.308 Target Ammo Options

The trick is to prep as much brass as you can get your hands on.
I have about 1500 Lapua .308 that I am working with.
Resize, de-prime, trim, clean, re-weigh and re-prime. Do this in the off season over 2-3 months.
When I need ammo I throw the charges, weigh every charge and seat the bullet. I can do about 50 rounds in 1/2 an hour, if everything is prepped.

I once had to show my wife how the throw, weigh charges and seat bullets for me the night before a match. (working for yourself can be a ##### sometimes). Only dropped 3 points all weekend and won the Agg, best ammo I have ever shot.
 
The benefits of handloading will be realized very quickly, and it is not that hard to get into, despite what you hear sometimes!
We are putting on a clinic in the near future at our range for new handloaders
or people interesrted in starting.

The entry fee of $10 is for cost of compomants but also includes a ticket on the door prize, which is a complete handloading kit!:D
Cat
 
.308 target options

Here is a option that will be good ,and cheap in long run
I have a hand loading system made by Lee not the same company as in Lee loading supplies,
This system has everything in a box called Lee Target zerro error model;
You get everything to reload and instructions, micro adjustable, bullet seater die, inside neck turner,primer tool,etc. all you need is a can of H 4895, a box of sierra 168gr, some primers and a scale. and that Rem 700 will preform. I have two of these but have missed placed one after a move a few years back, or you can look around you might find one they work great,
 
manitou210 said:
Here is a option that will be good ,and cheap in long run
I have a hand loading system made by Lee not the same company as in Lee loading supplies,
This system has everything in a box called Lee Target zerro error model;
You get everything to reload and instructions, micro adjustable, bullet seater die, inside neck turner,primer tool,etc. all you need is a can of H 4895, a box of sierra 168gr, some primers and a scale. and that Rem 700 will preform. I have two of these but have missed placed one after a move a few years back, or you can look around you might find one they work great,
Click to expand...


Is a kit like this "enough" to produce a fair amount of accurate ammo?
deluxeTPkit.JPG


Thanks for all the info everyone.

LH
 
I have found turret presses and multi station reloading presses NOT to be as accurate as old fashioned and less expensive single stage presses.
Also for the optimum accuracy Redding type s bushing dies seem to be the best, but they are very pricey.
The "green colored" equipment is far better quality in my opinion, used green will outlast new red
If true accuracy is required better to spend a bit more money and get the job done right, also resale of green is far higher and easier than other colors
 
I have to agree with ATR. If you want to acheive optimum accuracy, creting your own reload for your own rifle is the best way to go. Also, the comment about 10 different guys, 10 differant answers is right on. That being said, I did my own self test a few years ago with 5 major brands of .308 168gr. BTHP factory ammo in two differant rifles and had two different top loads. It would take far to much time to list my results. The end result with rifle #1 an origianl base stock Savage 110FP with the Leupold 3.5-10X40 Vari-X III tactical, moutned with MSP base and rings, the best group was .53" @ 100 yards with Winchester Match. Rifle #2 was a base stock 700P with the same scope and base and rings, the best group with it was .65" @ 100 yards with Remington Match. When I did this fun test, I used Mathc ammo from Ferderal, Winchester, Horandy, Norma and Remington. All shooting was done from the bench with a Harris bipod. The best part of this was the test itself. Now that I have the optimum round for the rifle, it is not as exciting as find the optimum round. Now it is time to reload, and once again I am agreeing with ATR, for me personally, and I am a Dillon guy all the way, but for rifle, the RCBS "Rock Chucker" was the way to go. I picked on up on e-bay for $38.00 with a set of .308 Redding dies. Now the fun starts all over.
 
I wouldn't get rid of a turret press if thhat was what I bought however, as it will do.
The cost of some of the gear we load with would stagger the average Joe's pocket book.
I use an old Rockchucker, and also a tong tool for adjusting loadsa at the range, as well as two old lymman Spartons.
All of them work well, but the Dillon 550 I bought needs some parts and i just haven't gotten around to putting it together.

A person can prime with a cheap lee, or a primer worth 3 times as much.
Both will work.
Cat
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
I agree Cat If you have the turret already use it, but if you don't I would suggest going single stage, if ultimately accurate rifle ammo is wanted.
Click to expand...
Exactly!
I have some gear that helps me mass produce ammo for myself and about 40 other fellas, but I really prefer to single stage the important stuff .
For chamfering, deburring, cleaning pockets, etc. I use the automated stuff, but for sizing and seating I always single stage my accuracy ammo.
\i a fella is using a 99 for hunting however, I rarely have seen where a turret cannot produce the identical groups as a single stage rig can, but then anyone who would expect a 99 Savage to match a target rifle on the line really needs to do some study as to what accuracy really is.

Match rifles and accutate sporters are two different animals, and the ammo I use in some matches woill not cut it in others.
it all depends on the level of accuracy we need, I guess!
I sometimes wonder just how many of us that post on this forum actually shoot and compete in matches where the ultimate in rifle precision is needed.
Cat
 
This ammo shot MOA at 100m in a rem 700p today.(10rnds shot)

Portuguese (FNM) manufacture. 1978-1981 production. 147 grain, FMJ. Berdan primed, lead core, non-corrosive, brass cases. Packed 20 rds per box, 200 rds per sleeve, 1000 rds per case.

Item #384

$320.00 per 1000 rds case (28 kg)

$64.00 per 200 rds sleeve (6 kg)

http://www.districorp.ca/English/ammunition.htm
 
It is hard to get better value than the RCBS Rockchucker. Each maker has something that truly outshines the rest in some way. I am a Redding dealer, but prefer to sell Rockchuckers as I believe they are a better value, the standard RCBS dies are ok, but I believe the Redding dies are superior. For high accuaracy or BR work Redding is hard to beat. I know ther are some custom makers, like wilson etc but they are again a step up.
Lymans Orange Crusher was also a great press.
Lee make some decent articles as well, I personally do not like their presses and dies, but the hand priming tool is great.
To have some diffent colored equipment in the loading room I feel illustrates someone who has done some research and found the best of each line.
Look at all the lines, don't get sold that 1 maker has the best of everything, it plainly isn't true.
 
I have to agree with Rick again, I to have differant reloading equipment, all Dillon, two 550's, one is set up for large primers the other for small, and a Square Deal that I use for a single calibre, but now that I am going to reolad rifle, I bought the "Rock Chucker", even though I had read several articel about world chapions shooting their rifle ammo loaded on a 550, I feel much more comfortable with the Chucker.
 
Once again - thanks for all the info. This is getting very interesting for me. I was under the false impression that reloading required an entire wing of a shop dedicated to a few thousand machines and devices. This looks like a small enough set-up to spread over a standard folding table (sturdy).

So who is the source in Canada for this gear? BC? Vancouver?

LH
 
My first loading bench want a 4' long by 2' wide piece of 11/5 " plywood on saw horses stuffed inside a closet while in a school dorm.
A sturdy bench is the best, good planned layout is far more important than overall size.
1 thing I learned not long ago , if you are using an electronic scale be sure to have no cell or cordless phones present, when in use the phones will mess with the scale, giving erratic reading.
Buy a decent manual, like Hornady or Nosler, the first part of their books will take you completely through the whole of what you need to know in easy to understand terminology.
 
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