Re: .308 reloading questions?
1.) i use this <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">bullet comparator set</span></span> & <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">gage</span></span> & <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">modified case</span></span> for each TYPE of BULLET used for that particular rifle's OGIVE distance to the rifle's lands with the particular bullet you're trying to reload, and then seat bullet about .010 to .015 (set back is totally up to you = your homework!!) back from your ogive measurement using the tools below. Almost a must have tools IMO for bolt actions and I still use on my semi-auto to verify. The straight (not curved) gage will still work in most ar-15's and ar-10's (just clears ar-10). With a BOLT ACTION (NOT semi-auto), ONCE YOU ARE MORE ADVANCED reloader, some will even set the bullet depth while reloading so the bullet's ogive will touch the rifle lands (do NOT do this with a semi-auto OR someone starting out with reloading). Different bullets will have different measurements AND different rifles will have different measurements:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/231904/...-with-6-inserts http://www.midwayusa.com/product/570611/..._vc=sugv1231904 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/459683/..._vc=sugv1570611 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llvsEsaK8...re=results_main http://www.6mmbr.com/catalog/item/1433308/977259.htm if the bullet gets stuck on the lands when using the tools above / getting your measurements, then i just use my cleaning snake (will not damage the rifle crown, use string / brass weight end of snake) to knock the bullet back off the lands, works every time.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/398345/...300-303-caliber 2.) would start out with standard CCI #200 OR BR-2 large rifle primers. Stay away from magnum large rifle primers for now.
3.) always check the amount of powder to load with your bullet manufacture's load charts. Start out on the low end of the chart and work your way up the chart. As starting out with reloading, do NOT go over max load and do NOT start with max load. <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">As for pure example only</span></span> with sierra bullets:
http://www.6mmbr.citymaker.com/f/sierra308Win.pdf 4.) as for finding your particular rifle / bullet PET load that HARMONIZES the best with your rifle's barrel...... well, that is a whole differnt topic in itself. My semi-auto LMT MWS LOVES 168gr amax, with 40.5 varget, and cci 200 primers. It is all trial and effort type stuff.
5.) i usually trim my 308 brass to 2.007ish... most books will say to trim to 2.005ish. I'll even use brass down to 2.000. Consistancy = accuracy!! I shoot out of a semi-auto and I always full-length resize my brass, but some if not many bolt-action reloaders will "neck" size only. This is totally up to you. The more you work the brass = less brass life. As for trimming my FULL LENGTH resized brass 24/7, I like to use this for trimming (one bad ass little tool, saves LOADS OF TIME, but only works IF you full length resize brass as it works off the brass shoulder):
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/119117/...-308-winchester 6.) ALWAYS check your re-sized brass headspace as someone starting out with reloading! Myself, I like to use the wilson case gage. Works great for bolt actions, but you can get false readings with semi-auto's as semi's are so hard on the brass (beat up ejector base on the brass and so on):
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/880646/le-wilson-case-length-headspace-gage-308-winchester http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkWQde_b2G8 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/479704/...with-comparator http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-UrMTyJ1_E WELCOME TO THE MONEY PIT!! LOL
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cypher23</div><div class="ubbcode-body">First i just joined i just bought a hornady lock n load classic kit! And im wanting to reload 155, 168, and 178 grain hornady amax bullets and just wondering what powder and primers to use and how deep do you seat you bullets? I have a savage axis .308 (obvious lol) its a 22" barrell and a 1-10" twist. All help is appreciated. </div></div>