New to reloading need advise on equipment

[new308handloader]

I have not started reloading yet, but will in the near future. I have researched reloading equipment on-line so I know just a little bit about it but I have zero hands-on experience....before I purchase I wanted to ask the opinions of the experienced reloaders in this forum about the equipment list I have come up with (see below).....I know it is not top-of-the-line equipment, but does the list contain everything I will need to get started? Is there anything in the list that is complete junk? If so, please offer an alternate. I have an FN PBR .308 20" barrel w/ 4 grove right turn 1 in 12 twist topped with a NightForce NSX 5.5 x 22 x50mm. Uses are casual benchrest or tactical if need be. Best factory ammo is Hornady TAP FPD 168 which leaves my 20 " barrel at 2630 fps and want to develop a load that also uses the 168 or 155 A-MAX with Varget powder. I will be reloading for accuracy only, will only be reloading .308, approx 1000 rounds per year, only using brass fired from my rifle, and will be neck sizing only. Any help would be greatly appriciated before I make such a big purchase.

All from MidWay
• Lee Classic Cast Press - $79.99
• Lee Collet 2-Die Neck Sizer Set 308 Winchester - $24.99
• Hornady Lock N Load bushing conversion kit - $14.99
• HORNADY LOCK-N-LOAD DIE BUSHING, 3 PACK - $15.99
• Lee Auto Prime Hand Priming Tool - $13.69
• Satern Powder Funnel 30 Caliber Aluminum and Brass - $11.29
• Loadbooks USA "308 Winchester" Reloading Manual - $5.49
• RCBS Model 502 Magnetic Powder Scale 505 Grain Capacity - $71.99
• RCBS Powder Trickler - $11.49
• RCBS Dial Caliper 6" Stainless Steel - $50.99
• Frankford Arsenal Perfect Fit Reloading Tray #5 308 Winchester 50-Round Blue - $7.19
• Lyman Turbo 600 Case Tumbler 110 Volt - $52.99
• Lyman Turbo Brass Cleaning Media Treated Corn Cob 6 lb "Easy Pour Container" - $14.29
• Lee Case Trimmer Cutter with Ball Grip - $5.89
• Lee Case Trimmer Cutter and Lock Stud - $4.99
• Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder .308 Win - $4.49
• Hornady Chamfer and Deburring Tool - $16.99
• Lee Primer Pocket Cleaner - $2.09
• Possum Hollow Deluxe Flash Hole Deburring Tool - $12.29
• Redding Primer Pocket Uniformer Tool Large - $27.49
• Lyman Flash Hole Cleaner - $7.29
• CED Millennium Chronograph $ ShootingLab 4 ballistics program - $260.00
• (4) MTM Flip-Top Ammo Box 220 Swift, 243 Winchester, 308 Winchester 50-Round Plastic Green - $3.67/each

[oneounceload]

IMO, you need a press, dies, scale, manual, caliper, inertia bullet puller as an absolute minimum......some of the presses come in "kits" which will have your scale, powder trickler, etc......usually the bundles are cheaper than buying everything individually......

[eka]

I don't see anything that jumps out at me as an absolute don't buy. I will say that the Lee Classic Cast is probably the best thing going for the money right now. You won't be disappointed with that purchase. I didn't see a powder measure on your list. Now, I know you are loading rifle ammo and the extruded powder don't always meter consistently. But, they do speed you up a lot when set to throw just a tad over your intended charge. I then use a pencil and tap out a grain or few to trickle down if you will. This gets me close and with a little practice you will amaze yourself at how good and quick you get at putting it right on the money this way. But, I use a digital scale for this and I don't know how well it would work with a beam scale. Just a thought as to what I have found that works for me, even if it's something you don't get around to until later. Might throw in a loading manual while you're at it too.

Keith

[NuJudge]

You may be able to scrounge certain things such as presses at very attractive prices. Two people have given me presses in the past month. Look on Craigs List and other such.

