Anyone reloading .300 mag or .338 mag
- Thread starter CG85
- Start date
be prepeared for a SHOCK insofar as the pricing for 338 components are concerned; the brass comes in 50 lots, not 100, and you use about double powder over your 06/308 and the bullets the sky's the limit- with the 30 you can use the cheaper 30 cal bullets and get those in bulk for practice- on the other hand the 338 beats the 300 hands down in terms of bullet weight, POWER and RECOIL
If you have no reloading equipment it can be quite an expense to get started.
You need:
a press - this can be used for all calibers and are used to de-prime, resize, prime and seat bullets
a scale - to weigh powder
dies - these are caliber specific
calipers - to measure case and loaded cartridge length
trimmer - a way to trim cases when they get too long
cases/bullets/powder/primers - selection for the caliber/cartridge you want to reload
it is also nice to have:
a tumbler - to clean fired cases
chronograph - to give you an idea of bullet speed
primer pocket cleaner
The above is going to cost a minimum $300 new, probably closer to $500.
Currently I load for the .338 Winchester magnum; premium bullets (Nosler/Barnes) are about $1 to $1.50 , cases $.75, primers $.03, powder $.25.
I reuse cases 5 times so this averages $1.50 to $2.00 per round, the last I checked factory ammo was $2 to $3 per round.
The savings by reloading is offset by a couple things:
Initial cost of the equipment above.
Reloaders tend to shoot more; developing loads, trying new components and so on.
If you are doing a high volume of shooting, which is doubtful with .300WM and .338WM, reloading will pay for itself especially in competitive handgun, shotgun and rifle or varmint hunting.
If you use the above rifles just to hunt it is doubtful you would go through 50 rounds in 10 years(say $150) , the cost of which barely offsets the cost of components and dies (say $125) never mind the equipment.
All that being said I enjoy reloading and the choices it allows me.
Dan
You need:
a press - this can be used for all calibers and are used to de-prime, resize, prime and seat bullets
a scale - to weigh powder
dies - these are caliber specific
calipers - to measure case and loaded cartridge length
trimmer - a way to trim cases when they get too long
cases/bullets/powder/primers - selection for the caliber/cartridge you want to reload
it is also nice to have:
a tumbler - to clean fired cases
chronograph - to give you an idea of bullet speed
primer pocket cleaner
The above is going to cost a minimum $300 new, probably closer to $500.
Currently I load for the .338 Winchester magnum; premium bullets (Nosler/Barnes) are about $1 to $1.50 , cases $.75, primers $.03, powder $.25.
I reuse cases 5 times so this averages $1.50 to $2.00 per round, the last I checked factory ammo was $2 to $3 per round.
The savings by reloading is offset by a couple things:
Initial cost of the equipment above.
Reloaders tend to shoot more; developing loads, trying new components and so on.
If you are doing a high volume of shooting, which is doubtful with .300WM and .338WM, reloading will pay for itself especially in competitive handgun, shotgun and rifle or varmint hunting.
If you use the above rifles just to hunt it is doubtful you would go through 50 rounds in 10 years(say $150) , the cost of which barely offsets the cost of components and dies (say $125) never mind the equipment.
All that being said I enjoy reloading and the choices it allows me.
Dan
50 new 30-06 brass 29.99
50 new 338 brass 41.99
150gr Accubond 30 cal bullets 37.99\ 50
225gr Accubond 338 cal bullets 49.99\ 50
Max load for above bullets in 30-06 62grs H4350
Max load for above bullets in .338 win 69.5grs H4350
So it costs about 20% more for components to load the 338 over the 30-06.
The difference in performance in the field makes the extra cost well worth it.
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
I reload for both 300 and 338.
Reloading medium magnums is not that much more expensive than non-magnums, BTW.
It is definitely worth it, particularly for the .338. You can buy reasonable factory 300 ammo for around $30/box, but factory 338 seems to jump to about $45/box. A fellow can reload 338 for somewhere around $18/box, so that's WAY better than $45.
Nothing special to note about reloading either caliber. The 300 has the advantage regarding bullets in terms of selection/price/availability. If you are hunting BIG game (i.e moose instead of white tails), the 338 is the clear winner in terms of thumping power.
Reloading medium magnums is not that much more expensive than non-magnums, BTW.
It is definitely worth it, particularly for the .338. You can buy reasonable factory 300 ammo for around $30/box, but factory 338 seems to jump to about $45/box. A fellow can reload 338 for somewhere around $18/box, so that's WAY better than $45.
Nothing special to note about reloading either caliber. The 300 has the advantage regarding bullets in terms of selection/price/availability. If you are hunting BIG game (i.e moose instead of white tails), the 338 is the clear winner in terms of thumping power.
