F/TR Loading Setup - starting from scratch

[radford56]

My question is this: if you were starting from scratch to build the ideal reloading setup for F/TR (.308) competition what would you use? Now, I'm not really starting from scratch - I've reloaded for years, but I've never really concentrated on reloading for extreme accuracy.

I've recently started shooting F/TR and I feel that I need to up my reloading game. I can load ammunition for my current .308 rifle that consistently shoots around .5 MOA at 100/200 yards, but I really feel that I need to be able to routinely shoot around .25 MOA to succeed at F/TR. And yes, I know there's more to success at F/TR than ammunition - being able to call the wind probably being the most important.

But having confidence in my equipment and ammunition means at lot when I get in position to fire a string for record. I'm upgrading from my current rifle to a purpose built F/TR rig and I want to be able to produce ammunition that enables me to get the best out of the rifle (and myself).

I read a good article by Scott Harris on using the Dillon 550 for F-class. There are some great tips in that article, even if you don't use a Dillon. I'm only shooting one match a month at this time, so I'm not necessarily looking for high volume reloading. I just want to be able to turn out the best ammunition I can.

 

[marchboom]

Been reloading for about 45 yrs and one of the best books I've read on reloading is "Metallic Cartridge Handloading, Pursuit of the perfect cartridge" by Mic McPherson. Lots of great info that is not covered in any other books I've read. He covers technique and equipment.

$16.77 at Amazon.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

A harrels press, whidden fl bushing sizing die made off your fired brass, 21st century arbor press, 21st century priming tool and an inline die chambered by your gunsmith with your reamer on a wilson micrometer blank. Build off those basics and youll never feel like you have to upgrade any of that

 

[chromatica]

I started out with Hornady dies. Then I moved to Forster dies - FL, shoulder bump die using collar, ultra Seater die. Forster is one of the few companies willing to customize for your needs. I have an old Bonanza press - there are many who claim that the Bonanza (currently called Co-Ax) makes the most concentric ammo out there.

 

[Tony1320]

I think the biggest improvement I saw was from my fx-120i and autotrickler

A Giraud trimmer is definitely worth the money but its for convenience. I wish I would have bought mine sooner

 

[1shot]

@Dusty,
For the benefit of others as well as myself, what is better about the 21st Century priming tool, as compared to others?
BTW, I have been using an RCBS hand primer for years.
Thanks,

Lloyd

 

[Mozella]

I would agree with the FX-120 scale with Autotrickler. It makes precision charge weight production much less tedious and more precise. I like my Wilson micrometer seating die with a decent arbor press.

If you decide to turn necks, it will be an unpleasant chore and perhaps not all that precise if you try to save a buck, so go with the 21st Century lathe and cutter head. It seems expensive for what it is, but it is a real pleasure to use.

Buy good bullets and brass, Berger and Lapua at least. That might be good enough for high level championships, but it's certainly good enough to kick ass at local club matches.

Spend some time doing good testing and load development. I use On Target software to scan and measure my 100 yard test targets with great precision. I keep track of the test groups with M.S. Excel and add other information like powder type, bullet type, charge weight, seating depth, MV, SD, and so on. I make a unique recipe number for each test batch and each competition batch too and include that data in my Excel spreadsheet.

I also save a "recipe" for each test session using M.S. Word which includes all the important factors, a note about why I made this recipe including a chart if it is a charge weight test or seating test. After I get back from the range, I make notes about the results and add a matrix of the applicable Excel worksheet along with a chart sometimes.

The careful record keeping isn't very time consuming because usually one recipe is a slight change from an earlier one. But now I can compare Varget with RL-16 using various bullets at various charge weights, etc. etc. etc. In other words, I can quickly see which combinations (and there are many of them) work best. Do low SD numbers correlate with small group size? What is the Mean Radius for a particular recipe? Mean Radius is a PITA to calculate manually but On Target software does it automatically and some say it is more meaningful than group size.

On Target software is cheap and I would give up my FX-120 scale before I gave up my On Target software. To me, On Target is one of my most valuable F-class reloading tools.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

@Dusty,
For the benefit of others as well as myself, what is better about the 21st Century priming tool, as compared to others?
BTW, I have been using an RCBS hand primer for years.
Thanks,

Lloyd

Feel. Its solid. Sinclair tool works well too. Any of the solid single load priming tools let you feel the instant the anvil touches the bottom of the pocket. The 21st century has a click adjustable stop. If youve never used this style of priming tool you should give it a try- its a gamechanger and much safer

 

[1shot]

Feel. Its solid. Sinclair tool works well too. Any of the solid single load priming tools let you feel the instant the anvil touches the bottom of the pocket. The 21st century has a click adjustable stop. If youve never used this style of priming tool you should give it a try- its a gamechanger and much safer

Thanks,
I’ll look into them.

