How do you choose your components?

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My dad and I are going to start reloading, but I'm not sure how to choose powders, primers, or bullets. Primer and Bullets are probably mostly preference, but there are so many powder mixes I'm not sure what to do.

btw, we're reloading 30-06, and maybe .308 later.
 
You will have to choose bullets and primers that fit your cartridge. Then you will have to choose a powder that works with the bullet weight you choose for your cartridge. All this info can be found in you manual or online at a Powder makers site like Hodgdons. Some powders will work better than others for some cartidges or rifles. Some work well in many, some only in few etc.

For your 30-06 and 308 you will need .308" diameter bullets that you choose and Large Rifle primers (Magnum can also work, but regular will be fine). Bullets for hunting and bullets for target shooting will be made differently in some cases with the target ones not being suitable for shooting an animal such as deer. Sierras Match Kings are hollow point for example, but not intended for hunting.

A couple powders which should work well in a wide range for these calibres and have load data found in most manuals would be Hodgdon Varget, IMR 4895 and IMR 4064. There are many others too and some more suited to certain bullet weights etc.

Just for example;
Sierra 168gr .308" HPTB
Win Large Rifle primer
IMR 4895 powder
And your 308 or 30-06 cases would work in either calibre with the loads found in a manual for 168gr bullets.
 
hk33ka1 said:
You will have to choose bullets and primers that fit your cartridge. Then you will have to choose a powder that works with the bullet weight you choose for your cartridge. All this info can be found in you manual or online at a Powder makers site like Hodgdons. Some powders will work better than others for some cartidges or rifles. Some work well in many, some only in few etc.

For your 30-06 and 308 you will need .308" diameter bullets that you choose and Large Rifle primers (Magnum can also work, but regular will be fine). Bullets for hunting and bullets for target shooting will be made differently in some cases with the target ones not being suitable for shooting an animal such as deer. Sierras Match Kings are hollow point for example, but not intended for hunting.

A couple powders which should work well in a wide range for these calibres and have load data found in most manuals would be Hodgdon Varget, IMR 4895 and IMR 4064. There are many others too and some more suited to certain bullet weights etc.

Just for example;
Sierra 168gr .308" HPTB
Win Large Rifle primer
IMR 4895 powder
And your 308 or 30-06 cases would work in either calibre with the loads found in a manual for 168gr bullets.
Click to expand...

This basically sums it up the other thing to consider when choosing bullets is the twist of the barrels. A faster twist is needed to stabilize heavier bullets. Also need to consider what your primary uses are and choose the bullet best for that task.
 
Is the purpose 1000 yard precision target shooting, or general pinking and hunting?

If the latter, one thing to consider is how the powder measures in your powder thrower. Big kernel powders like 4064 and 4350 do not measure very accurately.

But a fine grain powder, like ReLoader or a ball powder like 748 or H380 will measure just about perfectly from the thrower. This will make loading much faster and easier.

A good general purpose bullet for your rifles is a flat based 180 gr spitzer.
 
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