308/.0-06 Load with Redding gift from wife

[savageeaglenavy]

I just got into loading and love it. I have been so into building a long range rifle I think I have lost the my way and I feel like I have found it. I am using what I have. I am blessed to have a wife who saw that and came home with the following.
Keep in mind I have the following guns savage 30-06, 308-24" in A5
She bought the following=
Redding T-7 with auto primer
Redding national match 308 and 30-06 set
Redding instant headspace and bullter comparator
Redding BR3
Redding match lathe
Redding powder scale
rcbs electronic scale
dillion rotary CV-750
crushed walnuts for the media tumbler

After reading about OAL gauges to determine the proper seat depth of my individual rifle I have yet to come up with a good way to do so with out using a fired round with a round inserted and a black marker and repeat. Some advise would be appreciated.

Needless to say I have an incredible wife, but she has motives as she wants to get into LR with me along with tactical matches.

So the questions are from the list that I have in boxes and partially setup on the bench is there anything that is missing or needs to be changed. I will be shooting 1000 match with the 308 and I am sure to hear from my wife what caliber she will be wanting.

So far I have close to 500 rounds of federal brass mostly new, 1000 rounds varying from 168gr to 190gr from sierra, hornady, berger and more companies, and for powder I have RL17(mostly), varget and some others from some buddies.

I know that the gun can shoot hornady 178gr box ammo at .5 moa at 100yards. I would like to develop a load the do the same. Can some one give me a starting point in developing a load for 1000k like that hornady. I have the hornady books and lymans but there is something to be saiid about experience. Thank you for any input.

 

[280nosler]

Re: 308/.0-06 Load with Redding gift from wife

That is quite the setup you have. I am a big ran of redding reloading equipment, and seeing as you went with the BR3 (likely due to loading 30-06) you are good to load everything up to 338 lapua. I have the 30-BR and have had excellent results with the throws using fine extruded powders as well as ball.

I shoot quite a bit of 308, but the farthest I ever shoot is 600 yards, so I am sorry I can not give you advise on a 1K yard load. I would focus in on the 178 grain bullets you have, and start with the powder you have the most of. 10 rounds starting at least 10% under max load with that powder, verified by both the powder manufacturer and a second book. Increase loads by .2 grains and do 100 or 200 yard accuracy tests to find your node. Most guns have 2 nodes, a low and a high. You will probably want to find the high node if you plan on shooting that far, then try a different powder. This may take you a few range trips, but with powder the way it is right now, I feel that I will be set for life with all the new information I have to work with. Assuming you have a 24" + barrel, you will want to find a medium/slow powder to get that speed you will need to push a pill that far.

The T-7 press is great, and will last you the rest of your life. The only think I would suggest you buy are:
A hand primer
Some more brass. Federal Brass will likely start showing signed of degradation at 3-4 reload unless you anneal it.

 

[savageeaglenavy]

Re: 308/.0-06 Load with Redding gift from wife

I am in the process of getting some loads set up per the books to see how those work.
I will get the primer tool-- thank you for the ideas.

I know I need more brass, pretty much everything is hard to find in bulk and I cant spend 95 cents for a brass.

What is the "best brass" to get?

There were some rumors about powder getting or having a shelf life, is this true?

I am going to continue buying the 8 pound powders at my local shop and stocking up on the stuff that I know will work as a good general powder.

Can anyone give some specific powders that have worked well for them in the LR shots?
I want to stock pile as much as possible. I have some buddies that want me to reload for them so maybe my wife did have other motives? LOL

Thank you all for the information and please if I have something wrong tell me.

 

[milo 2.0]

Re: 308/.0-06 Load with Redding gift from wife

Nuke,
Viewed your thread yestrday, wasn't going to comment. That's one good woman you have!
And she got it right, did you have a list, a freind help her, or store employee? Heck, I have to circle an item in a catalog for my wife to "nail" it. Need less to say, we gave up on Birthdays and Christmas years ago.
Some lube, a calliper and 30 cal comparator and you're ready to go to town.
Congrats!
As for brass, Lapua stands above the rest, but Winchester, Rem, Fed, LC, they'll all work.

 

[280nosler]

Re: 308/.0-06 Load with Redding gift from wife

As far as brass - yes Lapua seems to be the best on the market. Norma isn't bad either. I prefer Winchester over Federal and Remington, and of course Lake city if you can find it.

As for powder, if stored correctly, it will last indefinitely. Don't leave it in a cold garage, or an attic. It is best to keep the lid on tight so as not to introduce moisture, and keep out of direct sunlight. As far as I know sunlight won't hurt the powder directly, but while in black containers, it will lead to a greater daily temperature variation, which I have read is bad for powders. I keep mine in a wood cabinet next to the laundry room.

Powders - like I said, I typically push 147-168 grain pills with h4895, accurate 2495, accurate 2520 imr 4320 or reloader 15 in addition to CFE 223.

 

[savageeaglenavy]

Re: 308/.0-06 Load with Redding gift from wife

To answer the questions
My wife is just getting into shooting and from my neverending talking she I guess figured it out that I wanted to go with the 308. She told me she did a ton of research and figured redding was the best so she googled what was needed and tried to get it all.
We went to the gun store today and she has decided to get a glock 23 for her carry. This is mainly to go with her 22 she is setting up for comps. So the question is what is a good progressive press, I am going to need something with a higher output to keep up with her and I that does not have to be as exact. Also it would be nice if it could load 5.56 ammo also. I have seen the Dillon 650 and higher that crank out alot of ammo, but I dont know how good they are.....
Is it possible to get redding sets for 5.56 to fit into a dillon?

Needless to say it is strang how life takes it twists and turns as I am lucky to have landed where i am. Thank you for all your input please let me know where I am wrong so I can fix myself.

 

[280nosler]

Re: 308/.0-06 Load with Redding gift from wife

For 40 caliber and 223, I would recommend a 650. I can pump out 600 rounds an hour with my 650, and that is 9mm, 40sw or 223. When I reload 223, I find that I seem to have to reload the powder hopper about every 1/2 hour or so, but with 9mm/40 it is closer to every 3-4 hours. You can pm me And I'll show you pcs of my 650 that is dedicated to 9mm/40sw/223 and 357 mag. I do all my large primer needs on either my hornady lnl or my 550.

 

[280nosler]

Re: 308/.0-06 Load with Redding gift from wife

Oh and to answer you question, yes, redding dies work in all dillon machines with the exception to the square-d, which is made to only reload straight wall pistol.