Which setup is practical for me?

[Elxx]

I'm burning through rounds fast and I'm going to have to start reloading to keep the costs down. I've read the reloading 101 thread, googled some articles and watched a few videos on youtube to try and get a grasp of why there are so many different opinions and costs related to reloading.

I want to reload for my .308. As of right now, I want cheap ammo over "match" ammo. I'm still so green to shooting that it would be a waste of my time and money to get a "perfect" load. So my 3 questions are, Lee auto-index turret or single press? Dies from which company? And what would be the cheapest powder/primer/case/bullets thats reasonable? (I can hit the price filter on midwayusa like anyone else, what I would like to know if there is something I REALLY shouldn't skimp on).

Right now I shoot a 100 rounds/week and I'd like to get that up to 250 or so.

 

[bohem]

Re: Which setup is practical for me?

The RCBS kit with the Rockchucker has everything you need in it except for a case trimmer. I started with that, it's not as good of a press as a Co-Ax supposedly, but I'm the second owner of mine, and with over 10,000 rounds on mine from just me, it shows no signs of quitting or loading poor quality ammo.

I'd look at the Lee Collet dies for a die set, and I'm assuming you're shooting a bolt action, and so you should start neck sizing only for the brass you're firing from your rifle.

If the brass was last fired in a different rifle you need to FL size it first.

I have a 50 cal ammo can full of surplus 147gr FMJBT bullets that I plink with in my 30-06. If you're not shooting up to the max capability of the ammo/rifle because of your skill set I don't see a reason you need to be throwing Scenars down the range just yet.

In 308 you can shoot lots and lots of different powders, maybe get lucky to find some WC844 or WC846, that's surplus powder. It shoots fine in a 308, and it's consistent enough to know when you're screwing up the trigger control.

Wolf primers are actually really good quality in my experience and they happen to be the cheapest.

I think Wideners has the primers and surplus bullets in stock. You can also look at Pats Reloading.

Grafs has the best prices I've yet to see on reloading kits and supplies.

 

[ReaperDriver]

Re: Which setup is practical for me?

I'm assuming that if you're wanting to go up to 250 rounds/week and you're shooting cheap stuff - most likely you're NOT shooting a bolt gun.

Before you decide on a reloading setup - 1st decide on what your primary goal is and what your budget is for the initial investment. If you have the $$ and you want quantity over quality - I'd go with a Dillon or other progressive system. Cranking out even 100 rounds on a single stage or turret press is tedious and time consuming. I takes me about 4-5 hours to produce 100 match quality rounds when you figure in brass prep and everything. Even with my RCBS chargemaster dropping charges as fast as I can seat bullets.... about the best I can do is a hair over a minute a round. I can't imagine churning out 250/week on a Rock chucker. I guess if you have nothing better to do....

But a progressive will allow you to spend more time shooting than reloading, because IMHO - 250/week is a lot. If later down the line - you want to get into precision shooting - its easy and cheap to add a single stage press.

So for me, time is money - and if I were doing what you're doing, I would pay the extra for the progressive.

 

[Elxx]

Re: Which setup is practical for me?

Bohem and Reaper. thanks for the response; exactly the answers I was looking for.

I will be adding an AR in a .223 soon so for now I won't hit 250 with my bolt...but I sure as hell will a month or 2 down the road. =)

 

[Winchester 69]

Re: Which setup is practical for me?

Sounds like a candidate for a Dillon 550B fitted with a Hornady powder measure. Redding Match die set for the bolt gun; Forster Benchrest die set for the AR.

The Lee primer pocket cleaner is without peer, unless you choose to uniform the pockets.

Imperial sizing wax.

 

[nicholst55]

Re: Which setup is practical for me?

I wouldn't rule out the Dillon 550 for producing match-quality ammo. A lot of competitors load on a Dillon, and I do too. If I were loading for a benchrest match, no; for a high power match, yes - at least for 'short-range' ammo (out to 300 yards). For 600 and beyond, I normally load on my Rockchucker.

There are some quirks associated with loading on a Dillon; their powder measures are notoriously less-than-precise, and the shell plate flexes on the 550 so make your die adjustments with brass in all stations. Dillon sells adapter kits so that you can use other manufacturer's powder measures on their machines - probably a worthwhile investment.

 

[Winchester 69]

Re: Which setup is practical for me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nicholst55</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dillon sells adapter kits so that you can use other manufacturer's powder measures on their machines,,,, </div></div>
The Hornady case-activated powder drop screws directly into the shell plate without any adaptor and permits quick changeover. A separate lower unit is used for each shell plate. Much less expensive than Dillon's setup.

A Hornady AP press will also work, but has auto-indexing, making it less suitable for single-stage loading. If a separate single-stage press were available, the auto-indexing may be preferred. The Hornady AP requires no more than changing dies with their LnL feature, and changing powder (powder drain insert available) and micrometer setting for the powder measure.