Recommendations for a reloading press for 308

[djacks]

I am hoping all you intelligent folks can advise me on a recommended reloading press for my Remington 700P .308.

I've been advised against a progressive such as the Dillon RL550B due to what would be inconsistent powder drop and that the Dillon is more suited to the fine powders used in handguns.

So at this point I'm looking for advise.

[Fjold]

You can use the Dillon with ball powders very reliably

[NRAhighpowershooter]

since you are want to load for a very nice and accurate rifle.. I'd just get a Rock Chucker and single stage reload.. for the 700P you'll get better results if you use Varget (at least in my opinion) and the 168gr SMK's. As for the 550, one of the nations best shooters HighMaster Jim O'Connell, uses a 550 to load all his short line loads for his AR's and spaceguns using Varget powder... as long as you're within .2 gr on either side it won't matter 200 and 300yds.

[Chief-7700]

I am hoping all you intelligent folks can advise me on a recommended reloading press for my Remington 700P .308.

I've been advised against a progressive such as the Dillon RL550B due to what would be inconsistent powder drop and that the Dillon is more suited to the fine powders used in handguns.

So at this point I'm looking for advise.

Someone has feed you a line of BS. I had a RL550b that loaded thousands of 30-06 rounds with any problems. Since I can't shoot shoulder guns anymore due to surgery. I sold the 550B and bought the XL-650 for .45ACP
Chief-7700

[thmpr]

When I first got my Dillon 650, loaded 100 rounds of 308 and randomly pulled 10 bullets to verify the powder charge. Found all 10 to have a deviation of +/- .1 grains or none at all from expected charge.

[jandmtv]

For Precision rounds, i would say get a Redding T7 Turret press, you cant go wrong with the Redding T7!

[Timberwolf]

Redding T7 for a turret press and RCBS Rock Chucker for single stage.

[jandmtv]

the cool thing about the redding is, you can set up 7 dies, and never have to take them out and change them, you just turn the turret to the die you want to use and load away.

here is a link with a very good price, i think i paid $250 or $275 plus tax for mine.

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0024168215299a.shtml

[jandmtv]

just noticed its cheaper at midway, here you go

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=588482&utm_source=nextag&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=9315

[Ugly Dwarf]

I can understand going single stage or turret to save some money, but don't let people tell you you can't load quality rifle rounds on a dillon.

Using ball powders, I throw 75+ grain charges (depending on the powder) on my 550B for .300 Wby rounds and they come out +/- .1 grain with amazing consistancy (19 out of 20, and never outside of .3). If you dial that back to 20+/- grains (like when loading for .223), the throws are almost always (>9 out of 10) dead on, occasionally +/- .1 grain (never more).

C.O.L. is also very consistant for me on the 550B. For the same rounds as above (the only ones I pay close attention to on this measurement), the variation on COL is typically dead on. Occasioinally +/- .001" and never more than +/- .002".

These results have proven quite good for me, and I've heard of others reporting better results than I get.

[odysseus]

since you are want to load for a very nice and accurate rifle.. I'd just get a Rock Chucker and single stage reload..

Any word on how that progressive setup attachment for the RCBS rock chucker works out?

[Roccobro]

If your only looking at rifle rounds, and not cranking them out by the thousands, follow the advice of a RC or Turret.

What is your estimated round count, cost budget, and time allotted to make some near perfect ammo?

You will need to remove and replace the shell at least once in a progressives reloading cycle--- unless you have a hopped up Dillon with a case trimmer attachment.

For .223 I have been doing this on my Hornady L-N-L AP.

Decap/resize
prime
*remove from press
remove primer crimp, trim/chamfer, inspect
*reinstall in press
powder
powder check
seat bullet
crimp
OAL inspect

With a single stage you can set it up for primer crimp removal too. The only progressive that has that option (within the 7 reloading steps it offers) is the Dillon 1050. (i.e. CHA-CHING!)

Justin

[djacks]

You can use the Dillon with ball powders very reliably

So for the Dillon, I should stick with 748 (for example) and stay away from Varget and all should be well.
Otherwise to use Varget, I should use the Rock Chucker (for example)..

[Sunwolf]

Hodgdon

BLC2 meters very well in powder measures and has practically same characteristics as W-748

[mattmcg]

I was in the same position as you a few month back looking to handload precision .223 and .308. After much research, I culled my list of single stage presses down to the Redding T7 Turret Press and the Forster Co-Ax. After looking at both of those, it became very apparent that both would work well but the Forster Co-Ax had some very interesting benefits based upon its unique design (e.g. quick die switch, handle position for max leverage, clean deprimer setup, table top compatible with Dillon SDB stand, etc.). In the end I went with the Forster and have not regretted it one bit........