Hi all I currently have a .308 tikka and I’m keen to get into reloading, I’ve heard that kits can be quite good but thought I’d ask the experts on there opinions.
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Hi all I currently have a .308 tikka and I’m keen to get into reloading, I’ve heard that kits can be quite good but thought I’d ask the experts on there opinions.
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Get the rcbs one.
Better are they?
Is it reloading supplies that do them?
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Google is your friend. The kit in the rcbs package is good solid gear that will see you right for years.IMO. the hornady comparitors are a good investment.
The Lee stuff is pretty good for the price too.
Or do what I did and hunt through TM and on here for the individual items your after
Is it worth getting a digital scale?
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The cheap ones are not a suitable replacement for a decent balance beam scale imo, as they tend to drift a fair bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by SamRoche
this ^^^^^Quote:
Originally Posted by Pommy
It's a bad rabbit hole to fall down but satisfying when it all comes together good luck and happy reloading
I've not long put on the forum buy N Sell a Lyman orange crusher press in good condition as well as some dies & assorted shells etcQuote:
Originally Posted by SamRoche
Have a look & see what you might need.
Phil.
Plenty of used gear about.
Get a decent "0" press.
Get decent beam balance.
Lee RGB dies are all you need. (FLS and bullet seating)
The rest, buy as required and DIY.
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....g-tools-98589/
Oh, and start searching for reasoably priced components now. Might take a while.
This might help.
Greetings @SamRoche,Quote:
Originally Posted by SamRoche
Before you buy anything find someone to mentor you in the process. They will be happy for you to start on their kit while you sort out what you actually need. The .308 is one of the easiest cartridges on the planet but it is a long road to managing the basics without a mentor.
Regards Grandpamac.
And just to add to the above, it all depends on if you want to go cheap or you have the funds to buy good gear.
You can get by on cheap stuff but if you are fussy and don't mind spending extra you will enjoy the experience so much more with good gear.
As GPM says try someone elses set up first.
Good luck
Depending on your budget and how far you want to get into it you could even start with a lee loader and some scales. You'll still make perfectly fine ammo and if it turns out it not your thing you haven't outlayed a lot of money yet. That's how I started and still use one from time to time..
As someone who is well into the rabbit hole, I strongly second the advice of Grandpamac and 7mm Rem Mag above. I learnt from a mentor before I started doing it myself. It cost me a bottle of Glenfiddich but if I had to put a number to the dollar value of the teaching I would estimate somewhere north of 1k.
Ask here and someone local to you will probably put up their hand to offer some help, if you take up such an offer, you will do well to reciprocate with a solid gesture of appreciation. Knowing what gear to buy is far easier once you have actually used some of the tools and you have an overall understanding of the process.
If you want to set up your own bench, ultimately best value for money will probably be buying a kit off someone who went down the rabbit hole before you and then very soon after had life changes that precludes time to do reloading, like relationship or kids or both.
It has been known to happen, so again ask in Buy Sell Swap and someone might put their hand up.
If you want to do reloading on the cheap without it taking up too much space, one way would be to just have a good set of scales, a hand press and seater die and vernier calipers. Find a tame reloader who is local to you and do the major brass prep in bulk at their bench every so often so you have a good supply of clean resized and correct length brass.
Seat primers, load powder and seat projectiles at your own home as and when you want to. This method may seem like it involves a larger investment in brass than what has previously been supposed, but if you set up your own bench, acquisition or investment in a significant amount of brass will be an inevitable outcome anyway.
Last but not least. Balance beam before digital. I run a balance beam and I also have a digital scale on my powder dispenser. Unless I am using the auto dispenser, I prefer the balance beam. Digital may seem less fool proof in the first instance, but overall the balance beam is more stable and as such, more repeatable.
The other awesome thing with the balance beam is , if your like me you get the last 2 digits of your number round the wrong way like I occasionally do, you'll notice straight away when the scales drop down hard with an extra grain of powder in em.
I've got both. And for my long range loads throw a charge just under and trickle up on the digital scales then pop the charge onto the beam scales. Let it settle while I get the next one ready. I think of it as a double check and a bit of fine tuning. The scales are sensitive enough that one or two kernels of 2213 will upset it.
Probably a bit overkill but I'm only doing that for the long range load.
I don't think it adds any time and it puts my mind at ease.
The bush gun gets the digital scales only and the thrown charge trickled up with a few checks on the beam scales to double check myself as I go.
I run a similar protocol, when developing loads I use the balance beam, when making up a batch I use the dispenser and check weigh the first five and then every 5th load on the balance beam.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackfern
Buy green as in Redding t7 and learn about annealing. Forget about the fancy equipment. A drill will be sufficient.
Fucking rabbit hole!
Got the bugger going by the end of the day.
Don't try operating this machine pissed or stoned!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3875ee58dc.jpg
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I have fallen headfirst down the rabbit hole and it’s an endless pit, if you’re not careful.
I would look at it like this- I figure I’ll be shooting for the rest of my life so reloading is naturally a part of that (plus it’s enjoyable and oddly calming), I’d rather buy once/ cry once and then you’ve got it forever, so I would get good gear to save on doubling up etc. but for me the investment was worth it.
Have to figure out are you chasing 1moa which is respectable and perfect for hunting, or chasing 0.25moa and wanting to make tiny holes at 1000m.
As said before you want a good mentor cause that knowledge is priceless. YouTube is also your friend and check out Eric Cortina, F Class John, Primal Rights, Ultimate Reloader etc. but just my 2cents
right..I will fly in opposite direction to normal flow here.
buy components and go load at someone elses place TO BEGIN WITH....
that ticks three boxes,get the mentor learning done.... get to work out a load under supervision..decide if you want to continue down the rabbit hole.
PERSONALLY I am more than happy with LEE gear except for the crappy toothpaste like case jammy,non lubing lube.....
agree .308 is really simple to load good hunting loads for....its harder to get it wrong than right IF you have realistic expectations.
I dont know if Im more scared or impressed to see a gas torch on bench during the get it going process...Quote:
Originally Posted by andyanimal31
Buy Nathan Fosters book
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/sho...Reloading.html
While waiting for it to arrive, check this knowledgeable old dude out
https://youtu.be/sXnwM_T9BMg?feature=shared
I just assumed it goes into one of the empty holes on the turret to anneal the cases as they go through the press. That is why the slot almost opposite the powder thrower is empty, it has to be installed at maximum separation from the powder thrower, this is to ensure that loads remain consistent by not having a few grains randomly burnt off occasionally.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Any doubt cast toward the above statement by the apparent lack of a 7/8 thread on the gas torch can be alleviated by the presence of the vice grips and hammer in the photo. These make redundant any need for the correct thread.
I just use mine to clean up the inevitable powder spills that build up on my bench, especially around the pan end of the balance beam scales where the trickler lives and under the powder dropperQuote:
Originally Posted by longshot
Thanks everyone for your advice. I live up north but can go down south over the summer holidays for work and know people who are into the rabbit hole.
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That Mapp gas will melt cases. Tried it until found it destroyed cases in the die.Quote:
Originally Posted by andyanimal31
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting...3-308.6252855/
Look at this first. If you want any help just PM. Pass on my meager knowledge.
Although thats great info, IMHO, WAY too much info for a newbie.Quote:
Originally Posted by TeRei