set up for 308 reload. I'm new to this Any help please

It is a big savings to reload plus you can work up a load that is more accurate than factory ammo. The .308 has more bullet types than any other. There is plenty of different type powders to use also. There was a thread earlier about using the Lee Loader, a $40 investment plus a few bucks for a couple of other things to go with it. I use one for .308. Primers are dirt cheap, you'll need virgin brass, powder and bullets. 150gr. are probably best for targets. If all goes well then you can think about a press, for a semi-auto you'd probably need one to crank out the supply you need.
 
pkitcheman said:
Hey , just bought a new norc m305/m14
Shot off way too much money today. Is it actually significantly cheaper for me to get into reloading or should I just buy bulk surplus ammo? What all would I need to reload?
Any help or advice is appreciated
Thanks!
Click to expand...

This very much depends on how much you plan to shoot. Components (bullet, case, propellant, primer) will be cheaper than factory ammo on a round by round comparison, and the brass is re-usable another 4 times when reloading for a M14 type. The initial investment in equipment includes as a minimum, a press, set of dies, shell holder, deburring/chamfer tool, case trimmer, scale, powder trickler, and a manual. There are other misc items like cartridge case blocks, dial calipers, case lube, neck and primer pocket brushes etc. If you want to go further you can get a powder measure. You will get your investment back over time; the more you reload, the quicker the payback.

The other advantage to reloading is that it will produce better quality ammo than surplus. If a person is only interested in the odd dirt clod busting/paper punching excursion, one may be further ahead to stay with factory ammo.
 
Reloading is not for everyone. Judging from your post, I would say you are mostly interested in sending a lot of lead flying down range with your just purchased auto loader.
My advice would be to get a fair sized quantity of surplus ammo at the best price you can, and shoot away.
 
pkitcheman said:
?....Is it actually significantly cheaper for me to get into reloading or should I just buy bulk surplus ammo?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes and no.

Yes, because reloading for my Norc M305 using 150gr Hornady FMJ costs about .17 in powder, about 0.22 for the projectile, .05 for the primer, and call it 0.05 for the brass (per firing. 308 brass out of the M305 usually last about 4-5 reloads). So the total cost per round is about .49 if you reload.

You're saving $, right? Well.....

The "No" part comes in because, all other costs in time and set up being discounted, you will shoot MORE rounds precisely because it costs less to reload than to buy.

So while you will save money in the long run once you settle down and don't fire off 000s of rounds per range visit just to get your ya-yas off, the real immediate benefit to loading is in accurizing your load so that your weapon becomes more accurate (and than, as the old saying goes, will become more interesting)
 
I reload the hell out of my M305B. Cost's me about $30 to crank off 50 rounds of 150g FMJ.

Brass is free, if you can pick up from a range or local sandpit that see's a lot of traffic.

The initial investment is pricey. I would not recommend a hand loader for the M305, a single stage press will do you fine. I use a turret press but the round is too long to use auto indexing.

You need special tools to reload for the M305 right, in my opinion.

You need a primer pocket uniformer, OR a good Ram Primer, to make sure the primers seat firmly and below flush.

And you need a head space gauge to screen your rounds for flaws before firing.

I find brass prep time consuming and monotonous, I hate it.
But, I really enjoy the actual loading, so it makes up for it.

Due to the nature of the M305, it's not a rifle I recommend a beginner starting off should reload for, but that's just my opinion.
 
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