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best press for loading .308
- Thread starter allie
- Start date
Re: press
Dillon 550.
Will churn out a couple hundred rounds in an hour.
Only con would be the powder measure doesn't link extruded powder so much...i.e Varget.It will work for plinking/range ammo nicely but for match grade you'll need to weight each charge like any other press or get a RBCS chargemaster.
~Mike
Dillon 550.
Will churn out a couple hundred rounds in an hour.
Only con would be the powder measure doesn't link extruded powder so much...i.e Varget.It will work for plinking/range ammo nicely but for match grade you'll need to weight each charge like any other press or get a RBCS chargemaster.
~Mike
Re: press
Tis a poor carpenter that blames his tools. The reloader being vigilant is the best way to reload excellent ammo in any caliber.
So many newer reloader think they need to reinvent the wheel.
Then introduce so many variables into a straight forward equation. Buy good dies to start Redding Deluxe set with carbide expander ball will get 0.5MOA with no trouble.
Get good brass ie WW with match prep or Lapua out of the box.
Use known powder combos ie RL 15, N140/N540, IMR 4895/4064, Varget.
Get the right primer for each powder iet RL15 Fed 210M, Varget and BR2, IMR powders with WLR, VV with either 210M or BR2.
Out of the shelf bullets...with out worrying about COAL tools....
Sierra 175gr SMK loaded to mag length.
Then make sure your rifle is solid with respect to the scope, rings, and mounts.
I loaded very good ammo on RCBS Jr for a lot of years, and then went to Redding T7.
The Forster CoAx is a great press, and it will load excellent ammo as will the Rockchucker....Hell if buying new get the Rockchucker and buy a competition seater die with the left over, as there is about a C Note difference in price.
Tis a poor carpenter that blames his tools. The reloader being vigilant is the best way to reload excellent ammo in any caliber.
So many newer reloader think they need to reinvent the wheel.
Then introduce so many variables into a straight forward equation. Buy good dies to start Redding Deluxe set with carbide expander ball will get 0.5MOA with no trouble.
Get good brass ie WW with match prep or Lapua out of the box.
Use known powder combos ie RL 15, N140/N540, IMR 4895/4064, Varget.
Get the right primer for each powder iet RL15 Fed 210M, Varget and BR2, IMR powders with WLR, VV with either 210M or BR2.
Out of the shelf bullets...with out worrying about COAL tools....
Sierra 175gr SMK loaded to mag length.
Then make sure your rifle is solid with respect to the scope, rings, and mounts.
I loaded very good ammo on RCBS Jr for a lot of years, and then went to Redding T7.
The Forster CoAx is a great press, and it will load excellent ammo as will the Rockchucker....Hell if buying new get the Rockchucker and buy a competition seater die with the left over, as there is about a C Note difference in price.
Re: press
Agree 100% with Plinker.
Throw in dies and components and this will get you started
Special 5 kit
Or....For the next step up
Rockchucker Kit
If your just starting to reload, single stage would be an easier way to go.
Only things I would add to the above is a dial caliper and case trimmer.
Agree 100% with Plinker.
Throw in dies and components and this will get you started
Special 5 kit
Or....For the next step up
Rockchucker Kit
If your just starting to reload, single stage would be an easier way to go.
Only things I would add to the above is a dial caliper and case trimmer.
Re: press
Rockchucker is a great press, but not my choice these days.
Look at a 550 Dillon and you will have all the accuracy and 3-4x the amount of ammunition in the same amount of bench time.
Mike
Rockchucker is a great press, but not my choice these days.
Look at a 550 Dillon and you will have all the accuracy and 3-4x the amount of ammunition in the same amount of bench time.
Mike
Re: press
I guess you can figure out by now it all depends on what you want, volume, accuracy, versatility. Personally I want versatility and accuracy as long range is the name of the game for me. Insofar as I know you cannot have all three.
I am not aware of any long range shooter or bench rest shooter that produces outstanding scores with a semi auto type press.
I just got a friend set up with a RCBS MK 4 and I can find no fault with it. The Redding would also be excellent.
