Seems cheapest to just find .308 Win 147gr FMJ ammo (TulAmmo) for about $0.30 per round using
wikiarms.com or
gun.deals and practice with that. It's not fancy or great, but it goes bang and sends a bullet downrange at about 1.5 to 2 MOA.
https://carolinamunitions.com/tulam...-308-win-7-62-nato-150-gr-fmj-500-rounds.html
But out of curiosity, I thought, "What
is the cheapest a guy/gal could get started reloading a .308 Win?" Turns out, you can get all the 'stuff' you need for about $313. That'll get you the equipment and supplies to get going and have you loading ammo. That's not too bad. If SumTingWong (the OP) is looking at spending $2 per round right now, the cost to get started in reloading would be the same as buying 160 rounds (8 boxes of ammo @ 20 rounds per box.)
And once he has recouped his initial investment, he will be money ahead every time he pulls the trigger on a reload he created. But the bigger reason
SumTingWong might want to consider taking up reloading is the politics of California. From this point forward, every time he wants to buy a factory round, he has to go through a dealer, pay an 'eligibility check' of $1 (for now...you know this will go up!) and then pass a background check. He can't just mail order ammo to his home.
Here are my numbers and URLs. Am I missing something?
Getting started - from scratch - to reload .308 Win:
1. LEE Reloading "Kit" (press, primer tool, scale, powder thrower, etc.)
(SEE ATTACHED PICTURE) =
$145
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/121744/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-kit
2. .308 Win two-die set (LEE RGB dies) =
$20
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/738184/lee-rgb-2-die-set
3. Winchester Large Rifle Primers (LRP) #8 ½ – 1000 =
$29
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2900120227/winchester-large-rifle-primers-8-1-2
4. Varget (Hodgdon) Powder – 1 lb container =
$30
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1009281345/hodgdon-varget-smokeless-gun-powder
5. Hazmat shipping charges for primer/powder =
$28
6. Brass – Starline .308 LRP (50 pieces) =
$23
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021318514/starline-brass-308-winchester
7. Bullets – Speer Hot-Core 150gr Spitzer ($0.18 per bullet) – box of 100 =
$18 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/5...ber-308-diameter-150-grain-spitzer-box-of-100
8. Digital caliper/micrometer =
$20
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/297498/national-metallic-digital-caliper-6-stainless-steel
9. Reloading data? FREE from powder and/or bullet manufacturer website (or come here and ask people, ha!)
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