beginner reloading Q's

[badshooter]

I'm getting the reloading bug now that I have a press,RCBS Partner) that was given to me and the price of loaded ammo is CRAZY!!

I was wondering what dies to get. The neck sizer die set or the full length set. The loads will be shot from bolt rifles. I have a 700SPS in .308 and a 700 VLS in 6mm. I also have a single shot .243 and an AR15.

To keep things simple I was wanting to use the same powder in as many rifles as possible. It gets expensive and complicated if I have many different powders and types of bullets for each gun. I'm not looking for something extraordinary, I just want to be able to deer hunt with the bullets I choose and make them fit in the bolt action magazine. What are some basic loads that will get me in the ballpark?

I also bought a Lyman Reloaders manual, but it doesn't have a whole lot of different loads for different bullet brands. Is there a better manual to get?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Posit]

Probably a wealth of information and opinions out there on each topic you mention - but just to get you started:

If your objective is deer hunting at relatively close range,200 yards or less), you're not looking for the sub-MOA groups,groups of 1" or less at 100 yards). That being the case, just get a basic two die set,decapper/full length resizing dies). If you really want to save money, get a universal decapping die,which will decap any case), and buy the FL resizing dies individually for each caliber.

To get the load data, I would select 2-3 bullets for each caliber that will meet your objective, then go to the bullet manufacturer's web page, or reloading manual, or any of several reloading sites on the web. Look at the load data, see which powder is most prevalent for the bulets/calibers you will reload. Personally, I like Varget for your calibers / purposes, but others will have different opinions.

Load a few rounds, go shoot them. You may have to go thru a load development process,testing various powders / charges to find a load which shoots to your requirements). If you can group at 2" or less, you are good to go deer hunting at 200 yds or less. Should not be too difficult - but be careful, start with less than max charges, adhere to recommended loading procedures.

Loading manuals give you a "Maximum C.O.L." which will normally give you a bullet length which will fit your magazine, but if this length will not fit, press the bullet into the case a little further.

There is a lot more to this reloading business than I've described; if you continue and become more interested, you will learn various ways to have more fun, increase accuracy and spend more money. Its a great hobby>

Be very careful with anything you do relating to firearms--

 

[rayjay]

How much do you shoot? If you only shoot for hunting then it is not cost effective to reload. If you shoot up 10+ boxes of ammo a year plinking and target shooting then it starts to make more sense.

 

[jb77]

Badshooter if you are loading for stock factory guns then any of the regular full lenght sizing dies will work for you. I like redding dies myself but the Hornaday dies are very good for less money.

For the calibers that you have it will be hard to select just one powder. Varget comes close but for your 223 there are better powders. Almost all the powder manufactures have online manuals and reccomended loads try them before you buy anymore loading manuals.

Be careful and good luck, let us know how it is going.

 

[badshooter]

I shoot 4 or 5 boxes a year, but only cause it costs too much to shoot more. When I get the loader going I can shoot more. I just bought a neck sizer set for the 308 and 6mm. Should I exchange them for the full length set? I read that the neck sizer works if you shoot out of the same gun and is more accurate. Will it hurt anything to use the neck sizer instead of the full length? Will brass life suffer from the full length set?

 

[Posit]

If you only have a neck sizer, and can only afford one or the other, exchange it for the FL resizing die. Even if you neck size, you will occasionally have to FL resize. If its one or the other, must be the FL.

Neck sizing adds a small degree of accuracy, but its primary benefit,in hunting rifles) is making your cases last longer. If you normally neck size, you will occasionally have to FL resize as the shoulder on the cases gradually becomes too long to chamber. Also, as you learn more, you can begin to partial full length resize, which is setting your FL die so that it only resizes the neck,just like the neck sizer), or resizes the neck and bumps the case shoulder back enough to chamber.

 

[badshooter]

Do I have to use RCBS dies with the RCBS press? Some other dies are cheaper and I have heard good results with them, but no good if they don't work on my press.

 

[Winchester69]

For hunting, you will be better served by the feed reliability afforded by a FL die. If you want to extend your brass life, a bushing die will do this, but at a price.

 

[Posit]

Most dies use a standard thread - don't recall what it is, but its common among most die manufacturers - RCBS, Redding, Hornady, Lee, to name a few, so all will work in your press.

As mentioned above, and IMO, Hornady dies are OK; Redding is more expensive than RCBS; a lot of folks use Lee- and they have advantages - but personally have had some difficulty with them, so only use the seating dies. There are other good brands, and I've not done any price comparisons.

I would hesitate to cheap shot on dies; they are a critical component in reloading. RCBS is good. If you think you can save significant money on another brand, come back with specifics and ask for opinions; someone will have experience with them.

 

[rayjay]

For powder I have used IMR 4064 in all of the cartridges you list. Varget would also be a great choice.

 

[varmint]

The stander size for reloading dies are 7/8" 14 threads for most presses today, unless you are loading for a 50 BMG with use 1 1/2" 12 threads so not to worry.Any of the brands mentioned will work for you.As far as powders go you have to remember that you are loading different size casing so you may have to use two or three powders because of burning rates.Reloading books will show you loads for all your cal. and then try and find a common powder for all,or maybe two powders you can use.I would stick with FL dies to start and then work your way up to the others out there.Try and keep it as simple as possible to get you going and work your way up.I have been reloading for close to 40 years now and there is always some thing new coming out to help in reloading all the time,,,,and time is on your side.So get started and have fun with it.You will learn some thing new every time you reload and save a lot of money doing it.Tim