Anyone have suggestions for .308 rounds on a tight budget? Rifle is a sps varmint in .308, 26" barrel 12" twist. I am still trying to get experience and range time after finishing my rifle. I don't reload, and I don't plan on shooting past 800 yards or so. I have some steel plates on my ranch that I can move around to whatever range I want though. I haven't made a dope chart yet, just been shooting out to 300 at steel with cheap ammo. Thanks.
- Thread starter jackh
- Start date
M
milo 2.0
Guest
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
I'd try find someone on here, close to you and have them reload some for you. Probably make a freind in the process, especially with land and targets!
Just buy the components.
I don't care, factory loads aren't cheap.
I'd try find someone on here, close to you and have them reload some for you. Probably make a freind in the process, especially with land and targets!
Just buy the components.
I don't care, factory loads aren't cheap.
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
Define "cheap" or "tight budget."
Getting set up for reloading (single-stage press, quality dies, brass, primers, power, projos, scale, etc.) is an expensive initial investment, but depending on how much you are (or want to be) shooting, the payoff can come pretty fast and you'll be hard-pressed to find ammo as accurate as that which you develop on your own, tailored for your specific rifle/needs.
Short of reloading...you can get extremely high quality, consistent and accurate rounds in your choice of match projectiles (SMKs, A-Maxes, etc.) for <$1/round from SWAmmo (a Hide vendor).
Define "cheap" or "tight budget."
Getting set up for reloading (single-stage press, quality dies, brass, primers, power, projos, scale, etc.) is an expensive initial investment, but depending on how much you are (or want to be) shooting, the payoff can come pretty fast and you'll be hard-pressed to find ammo as accurate as that which you develop on your own, tailored for your specific rifle/needs.
Short of reloading...you can get extremely high quality, consistent and accurate rounds in your choice of match projectiles (SMKs, A-Maxes, etc.) for <$1/round from SWAmmo (a Hide vendor).
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
I bought my lee reloading kit for $115 and added a rcbs case lube bad with some other lee item (trim length, dies, pocket cleaner)
and had about $170 in everything. Probably not the best kit, but will make more accurate loads than factory and probably paid for itself in less than a year. With smk pulls it is around 7-8 a box compared to 20-25 for factory.
I bought my lee reloading kit for $115 and added a rcbs case lube bad with some other lee item (trim length, dies, pocket cleaner)
and had about $170 in everything. Probably not the best kit, but will make more accurate loads than factory and probably paid for itself in less than a year. With smk pulls it is around 7-8 a box compared to 20-25 for factory.
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
Loading is your best bet.
Find someone that loads now, so the most you'll have to buy for equipment is a set of dies if they don't load 308. The knowledge to get you started will be nice too.
I'm shooting 175 SMK pulls that are great, and just over half price. Wolf primers are fine too.
Then you can watch craigslist for someone unloading a press priced right.
Loading is your best bet.
Find someone that loads now, so the most you'll have to buy for equipment is a set of dies if they don't load 308. The knowledge to get you started will be nice too.
I'm shooting 175 SMK pulls that are great, and just over half price. Wolf primers are fine too.
Then you can watch craigslist for someone unloading a press priced right.
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
Take a look here:
http://www.southwestammunition.com/categ...w=10&page=1
Take a look here:
http://www.southwestammunition.com/categ...w=10&page=1
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
+1 on the southwest ammunition. Most likely the 155 gr bullets will do you good but their 175 gr SMK are hard to beat too
+1 on the southwest ammunition. Most likely the 155 gr bullets will do you good but their 175 gr SMK are hard to beat too
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
Reload! It's the best and cheapest route. but if you don't there are factory relaods from Black Hills, Geargia Arms, HSM and Prescison Cartridge will custom make what you want but I forget how many rounds they require, maybe 1K. Those are your best options...
Reload! It's the best and cheapest route. but if you don't there are factory relaods from Black Hills, Geargia Arms, HSM and Prescison Cartridge will custom make what you want but I forget how many rounds they require, maybe 1K. Those are your best options...
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
Reloading is cheap, good therapy plus you can really dial your rifle in. Learn it's fun and a huge part of my shooting.
T
Reloading is cheap, good therapy plus you can really dial your rifle in. Learn it's fun and a huge part of my shooting.
T
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
I guess I have always been intimidated by reloading. I don't have any experience doing it and thats a big price commitment. Outside of a good reloading kit, wouldn't I also need a chronograph? Or can I find "recipes" that I can use without having to go through load development?
I guess I have always been intimidated by reloading. I don't have any experience doing it and thats a big price commitment. Outside of a good reloading kit, wouldn't I also need a chronograph? Or can I find "recipes" that I can use without having to go through load development?
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jackh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I guess I have always been intimidated by reloading. I don't have any experience doing it and thats a big price commitment. Outside of a good reloading kit, wouldn't I also need a chronograph? Or can I find "recipes" that I can use without having to go through load development? </div></div>
You don't necessarily NEED a chrono, but it certainly helps and some would argue is an indispensable tool of the trade. If you don't buy one, then find/make a friend who has one and borrow it.
