.308 reloading

[Psyxologos]

I was wondering if anyone can point me to the right direction. I am looking to start reloading .308 so I can shoot them indoors in my target shooting club. Other people there are downloading .308 so the velocity is within the legal limit of the range, so I thought I might give it a go. Is there any manual I can download online so I can get a feeling of what this whole thing entails etc? Also, what sort of money am I looking to pay for the reloading equipment (not the dyes and the powder, just the press etc)? Many thanks in advance!

[Oxon88]

I recently got myself a copy of Lee Modern reloading 2nd ed. Its got lots of good information in for beginners. Only thing is its rather biased towards lee reloading equipment as you would expect.

 

rgds,

[njc110381]

For the money and for a new shooter you can't beat a Lee loader....

 

http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/cleeloader.html

 

Then all you need is a powder scale and a vernier to measure OAL. You could get that lot for £75 or so. Add another £100 to go the press and die route.

 

EDIT... Go on youtube and watch a few reloading videos. It really is simple if you just keep a few safety points in mind. I'm not sure about reduced loads though, they can be a bit hit and miss so be sure to use a safe load that's backed by some sort of known manufacturer data.

 

Squib loads can be made with fast pistol powders but it's not unknown for them to detonate now and again and remove important bits of the gun and the shooters hands/face!

Edited December 14, 2010 by njc110381

[Psyxologos]

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

[lineshooter]

I`m curious, what range and fps are we talking about for indoors.

[Redgum]

Remember reading an article on subsonic 308 loads and I think it can be a bit dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. Best to get someone to help you out with it to start. Reloading standard ammunition has its risks but there is plenty of documented data on recipes to start from so you know roughly were your at pressure wise etc, going blind could literally leave you blind.

I don't mean to be a wet blanket but make sure whatever you do is done safely.

[Psyxologos]

Remember reading an article on subsonic 308 loads and I think it can be a bit dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. Best to get someone to help you out with it to start. Reloading standard ammunition has its risks but there is plenty of documented data on recipes to start from so you know roughly were your at pressure wise etc, going blind could literally leave you blind.

I don't mean to be a wet blanket but make sure whatever you do is done safely.

 

Many thanks, I appreciate it.

[cooter]

You can reload subsonic .308 by using IMR Trail Boss or Vihtavuori Tin Star.

 

Unlike using standard powders with fillers, the above just require the powder (around 13grns and the case is full), so the room for error is very small.

[Psyxologos]

You can reload subsonic .308 by using IMR Trail Boss or Vihtavuori Tin Star.

 

Unlike using standard powders with fillers, the above just require the powder (around 13grns and the case is full), so the room for error is very small.

 

Someone else mentioned this as well. I will be taking all this on board when the time comes for me to try it. Thanks!

[Vince Green]

You cannot download .308 or any other rifle calibre to use on an indoor range, except a very few tunnel ranges. Irrespective of the actual velocity of a particular load all calibres for the purposes of range use are assumed to be at SAAMI specified velocity by the licensing authority. So .308 will always be rated as 2750fps +/- 30fps. no matter what the reality actually is.

Also, most indoor ranges are licenced for pistol calibres only and there is a list.

 

Sorry to be a wet blanket. We have been there, asked all the questions and these are the answers we got back.

Edited December 17, 2010 by Vince Green

[Devilishdave]

Why not ask the guys at your range that are already doing this?

 

Dave

[phaedra1106]

I'd also be interested in a load for the .308, our range specifies the following,

 

"Full bore rifles loaded up to 475 ft/lb m.e. or 1700 f.p.s. velocity"

 

Just found this,

 

http://www.reloadersnest.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15828

 

H 4895, 27.3 grs. Avg. three shots 1,522 fps

" , 28.0 grs. Avg. three shots 1,604 fps

" , 29.5 grs. Avg. three shots 1,668 fps

" , 30.0 grs. Avg. three shots 1,752 fps (with a wide range

of velocities).

 

This was using a 150g bullet

Edited January 10, 2011 by phaedra1106

[Paddy Galore!]

For the money and for a new shooter you can't beat a Lee loader....

 

http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/cleeloader.html

 

Then all you need is a powder scale and a vernier to measure OAL. You could get that lot for £75 or so. Add another £100 to go the press and die route.

 

EDIT... Go on youtube and watch a few reloading videos. It really is simple if you just keep a few safety points in mind. I'm not sure about reduced loads though, they can be a bit hit and miss so be sure to use a safe load that's backed by some sort of known manufacturer data.

 

Squib loads can be made with fast pistol powders but it's not unknown for them to detonate now and again and remove important bits of the gun and the shooters hands/face!

I agree, i bought one of these just waiting for the damn thing to turn up tho, might want to look at titan, they advertise on fleabay and they're cheap. failing that try henry krank, he stocks the kits.

[Paddy Galore!]

just got my lee loader through the door today, looks like a well made piece of kit, i'll still give henry kranks a call for a kit, they start at just under a 100 bills, just add on another 25 for the dies and your away.