier, or enemy. If you don't see the guy up and running before he's aced, don't be tempted to remove ammunition or weapons from his body, because they might be booby-trapped. Cartridges should be carefully cleaned to keep grit out of your reloading dies. Failure to