New Gun, New Scope might start reloading looking for advice.

[numbe]

Hello all,

Been reading here a while but never registered.

I've been shooting a .30-06 for about 5 years for whitetail and love the gun.
I've was bit by the bug to buy a new Winchester M70 about 3 months ago and I couldn't find one in the caliber I wanted anywhere that wasn't used. (I wanted the new action)


I finally settled on a Model 70 Super Grade in .300 WSM. I really wanted a 30-06 because of the versatility of the round and I don't do much that requires a magnum but the gun is simply unavailable over here. (NY)

I topped the gun off with a Leupy VX-3L in 3.5-10x and I love the combo.


The ammo is far from cheap, the "good" stuff is costing a little over 2.50 a round.


If I were to start reloading it would be to get quality ammo and reuse my brass for a savings that will hopefully over time pay for itself.

I'm just looking to be pointed in the right direction for reloading, I've been looking at the redding big boss 2 for a press but after that i'm pretty unsure what makes a quality setup. I'm trying to avoid buying something that will end up on ebay in a month or make the hobby more of a chore than it should be.

 

[Brewer]

Depending on what you are trying to do. if you are hunting and want are wanting to produce cheap ammo, you can probably get a Lee set that you don't even have to have a press for, just a hammer. that would run you less than $50 and if your going to reload less than 100 rounds per year, that would be perfect.

If you want really high accuracy ammo, you are looking at several hundred dollars in investments which will not really be recouped from lower cost shooting unless you are shooting in very high volumes. so you kind of have to decide what you want.

Most guys who are 'serious' reloaders have lots of money invested, but its a hobby, we aren't trying to save money on ammo. I have well over $1500 in tools. My scale was in the $500 range, and its not one that you can buy at Cabelas or Brownells; its a lab scale that scientist's use... I'm saying that because if I were hunting with my 300 WinMag and shooting deer at less than 300 yards, I would never need anything other than factory ammo or a Po'dunk hammer die set.

Having said all that, reloading and accuracy is very addicting so try and figure what you want to do before you get started. A good way to get started is to read a reloading manual to learn the process and the parts and other general knowledge. That way you can determine how deep you want to get.

 

[numbe]

any manuals you would suggest?

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

any manuals you would suggest?

I use the honady reloding manual because i use the honady a-max quite alot for paper punching and little critters. But you should have a manual for every bullet you use. If you use nosler bullets then get a nosler manual. If you use Berger then get a berger manual etc. You dont have to but it will make life easier especially if your just starting out. Or you can go online and find data and stuff like that but id suggest the manuals. You cant believe everything you read on the internet.

 

[trebark]

A good starting point for reloading are the kits that most companies put together. They typically have everything you need to get started. Then once you do some reading and reloading you begin to figure out what works for you and you can sell the parts you don't want and acquire the pieces you want/need to augment the original kit. I started with an RCBS kit like this:

RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Single Stage Press Kit

I immediately got rid of the Uniflow Powder Measure (not very accurate) and bought a powder trickler (helps with the final couple of powder it takes to get the charge weight juuuust right)

You will notice that virtually every kit comes with a reloading manual. All of them are pretty good and if you get a couple of them, you can read through them and begin to formulate a process and loads that will work for you.

Welcome to the addiction! Let us know if you have any more questions.

 

[numbe]

quite a few good bits of advice here.

I will go with a kit, and check out the manual for my specific round. I'm not looking to shoot for anything other than pleasure and hunting but testing out the rifle / scope at various ranges gets expensive and I figure if i go with reloading I can chip away at that expense while getting ammo that is higher quality. I also like the feeling of knowing my new rifle better and knowing that what comes out the business end of it isn't a crap shoot or a 5 dollar bill hahah

 

[trebark]

You need to be prepared for the idea that reloading will not save you much money. Once you get into it you will discover there's almost always another piece of gear. The beauty of reloading is the ability to craft a specific bullet and load for your rifle.

Another piece of gear you should seriously consider is a chronograph. You can pick of a Chrony for less than $100. Shooting without one is like shooting with your eyes closed.

 

[Brewer]

Yep, its gets more expensive than you can ever imagine. To buy good ammo and then fire 100 rounds on a Saturday would kill you $$. Reloading and shooting 100 rounds on a Saturday will just set you back $100 if you have the brass, so you might just have to readjust your budget.

 

[BackpackHunter]

A good starting point for reloading are the kits that most companies put together. They typically have everything you need to get started. Then once you do some reading and reloading you begin to figure out what works for you and you can sell the parts you don't want and acquire the pieces you want/need to augment the original kit. I started with an RCBS kit like this:

RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Single Stage Press Kit

I immediately got rid of the Uniflow Powder Measure (not very accurate) and bought a powder trickler (helps with the final couple of powder it takes to get the charge weight juuuust right)

You will notice that virtually every kit comes with a reloading manual. All of them are pretty good and if you get a couple of them, you can read through them and begin to formulate a process and loads that will work for you.

Welcome to the addiction! Let us know if you have any more questions.

Buy a powder trickler. It will make life easier. For years I would scoop powder in a spent casing and hand trickle the final few grains onto the scale. It was torture.

 

[trebark]

Buy a powder trickler. It will make life easier. For years I would scoop powder in a spent casing and hand trickle the final few grains onto the scale. It was torture.

Amen!

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

A powder make reloading life sooooo much easier!

 

[roninflag]

NUmbe- i have a 70 super grade in 300 win mag. it is my most attractive rifle. it is also very accurate. i have loaded for the 300 rsaum and the 300wsm. i would start with the 168 cbt bullet. and varget. re-19 and 17 also ok. i have an electronic powder measure that makes it a lot easier. good advice to get a rockchucker. i have had mine since 1969. it has paid for itself easily.

 

[numbe]

I'll update this post with my investment as a result of the help hahah


Thanks a lot guys.

 

[Jcub]

Whoever told you reloading saves you money is either a liar, or not a part of the community.

Since I've started reloading, I've discovered that my .270 wasn't "good enough", so I turned it into a .280 AI. (I had never heard of an Ackley Improved round before reloading)

Really what I'm trying to say is it's a great hobby, that if you really get into it, will end up costing you more money because you will run across a whole bunch of stuff you "need" haha. This happens to me everyday.

P.S. There is nothing wrong with a .270.