Help needed to start 308 reloading
- Thread starter cezar
- Start date
lineofsight
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland, BC
Know any reloaders, can see what gear you like to use... Use some of the $ to buy Federal Gold Match Ammo as a reference.
The ChargeMaster Combo is a great tool for both load development (ladder / optimal charge weight) and loading as easily / quickly throw charges (shop around, prices range from $350 to $550 for same thing). The Chrony provides real feedback (when using chrony shoot for the purpose of measuring velocity / spread / etc and not for groups (i.e. by shooting at a target just behind the chrony) - if shoot for groups at distance then chrony may fall victim to that). The Shooting Chrony (Master) out of ON works well enough and reasonable price, can order direct.
For dies had luck with Lee Deluxe set (necksizer) and the mix that Jerry / Mystic Precision can offer (some combination of Redding & Forster, would have to check) but a die debate can continue for eternity.
Bullet puller useful. Other than that can do the same thing 10 different ways, press, trim, deburr, prime...
Some things are a matter of how serious, how much time, perhaps more of a want than need (and may have to trade of some things to stay within budget) - i.e. RCBS Precision Mic, bullet runout gauge...
The ChargeMaster Combo is a great tool for both load development (ladder / optimal charge weight) and loading as easily / quickly throw charges (shop around, prices range from $350 to $550 for same thing). The Chrony provides real feedback (when using chrony shoot for the purpose of measuring velocity / spread / etc and not for groups (i.e. by shooting at a target just behind the chrony) - if shoot for groups at distance then chrony may fall victim to that). The Shooting Chrony (Master) out of ON works well enough and reasonable price, can order direct.
For dies had luck with Lee Deluxe set (necksizer) and the mix that Jerry / Mystic Precision can offer (some combination of Redding & Forster, would have to check) but a die debate can continue for eternity.
Bullet puller useful. Other than that can do the same thing 10 different ways, press, trim, deburr, prime...
Some things are a matter of how serious, how much time, perhaps more of a want than need (and may have to trade of some things to stay within budget) - i.e. RCBS Precision Mic, bullet runout gauge...
Bassmaster
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- WMU 48 - Whitetail country
Prophet River has a great deal on the RCBS Rock Chucker kit right now.....$310
I've seen their ad. That's a great starting point for a new reloader! I've been using a Rockchucker for many years, great product. For pistol rounds a single stage is a bit slow but I prefer it for rifle.
The Lee Anniversary set will get you rolling... buy a set of Lee 3 dies and get yourelf a good digital scale with a calibrating weight... for bullets start with some Hornady 150 Sp's, 165 SST's and Nosler 168's... powders that are great in .308 are CFE-223, Varget and H4895 (in that order)... Use whatever brass you like but stick with one brand. Buy CCI Large Rifle primers and a good aerosol case lube, it will make life easier.... you will be all set. You can mount the reloader on a 3/4 plywood reloading board (screw it down tight with #12 wood screws) and use quick-grip clamps to mount it on a sturdy table... this will work fine until you can get a reloading station set-up.
I use a Lee Turret press with carbide neck sizing die and finish with a factory crimp. Currently reloading fireformed brass from my own 308 and reloading with Hornady 150gr SST and Hornady 110gr V-Max. For powder I am using IMR 4895 and Winchester primers. The turret press is nice because I have one turret set up for 308, one for 9mm and one for 45ACP.
No questions, that's the way I'd go (and did go). You also qualify for the 300$ spent on RCBS so you get 50USD back from RCBS.
From there all you REALLY need is some misc stuff like ammo boxes, dies (I have Lee deluxe and I shoot as good as my buddies with the expensive dial redding ones ~200), a caliper (14$ at CDN tire when on sale), and a few other odds and ends. I bought a RCBS Trim Pro but after 5 rounds through my brass they still don't need trimming. Go Lapua brass for sure.
Have fun. It's just about as fun tayloring rounds for my gun then it is shooting!
i bought the rcbs chucker kit. has most stuff you need. so the other 600 bucks can be spent on little stuff. case trimmer, calipers, second scale.if you budget is a grand i would get the chargemaster, i want it but i only load about 50 at a time so i never take very long anyways. I really like the hand primer in the rcbs kit, makes the process very nice.
I bought the kit from prophet river and they were super nice, they answered my newb questions and everything shipped very quickly, and the shipping for a 25 pund package was only 25 bucks.
You find out what you need over time. id buy the kit, case trimmer, calipers, second scale or charge master, 2 #3 shell holders and some of those green loading blocks. after that you can decide if you need more stuff.
I bought the kit from prophet river and they were super nice, they answered my newb questions and everything shipped very quickly, and the shipping for a 25 pund package was only 25 bucks.
You find out what you need over time. id buy the kit, case trimmer, calipers, second scale or charge master, 2 #3 shell holders and some of those green loading blocks. after that you can decide if you need more stuff.
forster co-ax press, will give you very concentric bullets, which equates to accuracy.
This is what I would get.
Forster Co-Ax press $300-350, includes priming setup
Redding dies $100-200
RCBS 10-10 beam scale, used $100-125
funnel $5
calipers - $20-300 depending on quality
shell holder (green trays) $20
powder trickler$30
good reloading book $50
lee, hand held case trimmer $25-30
deburring tool from rcbs $25
case lube $7
a good powder measurer will save you a lot of time $80-$100
that will get you going, and producing some pretty fine ammo.