Most of the best long range shooters I know use L.E. Wilson tools and a arbor press (mine is a Dake Y Model for assembling long range ammo.
There is far more to long range shooting that just getting reloading tooling and basically it starts with the rifle properly fitted it. You might get Hinnants book on Precision Rifle Barrel Fitting to find out what this entails. You can assemble the finest ammo going but if you run it in a rifle that is not assembled with ultimate accuracy in mind you will not have a winning combo. Kind of like putting a 50/50 mix of diesel fuel in a grand national car. It my run but won't run with the big boys.
I guess you can figure out by now it all depends on what you want, volume, accuracy, versatility. Personally I want versatility and accuracy as long range is the name of the game for me. Insofar as I know you cannot have all three.
I am not aware of any long range shooter or bench rest shooter that produces outstanding scores with a semi auto type press.
I just got a friend set up with a RCBS MK 4 and I can find no fault with it. The Redding would also be excellent.
Most of the best long range shooters I know use L.E. Wilson tools and a arbor press (mine is a Dake Y Model for assembling long range ammo.
There is far more to long range shooting that just getting reloading tooling and basically it starts with the rifle properly fitted it. You might get Hinnants book on Precision Rifle Barrel Fitting to find out what this entails. You can assemble the finest ammo going but if you run it in a rifle that is not assembled with ultimate accuracy in mind you will not have a winning combo. Kind of like putting a 50/50 mix of diesel fuel in a grand national car. It my run but won't run with the big boys.
Re: press
Old RockChuckers are great, but the new one are hit and miss. They are made in China now. Some are ok, some are trash.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1081048&#Post1089492
The Co-Ax is the best press going IMO.
Old RockChuckers are great, but the new one are hit and miss. They are made in China now. Some are ok, some are trash.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1081048&#Post1089492
The Co-Ax is the best press going IMO.
Re: press
Co-Ax hands downs.
i've tested more expensive presses and the Co-Ax is still the best in terms of uniformity for the buck. my Co-Ax is over 20 years old, and still delivers .001-.003 runout with good brass and comp seater.
Co-Ax hands downs.
i've tested more expensive presses and the Co-Ax is still the best in terms of uniformity for the buck. my Co-Ax is over 20 years old, and still delivers .001-.003 runout with good brass and comp seater.
Re: press
A Redding <span style="font-style: italic">Boss</span> is the right size for .308. The shorter ram travel and handle throw is less wearing for the reloader. Redding and Forster are of similar quality but different design.
A Redding <span style="font-style: italic">Boss</span> is the right size for .308. The shorter ram travel and handle throw is less wearing for the reloader. Redding and Forster are of similar quality but different design.
Re: press
well i guess we will be the odd ball,we use a hornady lock n load,leave the bushings on the dies once you get it set up and thats it.if you get a new rifle or caliber just buy a set of bushings with the dies.takes all of a few seconds to swap your dies once set up.plus these are very inexpensive.this is just an opinion and not bashing any of the others.
well i guess we will be the odd ball,we use a hornady lock n load,leave the bushings on the dies once you get it set up and thats it.if you get a new rifle or caliber just buy a set of bushings with the dies.takes all of a few seconds to swap your dies once set up.plus these are very inexpensive.this is just an opinion and not bashing any of the others.
Re: best press for loading .308
I would go with the Rock Chucker. You can find them on Gunbroker or Ebay very reasonable. Go for the older version (RC or RCII). If you can't find the older Rockchucker get the CO AX. I have an RCII been loading off and on for 20+ years, bought a new RCIV for a second and got rid of it. The new ones aren't worth buying. Just my 0.02. Hope this helps.
LBH
I would go with the Rock Chucker. You can find them on Gunbroker or Ebay very reasonable. Go for the older version (RC or RCII). If you can't find the older Rockchucker get the CO AX. I have an RCII been loading off and on for 20+ years, bought a new RCIV for a second and got rid of it. The new ones aren't worth buying. Just my 0.02. Hope this helps.
LBH
