Re: Need Reloading Advice
Here are some random tidbit of my experience to help out. FWIW, I have a rockchucker supreme single-stage and a Hornady progressive ("every bit as good as blue"). Coincidentally, I also started loading due to a 308...
- Single-vs-progressive: you'll want one of each, eventually. If you shoot tons of 45 AND and want a load tailored to your gun, get the progressive first. If you put any value on your time at all, you'll see that it's not about saving money as much as it is getting exactly what you want, BUT ... with todays' ammo prices, you probably will actually save a lot of money!
- For rifle loads where you want consistent powder charges, the RCBS chargemaster powder dispenser is a dream (there are others, too) for kernel-style powders, and if you want consistent powder charges, it's worth it's price in time reclaimed and increased shooting (vs loading). The culver-style dispensers don't work stellar for kernel-like powder (varget, IMR 4064, H4350,etc.) but work fine for flake powder.
- The RCBS rockchucker kit is "ok". The press is great, but the rest of the kit contents are marginal. The priming tool is good, but the powder throw, loading block, funnel, lube system are all "just ok". To do over, I'd get just the press, the chargemaster for powder, loading blocks from sinclair, priming tool from rcbs or lee (both are cheap and work fine), a non-plastic funnel, imperial sizing wax (instead of the lube and pad in the kit)... I found after first use that most of the stuff in the kit wasn't going to cut it and ended up with these things anyway, so why not save the $ and avoid sure-to-be-surplused components.
- I've heard the forster single stage press and die-holding mechanism can lead to insanely good runout numbers, but if something else is the limiting factor (gun isn't super precision machined, or whatever) maybe that's excessive.
- Hornady seems to be one of the few companies still innovating, hence I'm inclined (anymore) to try their stuff first, so I read a bit about progressives, talked to people that have dillons and hornadys and in the end, picked a hornady due to the above innovation statement. I'm in love with the "lock and load" "bushings", and think their priming system is pretty much awesome. Dillon has mind-share and backs their stuff really well (so I'm told) but I opted the other way and have no regrets.
- I personally don't like to throw powder into a case with lube still on it, so I tumble, deprime, lube, and size bottle neck cases on the single stage. I then clean the lube off! and prime with the hand tool. Throw powder with the dispenser, fill up some number of cases and then seat all at once. All single stage.
- For bottleneck cases where I'm not so concerned about consistency (and use a flake powder) I'll do everything after sizing on my progressive. The tussle and such associated with sizing bottle neck cases (even with lube, I often get a little chatter on cases that I've shot many times) I'd think would cause bizarre powder variations, but haven't tested it to know.
- Pistol cartridge loading is insane on single stage, as others have said. I load 9mm and .45 on this hornady progressive and think it's easy to "dial in" and once in the groove, goes like a champ. Loading 9mm, I can do about 300 rnds an hour without too much intensity (yes, I've clocked it).
- Hornady sells a "pistol sized" volume adjustment piston (forget the actual terms) that you put in the dispenser instead of the default deal. That's a must have for lower-volume charges (e.g. anything using titegroup). Excellent control over charges and great consistency.
- I suggest reading this:
http://www.6mmbr.com/308win.html Is your 308 something "custom" or is it factory?