As for load data...there is plenty of good reloading data on the net, including TONS of good loads right here on the Hide (see the Reloading section). Just remember...one person's best load may not work as well in your rifle. Having some data as a good starting point helps get you going in the right direction, but it won't keep you from having to do load development and testing to confirm what load works best for you/your setup.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jackh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I guess I have always been intimidated by reloading. I don't have any experience doing it and thats a big price commitment. Outside of a good reloading kit, wouldn't I also need a chronograph? Or can I find "recipes" that I can use without having to go through load development? </div></div>
You don't necessarily NEED a chrono, but it certainly helps and some would argue is an indispensable tool of the trade. If you don't buy one, then find/make a friend who has one and borrow it.
As for load data...there is plenty of good reloading data on the net, including TONS of good loads right here on the Hide (see the Reloading section). Just remember...one person's best load may not work as well in your rifle. Having some data as a good starting point helps get you going in the right direction, but it won't keep you from having to do load development and testing to confirm what load works best for you/your setup.
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
eventually a chronograph can help you plug into software to get a drop table or what have you, but frankly i typically just start at the lower end of a given recipe range and work my way up, and whatever load has the most repeatable, consistent accuracy is the one i go with. then i'll borrow my buddy's chrono to verify velocity.
eventually a chronograph can help you plug into software to get a drop table or what have you, but frankly i typically just start at the lower end of a given recipe range and work my way up, and whatever load has the most repeatable, consistent accuracy is the one i go with. then i'll borrow my buddy's chrono to verify velocity.
M
milo 2.0
Guest
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
A chrono is by no means neccesary to start with. You'll get alot of argument on price savings, which is offset by equipment costs. I've paid for my stuff 4 times over, buying bulk etc..
One thing on buying equipment, it is an asset, and can be sold.
I've seen people on here selling rockchuckers for way more than they paid for them.
I'd say expect $.85 on the dollar used, maybe not for small tools though.
And Jack, you need to throw this out in the reloading section, there's a whole bunch of us Einstein's waiting to spew our intelligence there.
A chrono is by no means neccesary to start with. You'll get alot of argument on price savings, which is offset by equipment costs. I've paid for my stuff 4 times over, buying bulk etc..
One thing on buying equipment, it is an asset, and can be sold.
I've seen people on here selling rockchuckers for way more than they paid for them.
I'd say expect $.85 on the dollar used, maybe not for small tools though.
And Jack, you need to throw this out in the reloading section, there's a whole bunch of us Einstein's waiting to spew our intelligence there.
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
Been reloading over 25 years without a chrono, though I sometimes would like to have one. I just follow some recipies, land on a good one and stick with it. I don't change once I get a decent one. As long as the round is accurate, I don't care how fast it's going.
Reloading is rewarding, very easy once you do a few and will make you not think about the cost near as much as opening up spendy boxes of 20 rounds. You don't need an electronic scale: a powder thrower/trickler and beam scale speed things up. I throw a slightly light load, trickle up to perfection and dump the load in the case.
Have fun!
Been reloading over 25 years without a chrono, though I sometimes would like to have one. I just follow some recipies, land on a good one and stick with it. I don't change once I get a decent one. As long as the round is accurate, I don't care how fast it's going.
Reloading is rewarding, very easy once you do a few and will make you not think about the cost near as much as opening up spendy boxes of 20 rounds. You don't need an electronic scale: a powder thrower/trickler and beam scale speed things up. I throw a slightly light load, trickle up to perfection and dump the load in the case.
Have fun!
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
and another thing...
Some less expensive bullets are pretty accurate sometimes. Remington CoreLokts are very reasonable and sometimes very accurate.
and another thing...
Some less expensive bullets are pretty accurate sometimes. Remington CoreLokts are very reasonable and sometimes very accurate.
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
Southwest ammunition is a great place to start but you can look at Privi Partisan which gives pretty good accuracy for the price
Southwest ammunition is a great place to start but you can look at Privi Partisan which gives pretty good accuracy for the price
Re: Long range rounds on a budget
reloading is not cheap. To save $$ you buy in quantity. More accessories. Better dies. Another press.( I have 5 now ).K's of primers and C's pounds of powder. A bedroom full. The walls lined with drawers and cabinets. "budget" does not apply(think the federal "budget"). If you scavenge brass the individual rounds can be inexpensive compared to factory ammo at you local gun store.Per piece.But you may end up with 10 K rounds.
reloading is not cheap. To save $$ you buy in quantity. More accessories. Better dies. Another press.( I have 5 now ).K's of primers and C's pounds of powder. A bedroom full. The walls lined with drawers and cabinets. "budget" does not apply(think the federal "budget"). If you scavenge brass the individual rounds can be inexpensive compared to factory ammo at you local gun store.Per piece.But you may end up with 10 K rounds.
