Handloading?

[gottarollwithit]

I'm thinking about buying a custom 308 capable of some serious accuracy.
Match grade and specialized hunting rounds are super pricey! Anybody know anything about handloading? I want to safely hand load 308 cartridges without using a lot of big table mounted tools. I don't have a lot of space and don't really care about reloading speed. Ideally i'd be able to fit all of it in a drawer or small cabinet.
Any hand load press recs? I'm looking at Midway and you can buy a Lee Classic Loader for 20 bucks. Suposedly this is everything you need to reload... i'm a bit skeptical though.

Thanks again!

[tankerman]

You need a good press and all the equipment that goes with reloading. You will need more than a drawer to store the stuff, and you will also need a sturdy table/bench for the press.

If you are planning on buying an accurate 308 and you are going to reload with accuracy in mind you can't really skimp on the reloading equipment.

[Wulf]

Just about any single stage press, mounted onto a black and decker work mate or a sturdy desk, will let you produce sub-moa 308.

[SVRider]

Never used one and I hear they are a pain, but if it has to hide away in a drawer, you could get a hand press:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=624416&t=11082005

They were made for developing loads in the field or at the range....

HTH!

[Jicko]

RCBS RC2 single stage press w/ Hornady Lock and Load brushings (good press and quick to switch between dies)

You can mount it with a C-clamp, so it doesn't have to be permanently mounted too!!

You then need a tumbler (to clean brass), a case trimmer, a caliper (a digital one is easy to use), a scale, a powder dispenser (or measuring spoons), a trickler.

Then some dies.

At the end, it would cost you probably 30-40cents a round, rather than $1.5 a round.

[gottarollwithit]

As you can probably tell, i'm just about completely new to reloading. The reason i presented this question was b/c a reviewer of one of the handloading presses at Midway claimed that he achieved sub MOA stuff.

Now i certainly am not trying to discredit any of you here. I'd most certainly take advice from you guys over some random guy reviewing a 20 buck reloading press.

What are the key differences between a handloading press and a single stage? Any recs on a single stage press to buy? Hopefully something small and compact...

One of the main reasons i wish to get into reloading 308 is b/c i want to be able to load solid copper projectiles (for hunting in condor territory). What kind of accuracy are we talking about with a handloader? Think i can get it to maybe 2" at 100 yds?

[gottarollwithit]

Man, Jicko posts fast!

So i'm a bit confused here. You're suggesting an RCBS RC2? Are you referring to the Rock Chucker supreme? This thing will just precisely press projectiles in to the brass, right?

I know where to get a tumbler, precision balance, caliper, and case sizer for cheap. Would it be reasonable to cut out the need for load bushings and whatnot if i just hand measured the powder and poured it through a funnel into the brass?

[rksimple]

Don't bother with the hand press for bottleneck rifle cartridges. Get a decent single stage (rockchucker or the like), standard redding 2 die set, a case trimmer, shellholder, lee auto prime, and go nuts.

From your previous posts it doesn't seem that you have a firm grasp of what goes on in the various steps of reloading. A good reloading manual would be another essential purchase.

[thmpr]

If your not looking for speed and you have alot of time to reload, you can go to www.sinclair.com and look at their reload equipment that is used for range environment. It requires a small sturdy platform for resizing/depriming, powder charge and bullet seating. For priming, you can go with the hand type priming system (RCBS). Saw several bench rest shooters at sac valley center reloading this way which I thought was great for loading 30 rounds in 30 mins. No cleaning necessary since you are using bolt action rifle (Use a fine steel wool for cleaning).

[Jicko]

You may consider just buying this KIT.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=646599&t=11082005

You should get this "bushing" set too, this make changing die FAST and accurate. And it is cheap too.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=858110&t=11082005

[C.G.]

You may consider just buying this KIT.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=646599&t=11082005

You should get this "bushing" set too, this make changing die FAST and accurate. And it is cheap too.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...110&t=11082005

What he said, except for a better price:

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000449357