Reloading 7.62
- Thread starter ADK
- Start date
It also depends on how much you shoot. Do you shoot enough to justify buying all the reloading equipment? Do you shoot multiple calibers? That's when you will start to save money. If you only shoot it occasionally you may be better off buying factory rounds. I reload, but a couple of my guns I shoot a couple of times a year and have never bothered getting set up for them.
I reload for the M305 (M14S in my case). Reloading is cheaper then store bought, but getting everything you need together is costly at first. You will need to buy reloading equipment if you don't already have some. I recommend buying quality used equipment, such as a press and powder chucker, etc. From there you'll have to buy the reloading components (as others already mentioned). I would consider buying some once fired brass if you can find any. At the very least, buy some of that fancy store bought ammo and save your cases.
- Location
- Federal Riding of Wascana
You can reload the 7.62 x 51 or 54 for that matter for roughly 37 cents a shot, powder 4895 at 21 cents, bullets from Marstar for .308 at about 10 cents per, and primers for 5 cents.
I started with factory federal or remington cases and have reloaded them about 4 times already, although the M14S chews the hell out of the cases upon extraction.
I started with factory federal or remington cases and have reloaded them about 4 times already, although the M14S chews the hell out of the cases upon extraction.
This matches my results pretty much exactly. My reloads cost 0.40$/round.
I am about to start reloading for my M305, and when I looked at marstar for bullets, they were 18 cents/bullet, does marstar give a discount on bulk, or did the prices go up since you bought last?
Tor
I reload for my M14 as well as at least a dozen other calibers. My cost is $.49 cents per round including the taxes on components. Also assumed the brass was free. These costs
based on lowest prices I bought components at recently.(including 150 gr Hornady FMJ bulk bullets). Might be able to shave a cent or 2 buy buying powder in bulk which I don't.
based on lowest prices I bought components at recently.(including 150 gr Hornady FMJ bulk bullets). Might be able to shave a cent or 2 buy buying powder in bulk which I don't.
Cheap reloading
I loaded a lot of 7.62 for an M14 and a lot of 10mm auto on a lee 2001 set years ago. It came with 308 dies, priming attachment, lube and instructions for about $80 at that time. The only things I added was a brass tumbler, RCBS 505 powder scale and RCBS lube pad initially. I never liked the idea of the powder scoop. It was handy for adding to the scale. You will add more equipment and buy a more expensive press at some point if you get the bug.
I used to make home made beer. By the time you buy malt extract to replace that horrible corn sugar they suggest and pay yourself something for the time there is no savings. It was the satisfaction of making something unique and enjoying the fruits of your labor that made it worthwhile. Reloading ammunition is a lot like that. It is a labor of love and gives one a sense of satisfaction and flexibility in what you have.
I loaded a lot of 7.62 for an M14 and a lot of 10mm auto on a lee 2001 set years ago. It came with 308 dies, priming attachment, lube and instructions for about $80 at that time. The only things I added was a brass tumbler, RCBS 505 powder scale and RCBS lube pad initially. I never liked the idea of the powder scoop. It was handy for adding to the scale. You will add more equipment and buy a more expensive press at some point if you get the bug.
I used to make home made beer. By the time you buy malt extract to replace that horrible corn sugar they suggest and pay yourself something for the time there is no savings. It was the satisfaction of making something unique and enjoying the fruits of your labor that made it worthwhile. Reloading ammunition is a lot like that. It is a labor of love and gives one a sense of satisfaction and flexibility in what you have.
- Location
- Federal Riding of Wascana
I recently broke my Lee A-frame and upgraded to the Cast Iron bugger, man it's heavy, shouldn't break anytime soon.
Only broke the cheaper Lee because of not enough case lube on some real stubborn 3006 and 762x54 cases and after a couple thousand of each I didn't really expect the $38 press to last that long. Did thousands of 9mm and .45 on it to.
Marstar has the cheapest bullets from Frontier I think worked out to about 10 or 12 cents a shot for bulk, but they ain't pretty.
Was using Hornady 150 sp but they went from 23 to 34 dollars a box in a hurry.
Only broke the cheaper Lee because of not enough case lube on some real stubborn 3006 and 762x54 cases and after a couple thousand of each I didn't really expect the $38 press to last that long. Did thousands of 9mm and .45 on it to.
Marstar has the cheapest bullets from Frontier I think worked out to about 10 or 12 cents a shot for bulk, but they ain't pretty.
Was using Hornady 150 sp but they went from 23 to 34 dollars a box in a hurry.
You don't reload to save money. You reload to get better quality ammo.
Some comparison. In nz steel cased russian 308 ammo is about $1 a round.
Highland 308 ammo is about $1.50 a round.
Then it goes up from there. You can easily spend $75 per 20 for quality ammo.
All the cheap ammo shoots like #### in my m14 and my bolt gun.
I can reload ammo that shoots 1 to .5 inch groups in my m14 for about $1 per round.
Also don't skimp on the projectile. It's the biggest contribution to accuracy.
Some comparison. In nz steel cased russian 308 ammo is about $1 a round.
Highland 308 ammo is about $1.50 a round.
Then it goes up from there. You can easily spend $75 per 20 for quality ammo.
All the cheap ammo shoots like #### in my m14 and my bolt gun.
I can reload ammo that shoots 1 to .5 inch groups in my m14 for about $1 per round.
Also don't skimp on the projectile. It's the biggest contribution to accuracy.
- Norma Cases
- 43gr Varget (Some with bolts go to 44.5gr but 43gr is good on my M1A)
- CCI Bench Rest Primers
- 168gr Serria Match King
Comparable to Federal Gold Medal Match when I am shooting it through my M1A so I am happy, cheaper then 2$ a round to boot.
Dimitri
There is a risk of slam fire, however the biggest cause of that that I have read about is not inserting the primers deep enough and using brands of primers that are known to be quite soft.
If you have a Lee Priming tool its got a list of soft primers, IIRC Winchester is one of the bad primers to use.
Dimitri
If you have a Lee Priming tool its got a list of soft primers, IIRC Winchester is one of the bad primers to use.
Dimitri
I have been using Winchester primers in my M14s without problems.
There is a probability of slam fire with any center fire semi auto rifle if the primers are protruding beyond the base of the case. If primers are seated properly slam fire is impossible regardless of hardness.
There is a probability of slam fire with any center fire semi auto rifle if the primers are protruding beyond the base of the case. If primers are seated properly slam fire is impossible regardless of hardness.
which marstar tips are people talking about? These: http://www.marstar.ca/ammo-etc/images/FMB-028-L.jpg
I haven't tried, but I doubt those will feed without tip damage.
Use pointy bullets. SMK work well.
I haven't tried, but I doubt those will feed without tip damage.
Use pointy bullets. SMK work well.