Get more than one loading block. You will probably load in increments of several hundred cartridges.

Get a full loading manual, not just excerpts. A good one will have trajectory and other reference information that will make you a much more knowledgeable loader and shooter. I've always liked the Lyman manuals, but if you like Hornady ammo, you will probably gravitate towards their bullets, so get a Hornady manual. The Federal Gold Medal uses Sierra bullets, and if you have tried them and still prefer Hornady, especially buy the Hornady manual.

Go by a pet supply store and get media for your tumbler. You'll find it as 'Lizard Litter.' I like ground Walnut hulls, but some people like ground Corn Cob. Get stuff that is slightly larger than your flash holes. Get additives for the media from some place such as Midway. Make sure it does not have Ammonia in it.

[cycloneman]

I agree with oneonce, I would look at one of the lee starter kits. Looking at your list and there r somethings you need to change. For ex the case trimmer, you only need one, eigther get the one with the ball or the standard one. Standard one works fine.

you will need a shell holder for your auto prime.

Your shooting an auto loader right? Dont size the neck. Use regular dies and purchase a factory crimp die if you want. I perfer the factory crimp.
I just use my seating die to seat the bullet then crimp with the factory crimp die. You don't have to do this you can just use the standard dies and crimp with that but it's a different type of crimp.

really all you need to clean the primer pockt is the Lee tool. Put it on a drill and go to town. You really dont need the other stuff. I haven't

You will want dry, fine media to run your brass after you ran it in the treated stuff. At some point you will need a bottle of FLUTZ to rejuvinate your treated media

You need case lub. Hornady spray stuff, one shot

I would get on the lee site and check it out. there is also help videos to look at. From there price your equiptment aganist midway. you may come out ahead. I purchase direct from lee, never a problem and shipping is like 4.00, it may be a tad more if you order any significant weight.

getting back to the dies, check with lee because I am sure there is an explanation of the dies and why your not to resize the neck for autoloaders. I also may have this wrong so someone correct me if so.
I thought this was only for 1 particular rifle and only 1 you could use this for.
I dont worry about it becasue I never know what I am going to shoot in what.

[new308handloader]

Thanks guys......I will add a bullet puller, more reloading blocks, and a full manual.
Judge....Is that a joke about the lizzard litter or can you really use it? Is it walnut?

[new308handloader]

Thanks Cycloneman. I should have clairified, it is a bolt gun...in this case neck sizing only is OK? On the two type of media the 1st used should be Walnut then the corncob stuff?

[cycloneman]

Hay let us know how you do. Be friendly, we like this stuff too.

Hornady sst's are pretty good too. And you could hunt with them if you ever choose. Primers may be hard to find at midway so if you need some suppliers just ask. Or check out the thread "whats the deal with midway" for some links.

be safe

[new308handloader]

Cycloneman, I definately will. Thanks again for your help and advise. Now got to figure out how to tell the wife I need $1000 for reloading equipment! If there is not a thread on "how to get the wife to say yes" then there should be.

[artabr]

For loading blocks.
Here's a hint, use the plastic trays from 50 round .45acp pistol ammo boxes. They work perfect for cases up to .30-06. They work great for .308 cases. Check the trash cans next time y'all go to the range.


Art

[RustyFN]

Originally Posted by new308handloader

Thanks guys......I will add a bullet puller, more reloading blocks, and a full manual.
Judge....Is that a joke about the lizzard litter or can you really use it? Is it walnut?

Yes it's walnut. I buy it at the pet store. I add Nu Finish car polish and a paper towel cut into ten pieces. The polish will help clean and keep the dust down and the paper towel will help keep the media clean.
Rusty

[312shooter]

IMHO - I can't see spending all that on a chronograph and ballistics software. Many a MOA shooters have never passed a round through one, after all isn't the heartbeat of your reloading the press? Thats were I'd spend some more money and nix the chrony until you are into reloading a while, also check around for dial calipers they sell really great ones for $25 or so - RCBS is one of my fav's but a caliper doesn't need to cost $50 or more! Anyways welcome to the forum and prepare for a great learning experience here!

