Reloading for M1A Standard .308

[Mr Blu]

Hey, y'all.

I'm finally "back in the game", as my LGS recently said when I bought a Springfield 1911 and M1A Standard.

Anyways. Now that I can actually afford some of the good stuff for reloading, I need to replace old stuff I've had for years and I'm not too knowledgeable about reloading. As in knowing the finer points about one brand or another. I used what worked for me, but there's always room for improvement.

For context, I will be reloading lead-free ammo for an M1A Standard in .308cal and I was wondering what dies/press/scales/whatever I should get. I had a Lee Classic single stage before, but I damaged it putting it away. So.....now I'm looking for new stuff.

Price isn't too much of an issue, but I don't need a $1,000 Super Master Crafted Epic Reloader 9000 or whatever. Just something that will do the job and not be too picky about how I do it.

Brand isn't an issue. I'm about what works. Not what sells.

I plan on shooting 100+ rounds every week for the foreseeable future, so this needs to be able to handle that kind of workload....if that's even what y'all would consider a heavy workload.

Thank you all for the help!!!

[highpower790]

Almost everything I use is RCBS and has worked without failure for 25years.
Lead free?=$

[smoothy8500]

That's a pretty decent workload on your M1A. I normally put a between 1and 2k on my M14 each year. I use RCBS on everything too. Plenty of tried and true "recipes" for the M14/M1A with regular jacketed projectiles. I'm curious about Lead-Free loadings though.

[koehn,jim]

I am very happy with a Dillon 450, it will load both rifle and pistol. It can be as fast or as precise as you want. I also have a 40 year old RCBS rock chucker.

[Mayor McRifle]

Those are two great guns. Welcome back!

You can't go wrong with a Rock Chucker, but you might want to take a look at a Forster Co-Ax. Choose the press first, and then buy the dies and accessories for that brand and model to get you started.

[elpaisa1]

Since your "Blu" go progressive with a Dillon 650. You'll love the machine.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Gundiver]

Liberty ammo sells a complete 308 round that's copper 110 grains or so. That would be very interesting to find out what bullet. Maybe same as nosler varmint round.

[Gundiver]

A copper federal 150 grain is much bigger than lead 147 which supposedly is less than ideal for m1a gas system.

[Mr Blu]

That's a pretty decent workload on your M1A. I normally put a between 1and 2k on my M14 each year. I use RCBS on everything too. Plenty of tried and true "recipes" for the M14/M1A with regular jacketed projectiles. I'm curious about Lead-Free loadings though.

I'm doing lead-free because CA is crazy like that.

[Mr Blu]

Those are two great guns. Welcome back!

You can't go wrong with a Rock Chucker, but you might want to take a look at a Forster Co-Ax. Choose the press first, and then buy the dies and accessories for that brand and model to get you started.

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense. Dies/presses/etc. may not fit across brands and I would hate to have great tools, but end up with none of them fitting each other.

[17+1]

I'm doing lead-free because CA is crazy like that.

You realize lead free is only a hunting ammo requirement and not a range ammo requirement, right?

I have a friend in SJ that we call Mr Blue because his favorite drink is Johnny Walker blue label.

[17+1]

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense. Dies/presses/etc. may not fit across brands and I would hate to have great tools, but end up with none of them fitting each other.

[RedWave]

I have a Dillon RL 550 and an M1A that I load for and that press is great for my needs. I pursued reloading after I tracked an unfortunate amount of fps variability in factory ammo using a chronograph and radar while chasing a cycling issue on my M1A. Turns out that as soon as I started loading, I perfected a load that reduced the fps fluctuations but completely solved my cycling issues.

Now, I selected the 550 because once it is setup I can pump out high quality rounds in very little time, something that is short supply for me. A single stage press would definitely produce excellent rounds, too, but time AND quality were deciding factors in my situation.

For dies, I have Redding Premium for 308. As I noted, I have had great luck with my setup producing very consistent loads with neck resizing in my Dillon press. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the process of fine tuning what works best for you and your needs.

[Mr Blu]

You realize lead free is only a hunting ammo requirement and not a range ammo requirement, right?

Yes. That's why I'm doing lead free. If I was just doing range time, I would merely buy 7.62 NATO ammo and call it a day.

[popeye4]

Glen Zediker has written a lot of material (including two books) on reloading for gas guns. Here's an example: http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf

They have several critical areas you need to be paying attention to that really aren't much concern with bolt guns, and it is more an issue with technique than equipment. A good, solid single stage press is a basic requirement; but a lot of your focus is going to be on case prep, so if you're going to do volume, I'd also look at something like a Giraud case trimmer. (Regarding speed: most of my time is with activities off the press, so buying a progressive isn't a good place to park your cash. If you have one, you can use it, but it won't speed things up. I can charge powder and seat bullets just as fast with my Harrells Powder Measure/Rock Chucker as with my Dillon.) The M14 has a generous chamber and starts to open the bolt before the chamber pressure is fully released (imagine case stretch), so you'll most likely want to get a small base resizing die. I also use a competition type sizer (the Redding with the neck sizer bushings) and bullet seating die set. Buy once, cry once.

That should be an interesting exercise developing loads for an M14 with non-lead bullets, I don't think many have done that.