New to reloading 30-06

[vector16]

I just got a Lee Classic loader for my first shot at reloading. I have the 30-06 model. I have brass that I have shot and collected over the last couple of years. I need to know what size primers i need, small rifle, large rifle or magnum rifle.

I also need to know about bullets. Do I need to get just plain .30 cal bullets or is there a special on for 30-06?

Then I need to know what kind of powder to get.

I have figured that I will be just reusing the brass I have already fired so o don't need to do any sizing of the cases. I have place a full cartidge in the loader and adjusted it to fit the cartridge. I will just be using this for target loads so I would like to go cheap for now. I figured that I can get some Wolf primers. Now I need to know about the above. I was also planning on getting 150 to 168 grain bullets.

Any help would be great and I thank you ahead of time.

[Ghost_Maker]

youneed to getse reading material first... lyman speerhornady manuals and read....

[Bug Guy]

get some manuals and read,read,read and read some more and just when you think you done read a little more, they will answer most if not all of the questions you have

[Bill Steele]

I just got a Lee Classic loader for my first shot at reloading. I have the 30-06 model. I have brass that I have shot and collected over the last couple of years. I need to know what size primers i need, small rifle, large rifle or magnum rifle.

I also need to know about bullets. Do I need to get just plain .30 cal bullets or is there a special on for 30-06?

Then I need to know what kind of powder to get.

I have figured that I will be just reusing the brass I have already fired so o don't need to do any sizing of the cases. I have place a full cartidge in the loader and adjusted it to fit the cartridge. I will just be using this for target loads so I would like to go cheap for now. I figured that I can get some Wolf primers. Now I need to know about the above. I was also planning on getting 150 to 168 grain bullets.

Any help would be great and I thank you ahead of time.

I loaded my first round in .30-06, in 1967...

Welcome to the club.

If you don't already have one, get a copy of Richard Lee's 2nd Edition Reloading Manual. The how to section is only about 150 pages, lots of valuable information in these pages. The reload guide section has more loads than any other single book I have seen, so when you start loading you will have a great reference for just about any caliber, bullet, powder combination you could imagine.

You will need large rifle primers, my favorite powders for 30-06 are IMR 4350 and IMR 4895. A good one to start with that meters well through a drop like the Lee Perfect Powder Measure is Hodgdon BL-C(2). The others above are extruded powders and don't meter as well, so you need to drop and trickle those to get precise charges.

On the sizing, you will need to neck size the cases you have fired in your rifle to get neck tension on the bullets and also at some point they might not chamber and will have to be full length sized. A trimmer will be needed at this point. You will also need calipers to measure the cases as well as finished round OAL.

The bullets you want are .308 (sometimes just called 30 cal). Avoid bullets designated 30-30 or 30 Carbine. They will fire in your gun, but are meant for the calibers referenced (i.e. flat/round nose for 30-30, lighter (maybe half clad) for 30 Carbine).

Good luck, have fun.

[vector16]

I loaded my first round in .30-06, in 1967...

Welcome to the club.

If you don't already have one, get a copy of Richard Lee's 2nd Edition Reloading Manual. The how to section is only about 150 pages, lots of valuable information in these pages. The reload guide section has more loads than any other single book I have seen, so when you start loading you will have a great reference for just about any caliber, bullet, powder combination you could imagine.

You will need large rifle primers, my favorite powders for 30-06 are IMR 4350 and IMR 4895. A good one to start with that meters well through a drop like the Lee Perfect Powder Measure is Hodgdon BL-C(2). The others above are extruded powders and don't meter as well, so you need to drop and trickle those to get precise charges.

On the sizing, you will need to neck size the cases you have fired in your rifle to get neck tension on the bullets and also at some point they might not chamber and will have to be full length sized. A trimmer will be needed at this point. You will also need calipers to measure the cases as well as finished round OAL.

The bullets you want are .308 (sometimes just called 30 cal). Avoid bullets designated 30-30 or 30 Carbine. They will fire in your gun, but are meant for the calibers referenced (i.e. flat/round nose for 30-30, lighter (maybe half clad) for 30 Carbine).

