Needing help W/ reloading.

[Jackalope33B]

Hey guys! I am interested in reloading for .308 I know this forum is loaded with lots of information on reloading, but one thing I could not find is what exactly do I need to reload? Can anyone post exactly what I need to start reloading .308? Im looking to spend about $600 to get what I need. Is this too much or too little to spend?

Thanks!

 

[KHOOKS]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

Look thru the reloading section you will find some threads with lists of equipment needed to reload. If I was just looking to reload rifle calbiers I would start with one of the RCBS starter kits. (Or use there list and piece a kit together) You will need a trimmer, powder trickler. Get a 308 case guage, flash hole deburring tool, and a case mouth chamfer/deburing tool. You'll need a tumbler and media of some type. The 308 dies of choose.

This is just off the top of my head list. Oh and some reloading manuals (FIRST) read them and you'll see what tools are needed.

 

[SavageSlayer]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

First thing you need to do is educate yourself in the process. There are several reloading manuals out there. I like the ABCs of Reloading. It is a great book with a lot of pictures and good descriptions. Keep doing research and learn as much as you can. You can even watch Youtube videos to help you learn the processes. Education is the biggest part of reloading. Stay smart, pay attention to details, and stay safe.

Next you will need equipment. You really don't need to spend $600 to get started. I started with the Lee kit that was about $100 and it gave me almost all of the tools I needed. It is a good kit and I recommend it. There are others out there like RCBS that have kits. It's up to you. You will need dies for the calibers you want to load. There are several manufacturers out there. I highly recommend the Lee collet neck sizing die. It is cheap and it works amazingly well. I recommend either Redding or Forster for your full length sizer and bullet seater.

All you need after that is the components (brass, primers, powder, bullets)and those are soley up to you what you want to use and what works best with your firearm. It will take some experimenting but that is half of the fun of realoading.

Good luck and keep reading and educationg yourself. Reloading is a fun hobby and can be very rewarding.

 

[Jackalope33B]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

Thanks "T"!

I have been researching online, and it feels like a never ending process lol.. I see that people have LEE, RCBS, REDDING, DILLON, etc presses. I know there are alot of pros and cons for each. I would like to find out which would be best for .308 Im still in limbo if I want a progressive press or a turret type.. decisions decisions

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

The very top thread in this forum, "reloading 101", did you read it yet, if not do so, then read all of the part 5 series "hand loading for long range", Craigslist and Egay are great places to buy used stuff, nice thing bout CL is once your FTF you can jew them down a little, the equipment exchange here is also another great place to buy used stuff. Now you can buy what ever press you want or think is the best, truth is almost any press will work, but if you go with a Forster Co-Ax you won't need to buy a hand primer, you won't need to shell holders, and the way the dies lock allowing slide in and slide out a beginner wont make some of the mistakes we all have made, but there 235 bucks, DO NOT get a electronic scale to start off with, a balance beam is where its at, old Lyman M5's are great, I got mine for 18 bucks delivered off Egay. The only reloading manual I recommend is Lyman, why because they only sell reloading equipment, no components, throw away the instructions that come with all full length dies, set them up with a headspace gage, a full length resized case should measure .001-.0015 less than a fired case, there are alot of dumbfucks who follow the instructions that came with there die and ask questions on why won't my case chamber, or why is my bolt hard to close. Last but not least complete your profile, put what city in FLA you live in, somebody lives close to you, and I'll bet they will help you, and you will gain a shooting buddy.

 

[SavageSlayer]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jackalope33B</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks "T"!

I have been researching online, and it feels like a never ending process lol.. I see that people have LEE, RCBS, REDDING, DILLON, etc presses. I know there are alot of pros and cons for each. I would like to find out which would be best for .308 Im still in limbo if I want a progressive press or a turret type.. decisions decisions

</div></div>

If you are loading for accuracy get a single stage press. If you are loading for plinking ammo get a turret press. Any of the Lee, RCBS, Forster, Redding presses will work great and do what you need them to do. They are all going to work with the .308 win.

I primarily load for .308 and using my Lee press with Lee collet neck sizer and Redding comp. seating die I can get sub MOA goups out to 600 yards. I haven't tried anything farther yet. With hunting loads I am shooting 1/2 MOA out to 300 yards. I would say that is good enough for me. You have to decide if spending the extra $100 to $300 is worth it.

But like was said on here already, check craig's list and ebay for used items. You might be able to get a good deal on a good piece of equipment.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jackalope33B</div><div class="ubbcode-body">one thing I could not find is what exactly do I need to reload? Can anyone post exactly what I need to start reloading .308? Im looking to spend about $600 to get what I need. Is this too much or too little to spend?</div></div>

1) buy and read and reread at least 3 reloading manuals. Spend a couple nights thinking about each and every step described in the reloading manuals. Then reread the reloading manuals.

2) Now with the reloading manual "in your head" you are ready to start surveying the equiptment you will need to accrete. A lot of people like LEE, most really like RCBS but every so often you run into a good deal on Redding. So keep your eyes open--and save those cases.

3) For a budget of $600 you can buy a nice RCBS kit, top end dies (competition), lay in 100 cases, 1000 bullets, 1000 primers and at least one 8 pound jug of powder and a couple miscelaneous tools (dial calipers, case micrometer, trickler, couple of loading blocks, ...) to round out the kit.

And by the time you have loaded up and shot these thousand rounds, the whiole kit will have paid for itself.

 

[Jackalope33B]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

T- I will be loading for accuracy. Im curious to know why do you favor a single stage press over a turret or progressive?

 

[WTW]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

For me I use a single stage press because there is less chance that there can be variance between the ram and the die. Whenever you add moving parts there is going to be more of a difference in tolerances. I like to keep it simple for accuracy reloading and do one step at a time. For plinking or high volume varmint rounds I dont mind cranking them out as fast as possible.

 

[SavageSlayer]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WTW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For me I use a single stage press because there is less chance that there can be variance between the ram and the die. Whenever you add moving parts there is going to be more of a difference in tolerances. I like to keep it simple for accuracy reloading and do one step at a time. For plinking or high volume varmint rounds I dont mind cranking them out as fast as possible. </div></div>

Perfectly said. The less moving parts you have the less variance you will have and the more accurate and consistent your loaded rounds will be. Consistency is what you are striving for when loading for accuracy.

 

[Jackalope33B]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

WTW- Thats a good point that I did not consider. Thanks, now I have more things to consider LOL Does it end anytime soon

 

[KHOOKS]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

Not in the 15 years I've been reloading! Always learning things from others at matchs I shoot.

 

[fncannon]

Re: Needing help W/ reloading.

I've been at it for 43 years, and I'm still learning new things about reloading. One thing for sure, reloading is as addictive as shooting.