Need help for first time reloader with .308 LMT

[elfster1234]

I'm an absolute noob to reloading. Just starting out, but want to get going on some purchases. I like to do things right the first time. I've been reading my eyeballs out for information and I think I've got a solid idea of what I want,,, <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">BUT</span></span> would like to get some suggestions & tips on sinpershide from you experts!!. I just purhcased a hornady lock-n-load AP press and would like to start out with the .308 for my LMT MWS rifle with 20" CL barrel. Will also be reloading for a friend's .308 savage bolt action. Just trying to get a feel of what others are using for semi autos but for accuracy in mind as I think my LMT is a precision AR platform semi auto IMO.


<span style="text-decoration: underline">My questions are:</span>

1.) what would you recomend for a 308 die set to get going on my hornady AP press for my .308 LMT MWS AR semi auto with keeping my friend's .308 savage bolt action in mind? I wouldn't mind spending up to $80 - $100 bucks for a nice set if I need to, but would like to keep costs down if possible in the $60 range??

2.) Which crimp die should I get? From what I've been reading I should crimp for my a semi auto AR, but not my friend's bolt action? all of these forums have such conflicting info.

3.) which do you prefer? tumbler and media? ultrasonic? or rotary and stainless media?

4.) i would like a powered case trimmer, which do you like and why?

5.) Which headspace gauge do you use? Overall length guage?

6.) what brand electronic calipers do you use?

7.) which case lube do you use?

8.) what other absolute "must have" items would you recommend to get started reloading .308 other than a bullet puller & powder scale?

9.) for your semi auto ar-10 platform, what is your default go to for load / brand of powder, grain bullet, brand of brass, primer, and c.o.a.l? Yes, I'll get my own specs..... Just wondering what you use.........???

 

[elfster1234]

Re: Need help for first time reloader with .308 LMT

could really use some feedback..... anyone? any help would be wonderful.

 

[RTodd]

Re: Need help for first time reloader with .308 LMT

1)Redding first choice, RCBS if on a budget. Post a WTB on several forums and you'll likely find a used set of either flavor.

2) I have never used, and will not use a crimp die on a semi-auto rifle. Have seen many tens of thousands of rounds through ARs and M1As, and never seen a failure due to set back. I can't help you here.

3) If you need to control cost, do it here not on your die set. To that end a cheap Midway vibratory, or better yet post a WTB for a higher quality used vibratory. Lots are upgrading to stainless media rotary tumblers.

4)I use a Gracey for .223/.308/.30-'06 because it was the best around when I bought mine, now the Giraud seems to get the nod. Same problem as #1, the Giraud is going to cost as much as the rest of your set up combined. Why not start with a used hand cranked? It will make you appreciate a powered trimmer down the road. Again, lots of used trimmers gathering dust.

5)With a couple of exceptions my case gauge is a piece of range brass that won't chamber. Slowly screw in your FL die until te bolt closes easily. My RCBS OAL gauge sucks, so I use a piece of fine steel wool to polish the bullet and find the lands. I like my Stoney Point OAL gauge to measure the results.

6) I wore out a set of Lyman fiberglass calipers, and replaced them 20 years ago with a set of stainless dial calipers. In a given price range, I doubt it matters a whole lot. I'd love a set of Starrett, but I'm thinking my current set is going to outlast me. If mine died today I'd try to find a set of Kobalt from Lowe's. The set I bought for our mechanics has live 5 years of REALLY hard service, and I think they're lifetime warranted.

7) I've used half a dozen. For speed, one of the lanolin dissolved in solvent mixes (Dillon is on my bench now). For a great lube applied by hand, Imperial wax is awesome. The simple truth is that all of the various flavors of grease in a tube (RCBS, Lyman, etc) work just fine. I seem to be the only person in the world who does not like Hornady One Shot. Didn't work well for me.

8) Chamfering tool any flavor. Loading blocks, MTM are cheap and effective. You can do without a powder measure, but you're asking about power case trimmers, so I doubt you're going to want to shake your powder out of a teaspoon. Do yourself a favor and buy a Lyman manual and read it cover to cover, twice. I like to store my ammo in flip top boxes from MTM.

9) Read any one of the thousand threads that address this question. Lots of good choices here.

Good Luck

Randy

 

[judgedelta]

Re: Need help for first time reloader with .308 LMT

I'm no expert, but I do have a MWS and a .308 Savage bolt gun, and I have been loading for about 2 years, so all of the noob mistakes are relatively fresh.
1. I use RCBS regular dies (not small base) and full-length resize every time.
2. I use a tumbler with stainless media and don't clean until I get enough brass used to justify fooling with the tumbler. I use a vibrator with plain corn cob to get the lube off after sizing.
3. Neither the MWS or the factory Savage are going to be bench guns, but both can shoot better than I can any day. The MWS shoots just about anything, but I use SMKs and mine seems to like the 175's a little better, even though they are pulls.
4. No crimp. The only cartridge I have ever seen set back stuck in the feed ramp and the bolt jammed it in pretty short.
5. I like the Little Crow WFT trimmer. I have a drill press, but you can use it in a cordless drill just as well.
6. I set the overall to 2.80 to clear the mag lips. My MWS is not very sensitive to jump as far as I can tell.
7. Electronic calipers are, for the most part, except the really expensive Japanese ones, all made in China. I like the ones that come with an extra battery. Harbor Freight is probably as good as any.
8. Case lube. I use RCBS spray in a large zip-loc bag. A bottle has done lots of thousands of cases and is still half-full. The secret is to give it time for the solvent to evaporate before sizing and if a case seems too hard, don't force it; take it out and put some Imperial (a litle) on the shoulders and in the neck. .308 seems easier to stick in the die than any other.
9. I use a RCBS 1500 combo for powder. The only thing that would be better would be two...
10. You will need a bullet puller sooner or later. The ones that look like a hammer are junk in my opinion, but I do have one. Get a good light over your loading bench so you can see the ones you miss with powder, maybe.
11. There are some good threads on here with .308 loads; some claim to duplicate FGGM. My rifles shoot alright with IMR 4895, RL-15, H-4064, or Varget.
Be careful and have fun...

