Reloading for Semi- .308 - Kit advise

[Fiveohmike]

Hey Guys,

Seems all the links on here are for loading for bolt action .308's. I just picked up my precision .308 semi build and am now looking at doing handloading, but not just for this one. I would like to load all my weapons from now on due to the costs savings.

Where is a good place to start with the kits. I have a parts list for a Dillon kit, but wondering about alternatives.

Also I just ordered Lyman's 49th edition book

Thanks,

Mike

[Chief-7700]

Welcome, I'm sure that some of the bolt gun reloaders will be here to assist you soon. You will get many recommendations on what reloading equipment to buy,do your research and buy what you want.

I happen to be a Dillon user.

Great first step with Lyman's 49th Edition.

[Mrskylinetou]

I reload for my ar and I focus on percesion. I always recamend a single stage press and get redding or forester dies. They can be very very expensive compare to the rest of the die market but your going to have to buy them once. My parts list is kinda simple but it does take me several days to make 1000 rounds. The last time I did it, took me about 30 hours of work time but they were all perfect to my specs.

I have the hornady lock and load. You can get any single stage press I just love the convience of being able to switch dies in under a second. I got a hornady trimmer, rcbs trim mate, champhor, debur, primer pocket uniformer, primer brush and full lenth brush. I got a perfit fit reload tray, couple of boxes for finished rounds, calipers (very important to not skimp out here) hornady auto charge to measure my powder.

The hornady kit came with most the stuff I needed but I hate the powder dump bec it's never the same with extruded powder, I love the
scale it comes with but I
rarely use it. The universal
tray is just ok but works, I
funnel is perfect, I never
used the trickler.
Forgot to add Dillion reloading lube and an rcbs pad. You lay out your brass on the pad, live it a light squirt, I mean light squirt, roll them back and fourth to
distribute the lube. You want a light film. Also a lee hand primer. You don't wanna bench prime.

Most the other stuff I just
had, cheap plastic container
for brass, note bad. Stuff you will figure out.

[GUNFREAK]

I'm in the same boat as you are. I'm a novice reloader and have been doing as research on Calguns and tons of other sites and resources as well. I will be reloading .308 for a magaine fed rifle as well.

From what I gathered I will be needing this kit from Hornady

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=479704

and this is why.....

http://www.inlandshooters.net/index.php?contentid=99

I am starting out with a LEE breech lock kit. I bought the kit from Cabela's for about 100 bucks. Its a simple single stage press that is a great value.

[Fiveohmike]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the info. I actually think I am going to get a profressive press off the bat as I go through lots of pistol rounds a month.

Probably looking at the Dillon 550B as that is what the guys recommended down at Irvington Arms, plus they have it on sale lol.

I am gonna get a Media Tumbler, Scale, the 550B. Thats what I have on my list so far, now needed to fill in everything else

[Cowboy T]

For your .308's, you might also consider Lee's Classic Turret Press. That's what I reload my rifle rounds on, both for bolt-action (7.62x54R) and semi-auto (308 Win).

[dlouie87]

theres a different loading strategy for semi's and bolt action rifles?

[FLIGHT762]

theres a different loading strategy for semi's and bolt action rifles?

Yes, there are other considerations.

Sierra, In the 5th edition of their loading manual have a section dedicated to "Gas Gun Reloading". 18 pages worth of information.

Here's an old, short article from Fulton Armory:http://www.fulton-armory.com/ReloadingThoughts.htm

[EL_NinO619]

LNL, i think with the 5 stations it's the way to go with rifle..

[Fiveohmike]

Well I ended up with:

dillon 650 XL
Electric Brass loader
Electronic Scale
Media Seperator
Dyes for 3 different calibers
Head tool for each dye set
Conversion kit for each caliber
roller handle
strong mount
primer flipper tray

Think im good to go

Now to learn.

[Chief-7700]

Follow the instructions when you put it together, the manual that comes with the XL-650 is very specific in the set up. Don't worry about setting up the casefeeder at this time, since you have many steps to learn first.

Ask questions since there are many of us here who loaded on the XL-650 for years.

[Fiveohmike]

Follow the instructions when you put it together, the manual that comes with the XL-650 is very specific in the set up. Don't worry about setting up the casefeeder at this time, since you have many steps to learn first.

Ask questions since there are many of us here who loaded on the XL-650 for years.

Awesome, will do! I am just waiting for my new bench to come in so I can bolt the XL to it. I got the strong mount for it as well to get it up off the table surface.

[Chief-7700]

Awesome, will do! I am just waiting for my new bench to come in so I can bolt the XL to it. I got the strong mount for it as well to get it up off the table surface.

Make sure that your bench is fastened to the wall studs and well as the floor.
The 650 hates bench movement causes a gang of problems.

[sonnyt650]

So what does the sale at Irvington Arms look like?