Good luck, have fun.

Thanks Bill for all the great info. I will look into getting the manual. I have read a little about reloading in the past but did not have anything to reference what I was reading into a physical object. I grew tired and confused after a few pages.
I jst traded some 1911 mags for this Classic Lee Loader today because it seemed pretty straight forward. The directions say to know out the old primer, Wash the case, let the case dry, install new primer, open end of casing, put in powder, install new bullet, crimp casing. To size the loader use a new cartidge and when the rod barely touches the bullet it is sized right. I planned on getting a micrometer (calipar) to take measurements and a scale sometime soon.

[Bill Steele]

Thanks Bill for all the great info. I will look into getting the manual. I have read a little about reloading in the past but did not have anything to reference what I was reading into a physical object. I grew tired and confused after a few pages.
I jst traded some 1911 mags for this Classic Lee Loader today because it seemed pretty straight forward. The directions say to know out the old primer, Wash the case, let the case dry, install new primer, open end of casing, put in powder, install new bullet, crimp casing. To size the loader use a new cartidge and when the rod barely touches the bullet it is sized right. I planned on getting a micrometer (calipar) to take measurements and a scale sometime soon.

Got it, I missed the Lee Loader part. You don't need to wash the cases. If they have not hit the ground, just rub them in a towel before depriming. You can use a small flat blade screw driver to clean the primer pocket after you get the old primer out. Not mandatory, but it will help with consistency down the road.

For the powder, just use a powder that is available and in the list that came with the loader.

You will have to adjust the stem that seats the bullet to get the OAL you desire. Shooting for 3.34" OAL should work. You can use a factory round and match that length and it will also work.

At some point you will need to get a real sizing die and some form of press to do full length sizing. The cases keep growing as you reuse them and will at some point be difficult or impossible to chamber (probably in the 4-8 reloads range). The full length die will allow you to bump the shoulder back and again start using that brass. When that happens, just set those cases aside until you get the F/L die and press. You can use a Lee Hand Press to do that, or a small Lee bench press (among many others).

When you use the dipper, make sure you scrape the powder flat with the mouth of the dipper before pouring into the case.

Good luck, have fun.

[pdq_wizzard]

I just got a Lee Classic loader for my first shot at reloading. I have the 30-06 model. I have brass that I have shot and collected over the last couple of years. I need to know what size primers i need, small rifle, large rifle or magnum rifle.

I also need to know about bullets. Do I need to get just plain .30 cal bullets or is there a special on for 30-06?

Then I need to know what kind of powder to get.

I have figured that I will be just reusing the brass I have already fired so o don't need to do any sizing of the cases. I have place a full cartidge in the loader and adjusted it to fit the cartridge. I will just be using this for target loads so I would like to go cheap for now. I figured that I can get some Wolf primers. Now I need to know about the above. I was also planning on getting 150 to 168 grain bullets.

Any help would be great and I thank you ahead of time.

ABC's of reloading will give you a lot of info, 30-06 takes large rifle primes, powder IMR 4064 is a good start, bullets anything in the 150 -168gr .308 will work fine.

you will need to size the brass, ping me I might have a set of dies I can "loan you" until you buy (find some) I will have to look.

and if you live close to Sac I will kick in a ~100 primers for you to get started

you seem like you really want to know how to do this and I will do anything I can to help keep you from hurting your self.

edit to add you will have to come to me for primers, I'm nice but not that nice

[vector16]

Got it, I missed the Lee Loader part. You don't need to wash the cases. If they have not hit the ground, just rub them in a towel before depriming. You can use a small flat blade screw driver to clean the primer pocket after you get the old primer out. Not mandatory, but it will help with consistency down the road.

For the powder, just use a powder that is available and in the list that came with the loader.

You will have to adjust the stem that seats the bullet to get the OAL you desire. Shooting for 3.34" OAL should work. You can use a factory round and match that length and it will also work.

