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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
What else to reload 308 ammo?
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<blockquote data-quote="Bart B" data-source="post: 766060" data-attributes="member: 5302"><p>Devestator, here's what I've observed and done over decades of long range competition with .308 Win chambered rifles.</p><p></p><p></p><p>First off, buy Sierra Bullets Reloading manual, then read its info on reloading. It, in my opinion, is the best bunch of words arranged in good order to get new reloaders educated. </p><p></p><p>And check out <a href="http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html" target="_blank">http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html</a> for more info on reloading the .308. Ignore its claim that barrels last 5000 rounds of good accuracy; 3000's been the limit for top competitors from the beginning and many won't go to the Nationals with more than 1500 rounds through their barrel.</p><p></p><p>Second, use full length sizing dies without expander balls; deprime and clean cases before sizing them. Those with bushings made by Redding or RCBS are both popular and easy to use; Sierra Bullets uses Redding's dies resizing their .308 Win. cases testing bullets for accuracy. While neck only sizing has been popular with the benchresters for decades, most have finally switched over to full length sizing. The benchrest shooter's smallest groups have not changed any significant amount, but the largest ones they shoot are now smaller. Their aggregate scores are now smaller; their average group size is tinier. Folks shooting shoulder fired .308's have done best accuracy wise with full length sizing since the early 1960's when that round was first used in competition. Full length sized cases fit the chamber better than neck only ones, especialy after 3 or more neck only sizing operations. And full length sizing dies with bushings better center the case neck on the case shoulder, too, compared to neck only dies.</p><p></p><p>Third, get an RCBS Precision Mic (or Hornady's equivalent) to measure your fired and sized cases so the die can be set to set fired case shoulders back about .001" to .002" for best accuracy and case life.</p><p></p><p>Fourth, if you could slug your bore then measure it's groove diameter, find top quality bullets that are a few ten-thousandths bigger than groove diameter. They'll shoot the most accurate. Your barrel's 1:12 twist will do best with 175 or 190 grain bullets. Seat 'em out far enough to touch the rifling; single round loading may be what you'll have to do as they may not fit in the magazine.</p><p></p><p>Fifth, use extruded powder; nobody's got consistantly good accuracy with any ball powder with the best handloads in the best rifles testing for accuracy the best way.</p><p></p><p>Sixth, shoot at least 15 shots per test group. Anything less probably won't represent what you can count on all the time.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bart B, post: 766060, member: 5302"] Devestator, here's what I've observed and done over decades of long range competition with .308 Win chambered rifles. First off, buy Sierra Bullets Reloading manual, then read its info on reloading. It, in my opinion, is the best bunch of words arranged in good order to get new reloaders educated. And check out [url]http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html[/url] for more info on reloading the .308. Ignore its claim that barrels last 5000 rounds of good accuracy; 3000's been the limit for top competitors from the beginning and many won't go to the Nationals with more than 1500 rounds through their barrel. Second, use full length sizing dies without expander balls; deprime and clean cases before sizing them. Those with bushings made by Redding or RCBS are both popular and easy to use; Sierra Bullets uses Redding's dies resizing their .308 Win. cases testing bullets for accuracy. While neck only sizing has been popular with the benchresters for decades, most have finally switched over to full length sizing. The benchrest shooter's smallest groups have not changed any significant amount, but the largest ones they shoot are now smaller. Their aggregate scores are now smaller; their average group size is tinier. Folks shooting shoulder fired .308's have done best accuracy wise with full length sizing since the early 1960's when that round was first used in competition. Full length sized cases fit the chamber better than neck only ones, especialy after 3 or more neck only sizing operations. And full length sizing dies with bushings better center the case neck on the case shoulder, too, compared to neck only dies. Third, get an RCBS Precision Mic (or Hornady's equivalent) to measure your fired and sized cases so the die can be set to set fired case shoulders back about .001" to .002" for best accuracy and case life. Fourth, if you could slug your bore then measure it's groove diameter, find top quality bullets that are a few ten-thousandths bigger than groove diameter. They'll shoot the most accurate. Your barrel's 1:12 twist will do best with 175 or 190 grain bullets. Seat 'em out far enough to touch the rifling; single round loading may be what you'll have to do as they may not fit in the magazine. Fifth, use extruded powder; nobody's got consistantly good accuracy with any ball powder with the best handloads in the best rifles testing for accuracy the best way. Sixth, shoot at least 15 shots per test group. Anything less probably won't represent what you can count on all the time. [/QUOTE]
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What else to reload 308 ammo?
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