[new308handloader]

Thanks RustyFN and 312Shooter........I think I have been bitten by the bug and I am excited to get started. Everyone has been so helpful to the "new guy". Attached is a pic of my rifle and another of two 5-shot groups at 100yd using the Hornady TAP FPD 168g. Same thing happened on both groups, 1st shot right on 1/2" high and the next 4 almost in one hole. I"m hoping reloading might tighten the groups up even more.

[312shooter]

She's a beauty especially with those groups! Now you've got me excited to finish up my remmy 700 tactical build I've workin on.......the scope makes me grin

[new308handloader]

yea, it sure is alot of scope on that rifle....it is big and heavy and it hurt when pulling out the billfold to pay for it, but it's a tank and the optics are crystal clear. What are you building your 700 up with?

[312shooter]

I've started with a sps tactical and decided to go with the bell and carlson
A5 stock to replace the "budget" hogue that comes from the factory. Put a Badger ord. picatinny base and am seriously stuck on optics right now I just can't make up my mind!

[new308handloader]

312Shooter - Of course I am biased now that I have one, but you should check out the NightForce NSX series. Read the reviews on them and you will be surprised how how many Leupold user switched....Personaly I can tell you the optics and construction are top of the line....they say you can hammer a nail into a 2x4 with one...I won't be tring that soon but nice to know I could if I had to!

[gdmoody]

new308handloader, I don't know if you have placed your order with midway yet. If you haven't, you might want to check Graf & Sons website. They will have many of the same items as midway, probably at a slightly higher price, but THEY will pay the shipping. They do charge a small handling charge but you can really save money on the shipping.

[new308handloader]

Originally Posted by gdmoody

new308handloader, I don't know if you have placed your order with midway yet. If you haven't, you might want to check Graf & Sons website. They will have many of the same items as midway, probably at a slightly higher price, but THEY will pay the shipping. They do charge a small handling charge but you can really save money on the shipping.

Thanks...I have not placed my order yet. I will take you advice....I was reading in the "What's up with Midway" post and saw that there have been issues lately with Midway. Thanks again.

[sendit308]

Welcome new308handloader, I have tested several powder and bullet combinations in my rem sps tactical (20" bbl) with an H-S precision stock. The loads I have tested have been chroned with detailed range notes. The best load for my rifle is 46gr varget, 168gr smk bthp or 168gr hornady bthp with hornady match brass and cci 200 lr primers. Working up a load or experimenting for your rifle is half the fun in reloading. Alot of my success has come from others giving great advice. I would reccogmend you continue to ask questions no matter how silly they may seem and maintain detailed reloading and range records. In regards to your instant message, I don't know what components it takes to replicate a hornady TAP FPD 168gr round, however you will find you will be able to work up a load that will shot tighter groups than the TAP FPD ammo.

[sendit308]

By the way I'm not knocking your group's, those are great.

[new308handloader]

Originally Posted by sendit308

Welcome new308handloader, I have tested several powder and bullet combinations in my rem sps tactical (20" bbl) with an H-S precision stock. The loads I have tested have been chroned with detailed range notes. The best load for my rifle is 46gr varget, 168gr smk bthp or 168gr hornady bthp with hornady match brass and cci 200 lr primers. Working up a load or experimenting for your rifle is half the fun in reloading. Alot of my success has come from others giving great advice. I would reccogmend you continue to ask questions no matter how silly they may seem and maintain detailed reloading and range records. In regards to your instant message, I don't know what components it takes to replicate a hornady TAP FPD 168gr round, however you will find you will be able to work up a load that will shot tighter groups than the TAP FPD ammo.

Thanks....I just got my new equipment.....and already have some silly questions. getting ready to post a new thread to ask.

[flannelman]

Great thread. I'm looking into reloading myself and this helped out a lot. Thanks!