New to .308 Reloading

[Hooglebot]

G'Day all,

Just after some starting out tips for reloading .308 for Bolt Action. I have been reloading for handgun for a while now, but am new to rifle reloading. I was just after some advice on what dies I will need and, at the risk of starting an argument, what brand. As I am loading for a bolt gun, I'm intending to Neck Size only.

I am familiar with the process and dies needed for handgun loading (1. Size/De-Prime, 2. Prime, 3. Expand, 4. Seat, 5. Crimp)... I have heard that a crimp is not required for loading .308 for a bolt gun? My question on this is, surely some small amount of crimp would be required in order to remove the expanded case mouth after seating???

Cheers for any advice you can offer this Greenhorn

 

[kansas]

First of all are you going to be shooting 100 yards or 1000 yards? I loaded for hunting a punching paper out to 300 yards but it wasn't until I started shooting to 1000 yards that I really learned how to reload for accuracy. If you need the most accurate round then I'd try to come up with some Lapua brass, a Redding competition bullet seating die, Redding shoulder bump die and a Lee collet die for sizing the neck on your brass. If you are hunting deer sized animals with shots under 300 yards then about any commercial set of dies will do the job.

 

[FLIGHT762]

I have heard that a crimp is not required for loading .308 for a bolt gun? My question on this is, surely some small amount of crimp would be required in order to remove the expanded case mouth after seating???

Cheers for any advice you can offer this Greenhorn

No, bottle neck rifle cartridge dies DO NOT expand or bell the case mouth like the dies do in straight wall pistol cartridges. So, If you want to put a crimp on your bottle neck rifle reloads, you can but, 95% of the time, I DO NOT crimp my rifle reloads.

 

[Hooglebot]

Thanks Guys,

I have just been reading Barney88PDC's post "Hand Loading for Precision Rifle"... Have found the info in there very helpful.

Cheers again

 

[FirefighterCT]

One thing to note... "Neck sizing only" is ideal for a bolt gun when you're resizing brass that has been fired in your bolt gun. You should still be able to full length size brass that is either new or has been fired in a rifle other than your own.

I use the Forster die which allows you to do both... full length size and neck size.

Have an extra one on hand, it's brand new, if interested click: http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...28-forster-005591-sizer-308win-brand-new.html

 

[Hooglebot]

Thanks FirefighterCT, I will keep it in mind. I am still a couple of weeks away from picking up the new rifle

Cheers from a fellow Firefighter

 

[Sweetyzfd]

Chamfer the inside of the neck or you'll end up with lighter bullets. Learned that he hard way

 

[JGorski]

I'd get Hornadys "Custom" full length bushing die, I have it and the neck sizing custom bushing die, they both bump the shoulder so I really didnt need the neck sizing only die, but I have it anyways. Then you can buy the seater separately. As far as bushing sizes, get a .331" for Win brass, and a .334" for Lapua, Fed and Rem brass, and get the coated bushings so you wont have to lube the necks.
Hornady Match Grade New Dimension Bushing Full Length Sizer Die 308
Forster Bench Rest Seater Die 308 Winchester