At some point you will need to get a real sizing die and some form of press to do full length sizing. The cases keep growing as you reuse them and will at some point be difficult or impossible to chamber (probably in the 4-8 reloads range). The full length die will allow you to bump the shoulder back and again start using that brass. When that happens, just set those cases aside until you get the F/L die and press. You can use a Lee Hand Press to do that, or a small Lee bench press (among many others).

When you use the dipper, make sure you scrape the powder flat with the mouth of the dipper before pouring into the case.

Good luck, have fun.

With the Lee Loader I do not need to measure the powder with a scale, I justtake a full dipper of powder and put it into the casing? That seems like alot of powder.

[vector16]

ABC's of reloading will give you a lot of info, 30-06 takes large rifle primes, powder IMR 4064 is a good start, bullets anything in the 150 -168gr .308 will work fine.

you will need to size the brass, ping me I might have a set of dies I can "loan you" until you buy (find some) I will have to look.

and if you live close to Sac I will kick in a ~100 primers for you to get started

you seem like you really want to know how to do this and I will do anything I can to help keep you from hurting your self.

edit to add you will have to come to me for primers, I'm nice but not that nice

I have been wanting to learn how to reload for years, YEARS. I just have never had the cash to buy the reloading set or equipment. When I was selling the 1911 mags, I was offered a trade for a box of 30-06 rounds and this Classic Lee Loader. I of course jumped on it because I had never heard of reloading eqipment that actually works for $25. I figure that this will get me started and since I only shoot the rifles 2-3 times a year, I'll be able to save $60 or so each time I go out. If I like how this one works I'll be getting one for the shotguns and for the .243. If I find that i'm saving a couple hundred buck a year i'll look into the whole kit.

[Bill Steele]

With the Lee Loader I do not need to measure the powder with a scale, I justtake a full dipper of powder and put it into the casing? That seems like alot of powder.

Yes, you use one of the powders in the list of powders that comes with the instructions and the dipper that comes with the kit. You push the dipper into the powder and let it fill the dipper, scrape the powder level with the mouth of the dipper using a business card, credit card, etc. and pour it in the case.

The powders in the instructions are the only ones that are safe to load with the dipper included in the kit.

There is a great youtube video where Richard Lee uses a Lee Loader in a rifle caliber (not sure if it was 30-06 or some other, but the steps are the same). Have a look, it will answer most of your questions about using the loader.

Have fun, good luck.

PS - Here you go: https: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeEl9wZyabc

[GillaFunk]

+1 ABC's of reloading. Amazon that chit used. I go back to mine from time to time when I has an idiot moment.

[Ghost_Maker]

i ha e a set of rcbs dies for sale....PM me...

[Dirk Tungsten]

Op, what gun are you loading for? be aware that if it's the M1 Garand you'll need a powder with the appropriate burn rate to avoid ruining your operating rod.

[chango17]

its always good to have as many loading manuals as possible to cross reference .. I have Lyman 49th which was my first one and it was great for learning. then I got Hornadys and noslers newest editions .. Hornadys is my favorite because itshows what charges give you what velocities. and since its just for plinking its good to know as many different powders you can possibly use now that powders are hard to come by

[vector16]

Op, what gun are you loading for? be aware that if it's the M1 Garand you'll need a powder with the appropriate burn rate to avoid ruining your operating rod.

I am reloading for my Savage 111 30-06 for now. if I can get all the stuff and save a little bit of cash vs. just buying new rounds i'll start in with my .243 and them move towards the 357 and 38 spec. I use steel cases for most of my .45 ACP.
Can I reload those once or twice?
The last time I went to On Target in L.N. i had about 500 rounds of .45 on brass and as I started to pick them up a worker told me that I am not allowed to police my own brass and that as soon as it hit the floor it became their brass. I told the guy that they should be paying me to shoot there instead of the other way around if they keep MY brass. Thwey do not want the steel cases so I would be able to gather those. Can I reload them tho?