Looking to start reloading 308

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cokelon

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So I decided to pull the trigger (no pun intended) and got myself a Ruger Precision 308 win .

I am not going to be doing a lot of shooting on that but I would like to start reloading those. What are the cheapest components that you guys have had good experience with?

- Primers:
- Powder:
- Projectiles:

I will be using dillon xl750, haven't purchased the change kit so open to suggestions on dies even a different reloading press specific for 308. I figured the change kit + dies will be around $500. So very close to a new one.

Thanks in advance.
 
Be prepared for a shock when you price components, powder and primers especially. Lots of dealers have little to no stock and auction price are not for the faint hearted. Other than that i can't help much, Sask being a long ways from Ont. and don't load 308. As for the Dillon i use Lee, RCBS, Hornady and Lyman dies on my older 650 press. They will all work equally well. Watch the EE for change kits, they show up and are cheaper than new.
 
dead meat said:
Be prepared for a shock when you price components, powder and primers especially. Lots of dealers have little to no stock and auction price are not for the faint hearted. Other than that i can't help much, Sask being a long ways from Ont. and don't load 308. As for the Dillon i use Lee, RCBS, Hornady and Lyman dies on my older 650 press. They will all work equally well. Watch the EE for change kits, they show up and are cheaper than new.
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Thanks already seeing the component price change for 9mm which I do load with my dillon. I will not be shooting as much 308 as I do with my 9mm but yes I hear you prices are going up every week.
 
cokelon said:
So I decided to pull the trigger (no pun intended) and got myself a Ruger Precision 308 win .

I am not going to be doing a lot of shooting on that but I would like to start reloading those. What are the cheapest components that you guys have had good experience with?

- Primers:
- Powder:
- Projectiles:

I will be using dillon xl750, haven't purchased the change kit so open to suggestions on dies even a different reloading press specific for 308. I figured the change kit + dies will be around $500. So very close to a new one.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Currently I'm using mostly winchester LR primers. In my more target oriented 308's I mostly use 175-178 bullets, as they group the best in 3 out of 4 of my rifles. The one outlier likes 190 gr. Varget and 4064 are my go to powders, and cabelas had some 4064 a couple days ago. I have also used RL 15 and 19 with pretty good results. It is a very easy cartridge to load for, I've probably had a dozen over the years. I use different brass manufacturers to differentiate which loads for which rifles, and I do a fair amount of brass prep and sorting in that regard. Not so much for my hunting rifles. - dan
 
Are you reloading for just impact or groups? It would also depends on your budge to reload.

Redding pretty much is the 1st choice of die for most precision shooter, unless you don't want to spend that much for quality, pretty much any die would work for 308.

A single stage press would be enough if you are not going to shoot a lot, Forster Co-Ax or even RCBS Rock Chucker would do the job.

The problem is reloading components shortage at the moment.
Brass: you can pick from range or any brand, good or bad. Lapua is still available if you want to invest.
Projectile: still available for most of brands
Powder: Hodgon Varget or Vihtavuori N140 is the first choice for 308, but other alternative would still work if you are not really picky. Or you may find people sell at higher price.
Primer: Same as powder, you might still be able to find Large Rifle Primer somewhere or even the match ones, but the price is doubled or even tripled.
 
I'm using RCBS rockchucker RCBS dies with a fl resizer.
Projectiles: berger 175gr vlds for target shooting
lapua naturalis 170gr & Hornady sst 168 & 180gr for hunting.
The bergers are great. But I'm not getting accuracy I like with the lapuas or Hornady's (consistant 5 round groups moa size is the goal)
Powder: viht 140 & 150 I've had better results with the n150.
Primers: federal and CCI they both work.
Brass: IVI has produced the best results. Have used federal, Hornady and remington.

Going to continue using the berger bullets for target, once I've used up the lapua naturalis I'm going to try Barnes TSX or TTSX for hunting rounds. Brass and Primers I'll continue using IVI Brass and whatever primers I can get. If I run out of primers before the shortages end I'm going to buy Lapua 308 Brass that have small rifle primer holes cause they seem to come in stock more frequently.
 
sonichanxiao said:
Are you reloading for just impact or groups? It would also depends on your budge to reload.

Redding pretty much is the 1st choice of die for most precision shooter, unless you don't want to spend that much for quality, pretty much any die would work for 308.

A single stage press would be enough if you are not going to shoot a lot, Forster Co-Ax or even RCBS Rock Chucker would do the job.

