Reloading 308 and 338

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MikeWithTheBike

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Hi guys!

I`m brand new to reloading (bigger) rounds, and I`m looking for a little advice... I spent some time (too much time?) reading up on kit here, but I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything crucial that's specific to what I'm trying to do!

I'm looking at buying a press/a kit to start reloading 308 for long range precision shooting, but I'd like something that can handle 338 rounds in the future. If it could handle 50, that would be great, but I'm willing to admit that that will probably never happen without someone handing me a winning lottery ticket. I would rather start with something that will last a while, as opposed to buying something cheap now that I'll just have to replace in a couple of years, though. I doubt I'll have time to go through more than a few hundred rounds a year, so volume isn't an issue. Oh, and I probably won't ever load a single pistol round on my press, since a friend of mine has a progressive that I'm lucky enough to have access to.

So, my main questions are:

Single or turret? I've seen a lot of comments that talk about them both being as accurate, with the turret being a little bit faster. I haven't seen much talk about using a turret for 338, though... Am I right in saying that you can use a few of the turrets for 338 as long as you turn auto indexing off? Is there a durability issue with them for the larger rounds? Or do most people reloading 338 just happen to prefer single stage?

Kit or individual parts? Some of the kits look really tempting, but I assume if I'm going to be looking for a better scale and a trickle charger right off the bat, I'm better off buying each piece individually from the start?

Any other advice is welcome! Whatever I buy is probably going to be in my garage for a *long* time, so I'd rather get all the advice I can get now...

Thanks!
 
I started with a single and after 5 years switched to a big Redding turret. The only advantage of a turret is that you can leave 3 or 4 dies installed.

However, the drill iss till to size a bucket of brass, then charge a tray of cases, then seat the tray of cases with bullets. Since each dies has a locking ring locked in place, it only takes a few seconds to change the die over with a single press. I prefer the turret because one position has a bullet puller in it and another holds the powder thrower.

Since the press is fairly cheap, you cannot make a mistake by buying either version.
 
Hmm... Seems the T7 is well liked and can handle 338 lapua... Any suggestions on good places to find it in Canada? Since it seems which is better is a matter of preference, it may come down to price and availability.
 
I recommend a RCBS Rockchucker, been using one for about 35 years loading some 15 calibers including 338 Win. Mag. a lot which is my work Rifle and totally happy. For a Scale I recommend a basic beam scale like a 505 Ohaus or other quality Brand, I don't like anything Battery operated because Batteries tend to be dead when needed. Old fashioned maybe but it works.

Cheers
 
+1 on the RCBS Supreme press. I use one for .308 and .338lm rounds for precision shooting. It's nice and strong for the odd occasion when a 338 or 308 case needs a little extra oomph to get it in or out of the sizing die.
 
I use two presses, one is a Rockchucker I bought at a garage sale and the other is an RCBS Partner. The Rockchucker is for re-sizing and priming, the Partner is for seating. For the seating you can use any press you desire.
My powder measure is a Hornady and the scale is an RCBS 10/10. I check every 10 on the scale and always do a visual check before seating bullets.
 
Lee breechlock press works just fine for my 308 & 338. The breechlocks are very nice when having to switch dies out. I will probably use mine until it wears out.
 
I use a Redding magnum single stage for loading my rifle rounds. I wish now that I had gone with the next size up so I didn't have to slip the tip of the bullet into the bottom of the die first then tilt it in over the case mouth. My buddy has the bigger Redding press and it has a little more room so he can slide a 338 case with a bullet sitting on the case mouth straight in. It's not a big deal but it would be nice.
I've been curious about a turret press, I'll have to look into them closer. I like the idea of leaving my dies installed and correctly adjusted in the turret plate and just swapping plates when I swap calibers like I do with my progressive pistol press.
 
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