This is what I would get.
Forster Co-Ax press $300-350, includes priming setup
Redding dies $100-200
RCBS 10-10 beam scale, used $100-125
funnel $5
calipers - $20-300 depending on quality
shell holder (green trays) $20
powder trickler$30
good reloading book $50
lee, hand held case trimmer $25-30
deburring tool from rcbs $25
case lube $7
a good powder measurer will save you a lot of time $80-$100
that will get you going, and producing some pretty fine ammo.
The Forster and Redding stuff is overkill imo unless you are going for absolute maximum accuracy. With an RCBS press, Lee dies, and a Lee scale (PitA to use but accurate) I have no issue making ammo that can shoot 1/2 to 3/4 MOA.
Lee dies are more fiddly to adjust since they don't have a locking nut (the o-ring helps but isn't the same as a screw tightened locking nut) but still work fine (except for cartridge conversions like 30-06 to 8x57mm when they can put gouges in the shoulder from the lube escape port on the side.) I have bought all RCBS or Hornady dies for new calibres for the past year or so and would make the same decision again. Lee aren't bad, they simply aren't as nice.
What you need:
press
primer seater (or on press priming which most have)
dies
shell holder
lube (not necessarily needed for straight walled pistol cases when using carbide dies)
case trimmer
deburring tool
powder scale
What you should also have:
funnels (I started with home made funnels of thick paper and tape but plastic ones made for reloading are much nicer)
some sort of primer pocket cleaning tool (a small screwdriver that fits works but I find the Lyman tool easier on my hands)
For press anything cast iron or stronger is good. I started with a Lee aluminum press and it snapped off its base. Lee and RCBS are both good so long as you buy the cast iron ones.
For entry level dies I recommend RCBS or Hornady (or Lee if you are on a tight budget)
Shell holders are shell holders. Lee die sets come with them, most others you have to buy separately. Some brands use different numbers for the same sized holders so be careful which brand you are looking at.
I started with Lee paste lube, switched to RCBS case lube 2 and was happy with how much cleaner it was to use, and now I use Redding Imperial Sizing wax and it's the best imo.
For case trimming I use the Lee mandrel type ones. It's around $10 to start and an additional $5 per calibre you add on. I use them with an old cordless drill. So much easier than the bench mounted ones but not adjustable.
As I said above the Lee powder scale is frustrating to use but is still accurate. An RCBS 5-0-5 or 10-10 is probably a better initial investment.
If I lost all my tools somehow and had to start from scratch I would definitely buy the $310 RCBS rock chucker supreme master kit.
I would then pickup RCBS or Hornady dies (whichever are easier to find and/or cheaper), any brand shell holders, and most likely the Lee case trimming system.
Lee dies are more fiddly to adjust since they don't have a locking nut (the o-ring helps but isn't the same as a screw tightened locking nut) but still work fine (except for cartridge conversions like 30-06 to 8x57mm when they can put gouges in the shoulder from the lube escape port on the side.) I have bought all RCBS or Hornady dies for new calibres for the past year or so and would make the same decision again. Lee aren't bad, they simply aren't as nice.
What you need:
press
primer seater (or on press priming which most have)
dies
shell holder
lube (not necessarily needed for straight walled pistol cases when using carbide dies)
case trimmer
deburring tool
powder scale
What you should also have:
funnels (I started with home made funnels of thick paper and tape but plastic ones made for reloading are much nicer)
some sort of primer pocket cleaning tool (a small screwdriver that fits works but I find the Lyman tool easier on my hands)
For press anything cast iron or stronger is good. I started with a Lee aluminum press and it snapped off its base. Lee and RCBS are both good so long as you buy the cast iron ones.
For entry level dies I recommend RCBS or Hornady (or Lee if you are on a tight budget)
Shell holders are shell holders. Lee die sets come with them, most others you have to buy separately. Some brands use different numbers for the same sized holders so be careful which brand you are looking at.
I started with Lee paste lube, switched to RCBS case lube 2 and was happy with how much cleaner it was to use, and now I use Redding Imperial Sizing wax and it's the best imo.
For case trimming I use the Lee mandrel type ones. It's around $10 to start and an additional $5 per calibre you add on. I use them with an old cordless drill. So much easier than the bench mounted ones but not adjustable.
As I said above the Lee powder scale is frustrating to use but is still accurate. An RCBS 5-0-5 or 10-10 is probably a better initial investment.
If I lost all my tools somehow and had to start from scratch I would definitely buy the $310 RCBS rock chucker supreme master kit.
I would then pickup RCBS or Hornady dies (whichever are easier to find and/or cheaper), any brand shell holders, and most likely the Lee case trimming system.
Well, if I had to start again, I would go with a Lee Classic Turret Kit. YOU WILL NEVER KILL THIS. It comes with everything you need to start, except cartridge specific dies and holders. Plus it comes with my favorite beginner's book. Modern Reloading.
none of the site sponsors currently have these in stock on their websites but Higginson's has them, or did less than a month ago for $300. Check with them. Not sure if Jerry can get them, but the wait time may be long since Lee Precision is out of stock of them at the factory.
none of the site sponsors currently have these in stock on their websites but Higginson's has them, or did less than a month ago for $300. Check with them. Not sure if Jerry can get them, but the wait time may be long since Lee Precision is out of stock of them at the factory.