The problem is reloading components shortage at the moment.
Brass: you can pick from range or any brand, good or bad. Lapua is still available if you want to invest.
Projectile: still available for most of brands
Powder: Hodgon Varget or Vihtavuori N140 is the first choice for 308, but other alternative would still work if you are not really picky. Or you may find people sell at higher price.
Primer: Same as powder, you might still be able to find Large Rifle Primer somewhere or even the match ones, but the price is doubled or even tripled.
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Curious if you PM's are full. Been trying to message you in order to purchase 2 Vortex scopes. PM me please.
 
cokelon said:
So I decided to pull the trigger (no pun intended) and got myself a Ruger Precision 308 win .

I am not going to be doing a lot of shooting on that but I would like to start reloading those. What are the cheapest components that you guys have had good experience with?

- Primers:
- Powder:
- Projectiles:

I will be using dillon xl750, haven't purchased the change kit so open to suggestions on dies even a different reloading press specific for 308. I figured the change kit + dies will be around $500. So very close to a new one.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Coming from someone who’s bought the lowest cost press and dies, brass and standard primers. I’m Able to get 0.700” groups consistently from a Cz550 using FC brass, 210 fed primers and BLC2. Nothing incredible by any means from my components so understand unless you’re going for same hole accuracy you can get away with lower end components.

Figuring out what twist rate and bullets your gun likes then simply testing varying load charges to see what speed your gun can stabilize the bullet and the harmonica of the barrel can make for a very accurate reliable load.

Even have a 180gr hunting bullet in my savage 110 ultralight in 308 doing an inch or so with a low power scope and simple bags.

Different shoots want different things. What are you looking to do with your rifle?
 
cokelon said:
So I decided to pull the trigger (no pun intended) and got myself a Ruger Precision 308 win .

I am not going to be doing a lot of shooting on that but I would like to start reloading those. What are the cheapest components that you guys have had good experience with?

- Primers:
- Powder:
- Projectiles:

I will be using dillon xl750, haven't purchased the change kit so open to suggestions on dies even a different reloading press specific for 308. I figured the change kit + dies will be around $500. So very close to a new one.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

The Easy Button For target shooting. Use the press you have...down the road that might change. 175GR good quality bullet, Lap, Sierra, or Berger. Powwder Varget forty something, work up looking for pressure. Load to just below mag length. Brass lapua if you can afford it, if not Win or Hornady. Primers, whatever you can find I preferr Fed or CCI
Rugers are a bit rough but they generally shoot. If that does not work the rifle has problem
 
cokelon said:
So I decided to pull the trigger (no pun intended) and got myself a Ruger Precision 308 win .

I am not going to be doing a lot of shooting on that but I would like to start reloading those. What are the cheapest components that you guys have had good experience with?

- Primers:
- Powder:
- Projectiles:

I will be using dillon xl750, haven't purchased the change kit so open to suggestions on dies even a different reloading press specific for 308. I figured the change kit + dies will be around $500. So very close to a new one.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Roughly where are you in Ontario? I have 60 primed 308 brass for sale. If you are in the Sudbury or Sault Ste Marie area, we can probably make a deal. PM me if interested.
 
Before I just used my Dillon 550 reloading 308 for my AR10, however I use a Redding Big Boss2 and Electronic powder dispenser for my Defiance/Kreiger bolt gun. The Dillon powder dispenser is not the best for extruded powders, you will see a spread of .4 grains.
Vhit N140 44grs , Varget 44.5grs for 155 Gr bullets( Hornady, Sierra and 155.5 Fullbore Berger
N150 for Sierra 175 Gr bullets
 
cokelon said:
...I am not going to be doing a lot of shooting on that but I would like to start reloading those. What are the cheapest components that you guys have had good experience with?....
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For input on component selection, you'll have to tell us the application for your 308 reloads - Target, hunting, or plinking.

In any case, I'd recommend an economy single stage press and die set to get started rifle reloading. You'll want the level of control you get doing things one step at a time, and you won't be making big batches anyway.

Whatever your ambition, you'll get far more gains from trying different combinations of components than you would see in improvements from using a more expensive single stage press or dies. But I won't fault you if you just like nice things... ;)
 
Budget shooter's supply in Vancouver has 2 pounds of varget for $160.00 I think it was, my shipping was 32 bucks, don't know if it's more to Ontario, but might be worth a look.
 
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