Reloading 308 for bolt gun, Die Question

[Hawkstp]

Have been reloading for about a year or so. Up until now have just reloaded .223 and 6.8 for my AR's. With AR's obviously I am full length sizing my brass.

Now I am going to start loading for my 308 bolt gun. To start with I have 500 cases of LC brass that was shot from my gun.

What dies do I need for reloading 308 for a bolt gun? Since these were fired in my gun, do I only need to use a neck resizing die? If that is the case do you ever need to full length size after a certain number of reloads? Also would be interested in any suggestions of brands of dies also. Thanks for any info you can share.

[2shotjoe]

what i am doing

RCBS 2-Die Neck Sizer Set 308 Winchester
RCBS AR Series Taper Crimp Seater Die 308 Winchester

[Abenaki]

You will need both a full length and a neck die.

Take care
Abenaki

[Calif Hunter]

I just neck size for my cartridges that I only shoot in one gun like my .22-250, .243, etc. In fact, the only cartridge I don't exclusively neck-size is .223 and even then, I try to keep the brass for my prairie dog gun separate. I use Lee collet dies, usually part of their "Deluxe" die sets which come with both type sizing dies.

[Fjold]

I don't use neck sizing dies at all. I set my FL dies so that they resize the cases as little as possible so that the cases are worked very lightly, the cases last a lot longer that way.

[JMP]

It's going to depend on the your rifle's chamber. If you have a nice tight chamber and fire them all from the same rifle, the neck size only method is very nice and convenient. For these, you will want the Redding Competition dies, and with Lake City, I would purchase the 335 and 336" gold neck bushings. In the set, the body die is cheap at only $40 so you'll want to use it when your brass needs it. The nice thing about the neck only method is that you do not need to tumble or lubricate. You pop out the primer and size the neck with no lube on the gold bushing. Then, you reprime, fill the case, and seat the bullet.

How well it will work depends on your chamber and barrel, so you will have to observe what happens.

[sardog98624]

Case neck (longer case life) or full length (less case life). Recommended forster seating and sizing dies. They really are the top tier and worth the change...

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

[TMB 1]

All you need is this set http://www.midwayusa.com/product/673...ProductFinding

[J-cat]

Lee collet neck die and a Redding body die

[Divernhunter]

I am with Fjold. I have a FL sizer die and I just back it off so to size the neck. Then when I need to I adjust it to size more so the round will not give me chambering troubles.
I may just get some spacer washers then I would not need to readjust it. Just remove the washer to size a bit more.
For some cartridges I have 2 die sets. One set to neck size and one set to FL size which I need for cartridges used in multiple rifles/pistols. I also set one of the seater dies for the most common bullet I load for the cartridge and the other I adjust depending on the bullet used.

I do own a couple of neck sizer dies I picked up in trades and such and will use them. But I also have FL sizer dies for the cartridge

[J-cat]

It is mechanically impossible to neck size with a FL die.

[pacrat]

OP said

Now I am going to start loading for my 308 bolt gun. To start with I have 500 cases of LC brass that was shot from my gun.

What are your own personal goals for this rifle/ammo combo?

What is the capability of your .308 bolt gun? It really makes no sense at all to spend butt loads of money [$250-$500] on specialized dies capable of making 1/4 MOA ammo. If you are going to be shooting it out of a rifle which is capable of MOA.

Likely 98% of most reloaders are perfectly content with the ammo that can be produced with a Lee Deluxe Die set. And tailored loading techniques for the individual rifle. Making them overall the best 'bang' for the buck of 98% of reloaders.

Example....If a hunter has rifle/ammo capable of MOA. That's 1.047" IIRC and a deers heart is 4-5" target. That rifle/ammo combo is capable of hitting that deers heart out to 500 yds. Under ideal conditions and if the rifleman is capable of making the shot.

Only the hunter/shooter/reloader can decide if the extra $200-$450 is best spent on dies or more components to hone his skills with.

Unless the reloaders goal is to competitively kill paper at long range. Where every tiny portion of MOA is relevant. Then those tiny portions of MOA are irrelevant.

JM2c

[Dave626]

FL die, seating die & Bushing Neck Sizing die (for neck tension)

if you are lazy
Type S-Bushing Full Length Sizing Die (neck tension & bump shoulder back) & Seating Die

**take off the expander ball of your sizing die if you care for neck tension**

[Metal God]

OP there is some good info here . I suggest you read and re-read all the post . Some post may look at odds with others but really they're just a little different in ways they do it . They all will work .

If I had to quote any as to being a good point

What are your own personal goals for this rifle/ammo combo?

Is a good starting point . I would take it one further though . I'd ask what is your ULTIMATE goal for loading the 308 caliber ? If you plan to load and shoot for uber accuracy some day in the near future . I'd look at the higher end dies as some have suggested . I know from experience that going cheap was never good . I have a few calibers that I own more then one set of dies for because I went for a standard die first only to realize I should have just spent the extra $40 in the first place .

Brass

I shoot A LOT of LC-brass and if you are going for and capable of some very small 10+ shot groups . LC brass is not what you want to use unless you are in to some serious case prep . I can get my LC stuff to shoot 1/2 moa 5 shot groups and .8 moa 10 shot groups pretty consistently but that's with uniforming everything , annealing , FL bushing dies , comp shell holders etc etc .

So what are you hoping to get out of these loads ? The answer to that will help answer the rest .

FWIW even if you neck size only . At some point 3 to 6 firings-ish you will need to FL size the cases again do to them becoming harder to chamber after each time fired .

[TMB 1]

It is mechanically impossible to neck size with a FL die.

^^^^