 

[elfster1234]

Re: Need help for first time reloader with .308 LMT

thank you sooooo much judgedelta!!! your info helps big time!


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: judgedelta</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm no expert, but I do have a MWS and a .308 Savage bolt gun, and I have been loading for about 2 years, so all of the noob mistakes are relatively fresh.
1. I use RCBS regular dies (not small base) and full-length resize every time.
2. I use a tumbler with stainless media and don't clean until I get enough brass used to justify fooling with the tumbler. I use a vibrator with plain corn cob to get the lube off after sizing.
3. Neither the MWS or the factory Savage are going to be bench guns, but both can shoot better than I can any day. The MWS shoots just about anything, but I use SMKs and mine seems to like the 175's a little better, even though they are pulls.
4. No crimp. The only cartridge I have ever seen set back stuck in the feed ramp and the bolt jammed it in pretty short.
5. I like the Little Crow WFT trimmer. I have a drill press, but you can use it in a cordless drill just as well.
6. I set the overall to 2.80 to clear the mag lips. My MWS is not very sensitive to jump as far as I can tell.
7. Electronic calipers are, for the most part, except the really expensive Japanese ones, all made in China. I like the ones that come with an extra battery. Harbor Freight is probably as good as any.
8. Case lube. I use RCBS spray in a large zip-loc bag. A bottle has done lots of thousands of cases and is still half-full. The secret is to give it time for the solvent to evaporate before sizing and if a case seems too hard, don't force it; take it out and put some Imperial (a litle) on the shoulders and in the neck. .308 seems easier to stick in the die than any other.
9. I use a RCBS 1500 combo for powder. The only thing that would be better would be two...
10. You will need a bullet puller sooner or later. The ones that look like a hammer are junk in my opinion, but I do have one. Get a good light over your loading bench so you can see the ones you miss with powder, maybe.
11. There are some good threads on here with .308 loads; some claim to duplicate FGGM. My rifles shoot alright with IMR 4895, RL-15, H-4064, or Varget.
Be careful and have fun...
</div></div>

 

[elfster1234]

Re: Need help for first time reloader with .308 LMT

thank you rtodd! this is really good info!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RTodd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1)Redding first choice, RCBS if on a budget. Post a WTB on several forums and you'll likely find a used set of either flavor.

2) I have never used, and will not use a crimp die on a semi-auto rifle. Have seen many tens of thousands of rounds through ARs and M1As, and never seen a failure due to set back. I can't help you here.

3) If you need to control cost, do it here not on your die set. To that end a cheap Midway vibratory, or better yet post a WTB for a higher quality used vibratory. Lots are upgrading to stainless media rotary tumblers.

4)I use a Gracey for .223/.308/.30-'06 because it was the best around when I bought mine, now the Giraud seems to get the nod. Same problem as #1, the Giraud is going to cost as much as the rest of your set up combined. Why not start with a used hand cranked? It will make you appreciate a powered trimmer down the road. Again, lots of used trimmers gathering dust.

5)With a couple of exceptions my case gauge is a piece of range brass that won't chamber. Slowly screw in your FL die until te bolt closes easily. My RCBS OAL gauge sucks, so I use a piece of fine steel wool to polish the bullet and find the lands. I like my Stoney Point OAL gauge to measure the results.

6) I wore out a set of Lyman fiberglass calipers, and replaced them 20 years ago with a set of stainless dial calipers. In a given price range, I doubt it matters a whole lot. I'd love a set of Starrett, but I'm thinking my current set is going to outlast me. If mine died today I'd try to find a set of Kobalt from Lowe's. The set I bought for our mechanics has live 5 years of REALLY hard service, and I think they're lifetime warranted.

7) I've used half a dozen. For speed, one of the lanolin dissolved in solvent mixes (Dillon is on my bench now). For a great lube applied by hand, Imperial wax is awesome. The simple truth is that all of the various flavors of grease in a tube (RCBS, Lyman, etc) work just fine. I seem to be the only person in the world who does not like Hornady One Shot. Didn't work well for me.

8) Chamfering tool any flavor. Loading blocks, MTM are cheap and effective. You can do without a powder measure, but you're asking about power case trimmers, so I doubt you're going to want to shake your powder out of a teaspoon. Do yourself a favor and buy a Lyman manual and read it cover to cover, twice. I like to store my ammo in flip top boxes from MTM.

9) Read any one of the thousand threads that address this question. Lots of good choices here.

Good Luck

Randy
</div></div>

 

[judgedelta]

Re: Need help for first time reloader with .308 LMT

When you get started, no matter what equipment you choose, load a couple and chamber them in your rifles. It is a pisser to load 50 or a hundred and find that they won't chamber. Then you'll need that bullet puller...