OT--reloading advice

[robertyb]

Fairly easy to load one at a time with a hand lee loader.

They make kits for all cartridges .

You got that right. I have loaded a ton of ammo with my Lee loader while on the couch watching TV at the same time.

[amythntr]

.....DJ....some of us actually took a full blown University program and even hold a degree....not to brag but I am a graduate of YouTube University....I took as many courses that I felt was necessary with as many professors as I could....their on-line only courses were great....you can go as far as desire....

....since you are only looking to reload just one caliber I would look for a single stage press as your choice of press. Just about every manufacturer makes them; Lee's, RCBS, Redding, Dillon and Hornady to name a few.....

....there are a bunch or things you will need to accomplish what you want to do and that is "handloading" a .308 Rifle cartridge...
again the best way to learn is to ask someone questions or better yet find someone who does it and ask if you can sit in on a reloading session....

.... I would gladly assist you but I do NOT reload rifle cartridges ....my assistance would be more in the general realm....
.... I also have a bunch of equipment that I used initially but then moved up to the current Redding Turret Press.
....I reload only for pistol; 9mm, 38/357, 40 and 45's

.....Now for the bad news....as you have found out, ammo, if you can find it is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE....well, buying components is no different.
.....primers are very difficult to find, bullets have in some cases tripled in price, powder also is no Bargain, if you can find what you are looking for....and brass is no different.....my suggestion is just BUY, when you can find it, it is only bound to get worse....

.....I am very fortunate in that I have accumulated enough components that I do not have to worry for the rest of my life and probably for my boys lives...I was buying components when it allowed me to reload for anywhere between $7.00/50----to $12.00/50......and this has been only over the last 5 years.....the days of cheap ammo are gone.....buy when you can find ammo or components.....

....again, PM me for any assistance and good luck, it is truly a rewarding pastime!

[Deaf jeff]

Jeff, I don't shoot my .308 that much anymore, and for some reason I don't hunt much with it. I will start saving my brass when I do shoot, and zip it up to you. Right now stuff is hard to find according to my buddy, also named Jeff, but now that the election is behind us sort of, i think it will get better before it gets worse. I'm not seeing the ridiculous lines at the guns shops by me now.

Good Luck, and I can't wait to hear how it's going.

Dan, thanks for the offer but there wont be a need for that. im only doing this in small quantity so i am able to have my ammo when i need it. several of my family members also shoot 308 so i should have all the brass i need. i dont shoot a ton and since the brass can be loaded several times, 3-4 boxes(thats about all i average per year) of brass will last me a few years.
maybe the reason you dont see line ups anymore its cuz the stores have little if any of the popular ammo in stock, at least that is the case up here. trying to order online the sits are saying 2-4 month wait and most are not even accepting backorders for it

[janesy]

If your only doing small batch for hunting. Look into a LEE Loader. You don't even need a bench.

[xcaliber]

Jeff, I don't shoot my .308 that much anymore, and for some reason I don't hunt much with it. I will start saving my brass when I do shoot, and zip it up to you. Right now stuff is hard to find according to my buddy, also named Jeff, but now that the election is behind us sort of, i think it will get better before it gets worse. I'm not seeing the ridiculous lines at the guns shops by me now.

Good Luck, and I can't wait to hear how it's going.

Dan, thanks for the offer but there wont be a need for that. im only doing this in small quantity so i am able to have my ammo when i need it. several of my family members also shoot 308 so i should have all the brass i need. i dont shoot a ton and since the brass can be loaded several times, 3-4 boxes(thats about all i average per year) of brass will last me a few years.
maybe the reason you dont see line ups anymore its cuz the stores have little if any of the popular ammo in stock, at least that is the case up here. trying to order online the sits are saying 2-4 month wait and most are not even accepting backorders for it

Okay, sounds like you're set. I had to get some .44 magnum for the Scout Rifle, and used that junk for fun, it was just okay stuff, but cost more than my usual. I kept the good stuff for the season, but now won't need it this year.

[amythntr]

If your only doing small batch for hunting. Look into a LEE Loader. You don't even need a bench.

......YEP....I have that if someone is looking for it....this was part of what I bought when I was just beginning!

https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-hand-press.html

[Deaf jeff]

If your only doing small batch for hunting. Look into a LEE Loader. You don't even need a bench.

chris,
lee is whqat i looked at first, it was automatic since many years ago i loaded shotgun shells with a lee loader but all theirpress kits are on backorder, i have sent an email in hopes of finding out how long the backorder is expected. from an initial cost standpoint this company looks to be the better choice from what i have seen so far

[Deaf jeff]

.....DJ....some of us actually took a full blown University program and even hold a degree....not to brag but I am a graduate of YouTube University....I took as many courses that I felt was necessary with as many professors as I could....their on-line only courses were great....you can go as far as desire....

....since you are only looking to reload just one caliber I would look for a single stage press as your choice of press. Just about every manufacturer makes them; Lee's, RCBS, Redding, Dillon and Hornady to name a few.....

....there are a bunch or things you will need to accomplish what you want to do and that is "handloading" a .308 Rifle cartridge...
again the best way to learn is to ask someone questions or better yet find someone who does it and ask if you can sit in on a reloading session....

.... I would gladly assist you but I do NOT reload rifle cartridges ....my assistance would be more in the general realm....
.... I also have a bunch of equipment that I used initially but then moved up to the current Redding Turret Press.
....I reload only for pistol; 9mm, 38/357, 40 and 45's

.....Now for the bad news....as you have found out, ammo, if you can find it is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE....well, buying components is no different.
.....primers are very difficult to find, bullets have in some cases tripled in price, powder also is no Bargain, if you can find what you are looking for....and brass is no different.....my suggestion is just BUY, when you can find it, it is only bound to get worse....

.....I am very fortunate in that I have accumulated enough components that I do not have to worry for the rest of my life and probably for my boys lives...I was buying components when it allowed me to reload for anywhere between $7.00/50----to $12.00/50......and this has been only over the last 5 years.....the days of cheap ammo are gone.....buy when you can find ammo or components.....

....again, PM me for any assistance and good luck, it is truly a rewarding pastime!

anthony thanks for your input. this beginner on rifle reloading will take all the advice i can get. will check out you tube

[Hi5]

The advice you received was all good. A lot depends on where you prioritize. If limited space is a really big concern, you should consider the Lee Hand Tool. I have the RCBS Rockchucker and it is a strong and dependable unit. It'll handle virtually ANY common round. The thing is, for a 308 you shouldn't need that much heavy metal.

I like to sit and watch TV while I do SOME of the reloading functions. The Lee hand press is so light and versatile I can get away with it. I've reloaded my 378 Weatherby down to 17 Remington on that Lee hand press, full length resizing. Now, if the brass was stretched that wouldn't work. However, for me reloading rounds fired in my own rifle was no problem. It should be the same for you if you are resizing only 308 rounds fired in your own rifle.

I don't know about current manufacture, but Lee wasn't cheap crap, just simple, economy priced stuff.

[Riflemanz]

One tip for you, I always liked using spray lube on the cases. Much easier than the lube tray. JMO

[amythntr]

One tip for you, I always liked using spray lube on the cases. Much easier than the lube tray. JMO

That is unless you have carbide dies which eliminates the case lubing...however, the carbide dies are more expensive than the non-carbide.

[flightattendant100]

One tip for you, I always liked using spray lube on the cases. Much easier than the lube tray. JMO

That is unless you have carbide dies which eliminates the case lubing...however, the carbide dies are more expensive than the non-carbide.

And carbide dies for a bottlenecked rifle cartridge are cost prohibitive!! Yikes!!