reloading .308?

[modenar1]

ok i decided to go with the .308 Savage. ive been reading about how reloading can be alot cheaper and you end up having more accurate loads. my question is what equipment would i need to start reloading? if you guys can lead me to the right direction as you did with helping me decide what rifle. i would greatly appreciate it. thanks

[ocabj]

I highly recommend getting the NRA Guide to Reloading. It has no reloading data whatsoever. It is a pure guide to the concept of handloading and reloading. It will give you all the info you need on the fundamentals of reloading and what equipment you will need.

Once you get that and read through it, you'll know exactly what you'll need at the bare minimum.

After that, it's going to be an issue of press type and manufacturer/brand, and what brands of supplies to get.

The RCBS Rockchucker is still the baseline single stage press that every single stage will be compared to.

Redding dies are probably the best dies overall.

Get yourself a Sinclair Intl catalog to get familiar with all of the more advanced reloading tools.

[CSACANNONEER]

Welocome to the world of reloading. The first thing that you will discover is that reloading does not save money. In fact, you will probably spend more on components and equipment then you currently spend on factory ammo. The good news is that you can taylor loads to each particular gun for each specific purpose. Also, you will shoot a lot more! When I first started reloading, I went from shooting 100-200 rounds a week to 500+ rounds a week just because I could afford it. Now, I reload 30-40 calibers from .25acp to 50BMG and sometimes I even enjoy reloading as much as shooting.

Before I can answer your questions I need to know: How many calibers do you plan on loading for? What kind of ammo are you trying to produce? Hunting? Plinking? Match quality? How many rounds do you want to load at a time? How often are you planning to reload? How much do you plan on spending on equipment? Where do you live? If your close enough to me, I might be able to help you get started.

[dw1784]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=52266

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=52159

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=51376&highlight=308+reloading

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=47587&highlight=308+reloading

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=48573&highlight=308+reloading

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=45445&highlight=308+reloading

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=44582&highlight=308+reloading

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=43046&highlight=308+reloading

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=41346&highlight=308+reloading

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=40424&highlight=308+reloading

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=40117&highlight=308+reloading

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=38160&highlight=308+reloading

I would suggest any single stage press is fine as a starter and spend the $$ on trimmer, powder dispenser, scale, dies, gauges, etc. Quality accessaries will save you time and headaches. Good luck and have fun
p.s. start saving brass if you haven't already done so.

[CSACANNONEER]

Oh yea, before you buy dies, consider spending a little more and getting Dillon dies.

[ocabj]

Oh yea, before you buy dies, consider spending a little more and getting Dillon dies.

I beg to differ on that recommendation, especially if we're talking about dies for .308. There are far better dies out there if you're handloading .308 or most any rifle cartridge.

Redding S-Type Bushing dies (or even the Hornady match sizing die) are the best for precision rifle since you can customize the amount of neck sizing in terms of diameter by the use of bushings.

The Redding or Forster competition seating die is a must have for the serious rifle shooter.

If you just want a basic dies set, the Redding 3-Die sets with the standard FL, neck-only, and seater die is probably the best all-round die set to get. I used to be an RCBS die fan, but I think the Redding quality and design has surpassed RCBS dies in recent years.

[CSACANNONEER]

I beg to differ on that recommendation, especially if we're talking about dies for .308. There are far better dies out there if you're handloading .308 or most any rifle cartridge.

Redding S-Type Bushing dies (or even the Hornady match sizing die) are the best for precision rifle since you can customize the amount of neck sizing in terms of diameter by the use of bushings.

The Redding or Forster competition seating die is a must have for the serious rifle shooter.

If you just want a basic dies set, the Redding 3-Die sets with the standard FL, neck-only, and seater die is probably the best all-round die set to get. I used to be an RCBS die fan, but I think the Redding quality and design has surpassed RCBS dies in recent years.

You may be right, I just like the design of the Dillon dies and they are great for plinking rounds (like in my 1919). I do own a set of Redding dies with a competition seating die (and I love it). Of course, to get the best FL sizing die, you want to have the die cut with the same reamer that your chamber was cut with.

[modenar1]

i want to reload for the .308 winchester to be shot out of a savage 10fp. for match grade ammo

[brando]

Yep, the savings should not draw you to hand loading - squeezing accuracy out of your rifle should. When you get the hand loading bug you'll be spending money up the wazoo trying new equipment and combinations of cartridge components. It's fun though

[phish]

For a seater, the Forster is a "best buy". It's about $25 less than Redding's competition die, and is just as accurate.

.308 in a bolt gun is a good round to start reloading with. There's not a whole bunch of voodoo to find something accurate, tons of data out there.