 

[JimSC]

A harrels press, whidden fl bushing sizing die made off your fired brass, 21st century arbor press, 21st century priming tool and an inline die chambered by your gunsmith with your reamer on a wilson micrometer blank. Build off those basics and youll never feel like you have to upgrade any of that

Dusty gives some good advice, you are probably at the same point I was 18 months ago

I would add in some good quality measuring tools and a accurate scale be it either a older beam scale such as a Lyman M5 or RCBS 10 -10 or a good electronic scale capable of reading in milligrams or even better a lab grade .0001 gram scale. A good quality chronograph for load development will be needed as the targets get farther out. For less than $200 Pro Chronos are great with the bluetooth Digital Link adapter, I used one for years, Labradar is the new kid on the block but it still has some issues and can be quite finicky when setting it up for use. I have a love/hate relationship with mine. Consistent velocities are a nice to have thing at 300 but you will find at 1000 they are essential

Another great piece of optional equipment that is not reloading equipment would be a good quality .22 rimfire rifle to practice at 200 yards with. If you are like me and most folks your biggest obstacle will be learning wind/mirage reading. A good quality .22 with a good scope capable of dialing in 45 or 50 inches of drop at 200 and some decent ammo is the best way to practice and learn wind in my opinion. I have my loads and equipment tuned that ws the easy part. Now if someone had a pill that would give me world class mirage/wind reading abilities I would be all set

 

[Baer45]

I think the biggest improvement I saw was from my fx-120i and autotrickler

A Giraud trimmer is definitely worth the money but its for convenience. I wish I would have bought mine sooner

 

[Baer45]

I 100% agree!

 

[jsthntn247]

fx-120, auto throw and trickler, Giraud trimmer, some type of annealing machine, 21st century hydro press, Sinclair Wilson micrometer dies. Buy once cry once.

 

[Down South]

fx-120, auto throw and trickler, Giraud trimmer, some type of annealing machine, 21st century hydro press, Sinclair Wilson micrometer dies. Buy once cry once.

+1

 

[radford56]

Thanks for all the replies so far - some very interesting and helpful information.

Maybe this should be a separate thread, but I was particularly interested in the recommendation regarding a .22 rimfire for practice. I have a CMP 40X that I've been thinking about setting up to match my F/TR rifle for practice. I've seen some differences of opinion regarding the utility of a .22 specifically for F/TR practice, but it seems like a great idea to me. I have pretty much unlimited access to a 200 yard range and using a .22 definitely saves on reloading time (even though match grade .22 ammo ain't exactly cheap). I'm definitely considering going that route.

 

[dcali]

The difference between .5 MOA and .25 MOA (which is a high bar for a TR rifle, if you’re talking about agging 5shot groups), is not in reloading gear. It’s in the rifle, high quality components, and the load development process. You have to have a rifle capable of what you want and you have to find the load. Assembling it is the easy part and it doesn’t much matter how anal you get about it, truth be told.

 

[JimSC]

Thanks for all the replies so far - some very interesting and helpful information.

Maybe this should be a separate thread, but I was particularly interested in the recommendation regarding a .22 rimfire for practice. I have a CMP 40X that I've been thinking about setting up to match my F/TR rifle for practice. I've seen some differences of opinion regarding the utility of a .22 specifically for F/TR practice, but it seems like a great idea to me. I have pretty much unlimited access to a 200 yard range and using a .22 definitely saves on reloading time (even though match grade .22 ammo ain't exactly cheap). I'm definitely considering going that route.

apologies for derailing this from reloading equipment suggestions but I will add this. A .30 cal match bullet will run you 40 cents or more, that's not including the powder, primer, barrel wear etc

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/07/f-tr-champs-secret-weapon-40x-rimfire-f-tr-trainer/

I think they are good for wind but teach nothing about form due to the lack of recoil. Just my 2 cents

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

FX-120 scale with Autotrickler

This is my next step in the ever evolving process of trying to keep all the holes next to each other

 

[jsthntn247]

Thanks for all the replies so far - some very interesting and helpful information.

Maybe this should be a separate thread, but I was particularly interested in the recommendation regarding a .22 rimfire for practice. I have a CMP 40X that I've been thinking about setting up to match my F/TR rifle for practice. I've seen some differences of opinion regarding the utility of a .22 specifically for F/TR practice, but it seems like a great idea to me. I have pretty much unlimited access to a 200 yard range and using a .22 definitely saves on reloading time (even though match grade .22 ammo ain't exactly cheap). I'm definitely considering going that route.

I'm used to shooting a 223 in FTR. I swapped back to a 308 this year. I can damn near sling an 8 with no wind when I shoot my 308 like I did my 223. Form and follow through are a must when shooting a high recoiling rifle and you can only get that practice by shooting a high recoiling rifle.

 

[Tarmacshooter]

So are you guys measuring powder out and throwing charges to .1 grain? This is for the guys with the FX and auto tricklers. Or are you measuring to .0x?