To reload or not?

[Davie Sprocket]

After fiddling around for the last couple of nights, getting a case stuck in a my neck sizing die, and just generally playing around, I have come upon a problem. When I press the 150gr spitzer bullets into the cartridge just enough to get past the crimp line the o/a bullets are to short, I have measured with my caliper a couple times. 2.73 and basically every book i have says 2.80. The 168 bthp's i have are longer, so is this just the bullets being different or do I need to use different bullets?

Dave

 

[mmattockx]

After fiddling around for the last couple of nights, getting a case stuck in a my neck sizing die, and just generally playing around, I have come upon a problem. When I press the 150gr spitzer bullets into the cartridge just enough to get past the crimp line the o/a bullets are to short, I have measured with my caliper a couple times. 2.73 and basically every book i have says 2.80. The 168 bthp's i have are longer, so is this just the bullets being different or do I need to use different bullets?

Dave

1) You don't have to seat the bullet according to the cannelure (the crimping groove) unless you want to crimp your loads. Seat it to get the OAL you want for magazine use or to get the bullet however far off the lands you want. As long as you have close to one calibre of bullet length gripped in the neck you will be fine.

2) You can use whatever bullets you want, sometimes you just may end up with a shorter OAL than others. It is not a big deal if your rounds are shorter, the manual just lists the length they seated to and/or the maximum specified length for the cartridge. The 0.070" difference you have is not a problem.

Look at this pic of one of my 6.5x55 reloads beside a Norma factory RN round. See where the cannelure is at? It is loaded for an OAL of 3.100" because that is the max length my mag will handle. The base of the bullet is well into the shoulder on the brass and I would load it longer if I could.

Mark

 

[Fozy]

I have decide to try shooting a couple of .308w rifles. I have a weatherby vangaurd and just purchased a norc m14/305 and I have been split on if I should reload or not. Having talked to some of the other shooters I know who have tried reloading or are currently reloading are split.

Most say just shoot store bought until you get a couple houndred rounds of brass and then reload. That way you know if your gonna stick with the rifle and calibre before comitting to reloading. The other group say just buy the reloading equipment and start loading.

What do you guys think? Should I start reloading or just run some rounds through first? If you do think I should reload what equipment do you recommend? (I know this is the monster question for this forum as everyone has an opinion.)

Thanks

I actually just got finished getting my reloading setup together. I think it is a worth while endeavor especially if you target shoot as you can do a lot to tailor a round to a specific rifle. I bought a Lee kit and regret it as most of the accessories that come with it are crap and have been replaced. If I could do it over I would just buy a press, I was trained on the RCBS press but the Lee stuff is much more affordable. Then go out and but the rest of the stuff you need separately. I basically went and bought stuff here and there to lessen the blow financially. Once you get set up your gonna find that the money you spend will be less but you are going to be able to shoot better quality ammo. I just recently put factory ammo, I was using to hunt, through the Chrony versus hand loads I had done and there was a marked difference in the consistency of the muzzle velocity and the accuracy.

Look around and see if you can find a reloading course. The one I took was amazing and I got a load of good insight which made getting set up easier. If you do find a course wait till after to buy your gear......

 

[rookie wildcat]

Do yourself a favor and reload. you learn so much about ammunition and its a rewarding experience even if you dont save money. i know i haven't $aved but thats because im easily addicted (you could do it a lot cheaper than i do too).
But you asked for advice on what to buy so i say go with RCBS. every reloader i know either uses RCBS, looks at the ground in shame when they tell me about their Lee equipment (im sorry), or reloads a box or two every year or two with their Lee equipment.
Also as far as brass goes, buy new if you possibly can. Preferably NoslerCustom from my limited experience. The cheap stuff (like Remington factory ammo casings) is so squishy I'm scared to use it more than a few times.
my long 2 cents

Seriously?? Then you don't know many reloaders. 15yrs ago, I once belonged to a gun club in NS. There wasn't one member there who "only used RCBS". I could walk in an look at anyone's bench and see nearly every brand of equipment. And these were older guys who had been doing it for 30-40 years. (Hey that's me now!) I have, myself, tons of components that run the gambit from Lee to Pacific. I still use the Lee stuff most often. easiest to set up and use. And I hold my head up high and look you right in the eye when I say it!!

 

[rookie wildcat]

any recommendations on books?

Dave

Yes, LOTS. I personally have at least 20 or so and read them probably once a year. I know them pretty good now and that makes it easier to find little tidbits when I need them

 

[Davie Sprocket]

Thanks Mark that is exactly what I was looking at. I sized them all to 2.8 and will make the rest to near to it.

As far as the debate on what is the best equip I think each manufacture has its plus and minus's and everyone who uses them will like or dislike based on there own opinions and experience.

I have a set of rcbs dies that I might try as I have had some trouble with the lee neck sizing die.

Reloading seems to be an adventure of finding what works and learning how things work.

 

[ykkid]

ABC's of Reloading. The holy grail.

A gunmaker by the name of Fulton - google him - has some interesting remarks with regard to handloading for the M-14 family, although he obviously hasn't handled the Chicom knockoff. Probably a worthwhile read for an absolute novice contemplating reloading for a Norc.

But by all means, load for the Weatherby. .308 Win is a perfect round to get started in. There are literally dozens of match bullets, varmint bullets, plinking bullets, hunting bullets, and just plain bullet bullets in thirty caliber, and all except the heaviest can be loaded in .308 Win. Expect to meet or exceed factory accuracy when using match bullets, load light weight plinkers over light loads to master running the gun like a rifleman, (the absence of significant recoil means you can concentrate on a compressed squeeze, and you can focus on not leaving the trigger until the muzzle rises, and being back on the trigger before the sights settle) or you can brew up an adequate grizzly bear defence round. Very versatile, and all with your own hands.

Oh, and it will keep you out of the bar nights.

 

[Davie Sprocket]

Ykkid - Thats one of the reasons I went with 308w is that there are so many options out there for them. I have the lyman and lee manuals. I'm going to see if I can get a copy of the ABC book in the city today. I have made some more bullets and they seem to be alright but until I can get out and shoot em I won't know for sure. I have read some of Fultons stuff, on castingboolits there is a great post BruceB did on his loads for the m14 with cast bullets, very cool read. I bought the weatherby as a start to target shooting while still having the option to hunt with it, the norc m14 is all for fun, plus there cool. Eventually If I have the ability I will step upto a rem700 or savage for target shooting but for now the reloading is a chance to get into learning how the propellants and other factors effect accuracy. Have a good one.

Dave