Dies??

[choprzrul]

Bought a 110 Savage Ultralight with the Proof Research barrel in .308. My old Pacific dies probably need upgraded at some point, so this might be a good time.

I'm using a Redding T-7 press.

What says the community for a new set of dies?

I'm going to do load development with Sierra 180gr TGK bullets, Lapua brass, and Federal match primers. It will be a hunting rifle, but I'm looking to maximize precision if possible.

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[JackEllis]

What's wrong with the dies you have?

What are you planning to shoot and from what distance?

I use a .30-06 for deer, elk and african plains game with 150 grain bullets. If you're going to use the rifle in California, you want lighter (copper) bullets you can drive faster. If you're hunting out of state, I still think you want a lighter bullet so it delivers enough energy to the target unless you're going to limit your shooting distance.

[Cowboy T]

All of the major manufacturers make quality dies, be it Lee, Redding, whomever.

But yes, what's wrong with your existing Pacific dies?

[choprzrul]

All of the major manufacturers make quality dies, be it Lee, Redding, whomever.

But yes, what's wrong with your existing Pacific dies?

Just wondering if there is something out there that builds more precise rounds??

[MongooseV8]

I use a combo of Redding and Lee dies.

[Divernhunter]

attention to case prep and detail build better loads. Do that before you worry about dies

[edgerly779]

Are the sierra tgk bullets non lead for hunting in Ca or do you hunt out of state? I just checked so the tgk are for hunting out of state.

[JackEllis]

attention to case prep and detail build better loads. Do that before you worry about dies

^^^^^^^^ This!

Plus, for hunting loads, there is no reason to knock yourself out trying to get tiny groups at typical hunting distances because wind and the ability (or lack thereof) to shoot from sticks, a tripod, a tree crotch or whatever substitutes for a shooting bench when you're in the field are more important variables. 1" groups at 100 yards puts you in the kill zone on a critter out quite a distance.

The best money you can spend is on practice ammo (your reloads, of course), and then practice from anything but a bench in realistic hunting conditions.

[choprzrul]

My current dies are set up in bushings for my Hornady Lock n Load progressive. I think I'd rather just leave them in the bushings and be dedicated for volume production rather than moving them back and forth.

Hence, I'm looking for a second set for putting together loads for the new savage

[choprzrul]

Are the sierra tgk bullets non lead for hunting in Ca or do you hunt out of state? I just checked so the tgk are for hunting out of state.

I already have a 6.5 Creedmoor set up for CA with Nosler 120gr Etips.

This 308 will be for Mule deer in Nebraska. We just stumbled into a nice 2300 acre hunting lease, so it will probably be a yearly trip now.

I'm also thinking about an elk hunt in a few years....

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[five.five-six]

attention to case prep and detail build better loads. Do that before you worry about dies

Yup, except for RCBS dies, they are Schiff.


1st step IMO is matching brass.

[fguffey]

reloader should have the ability to determine the quality of dies based on the distance from the datum/shoulder to the deck of the shell holder and the inside diameter of the die.

F. Guffey

[Divernhunter]

Five.Five-six--That is strange. I load for many different cartridges and use a lot of RCBS dies. I get cloverleaf groups at 100 yards with most of my rifles. But not the surplus rifles with mil surplus ammo or even many of my handloads ---Including my K31 using Redding dies.

Maybe it is just you and your dies?

[tabascoz28]

Assuming you're starting with a great rifle and great projectiles, there are different levels of accuracy and there's tons of data on 308:

Getting your group from 2moa to one is pretty easy with handloading. Make sure you seat the same depth, .02 off the lands and put the same amount of powder down to the .1 grains using quality brass weighed the same.

Getting from 1moa down to .125moa requires bench rest primers, powder measurement down to .05 grains, ogive seaters die, correct neck tension, quality brass trimmed to the correct length always, correct seating of the bullet (there's a potential magic distance to lands) and neck turning. All of these require even more gear...

[Cowboy T]

Just wondering if there is something out there that builds more precise rounds??

As long as your dies have been cared for, they should make 1/2-MOA rounds all day, assuming good reloading technique. Experience has shown me that Lee dies will make such rounds, for example. I'll bet yours will, too.

As others have said, there are a number of factors that go into a precise-shooting load. One of them is powder charge. Another is the bullet type; some rifles shoot some bullets well, and others don't like that bullet type at all. A third is seating depth.