Hello folks. This weekend, I'm going to order up everything to start reloading for my M77 mk2 in .308 win. I have never reloaded before.

I will probably order the RCBS Rock Chucker kit, a shell holder and an RCBS neck sizing die set. I have some mixed leftover brass (maybe 40 cases), so I will probably also order some new Winchester brass. I will pick up bullets (Speer or Sierra, not sure), primers (they have CCI and Winchester), and powder (no idea what to get) from a local shop.

When shooting factory ammo, I got the best results (<1" groups) from Federal Gold Medal Match, which is a Sierra HBPT Matchking 168 grain. Haven't had good luck with any Speer bullets.

Questions:

1. Anything else I need to (or ought to) get?

2. Will the Speer manual's recipes work for Sierra bullets? (related: is Sierra's manual good?)

3. Could someone give me some guidance as to a starting load, and what components I ought to begin with?

4. When working up new loads, how many of each type should I make?

5. I'd like to find two loads that give similar results to the Fed GMM - one for target, and one for hunting (deer in Wisconsin)

Any help/suggestions is/are much appreciated!

Thanks,
Jim

Target load: This is what I use for 600 yd. F-class....

1) Lapua 308 win. brass (best there is) Midway is having a sale on this now..
2) Federal 210 Match Grade Primers
3) Varget, starting load, say 41 grains, I worked up to 43 grains and gives me a nominal 2590fps out of 24" barrel.
4) Sierra Match Kings, I use the 175 grain bullet, better than the 168's past 300 yds.

You can call Sierra, tell them you are using their bullets and they will mail you the 308 win page. Their reloading data is very conservative.

I use Forester 308 win Ulta Match Dies. You may wish to look into a VLD chamfering tool, primer pocket uniformer, and flash hole deburing tool...but that's for the long range target shooting not needed for casual shooting or hunting loads.

Yiminy
I would consider getting a three die set, full length, neck, and seating dies. Sooner or later yu will need to "bump"back the shoulder.
The speer load data will be ok for STARTING loads.
I would start with the sierra bullet 168gr.match king. Starting loads of 39.5 to 40 gr of Varget, H4895, or IMR 4895(This is the powder the military used in the development of the 7.62x51 mm cartridge). Work up to a max of 42gr Yes I know some will say more, but you are New to Reloading so some caution is in order as you begin.
I usually load three of each increment for the first pass. Then five or ten of the promising loads. Do a search on the ladder method or the Audette method of load testing.
You are not likely to find two different loads that will preform like the Fed GMM. Finding a hunting bullet that is as accurate as the match bullets is a daunting task, and your search likely will not be rewarded. But remember for targets you are hoping for less than one minute of angle of accuracy. For deer hunting you are looking for minute of deer accuracy.
Good luck, good hunting

muck

quote:

Originally posted by Yiminy: and highly edited by Vapodog
This weekend, I'm going to order up everything to start reloading for .308 win. I have never reloaded before.

I will order the RCBS Rock Chucker kit, a shell holder and an RCBS neck sizing die set. I will also order some new Winchester brass. I will pick up bullets Sierra,
and Hornady, primers (they have CCI and Winchester), and powder Varget and H-4895
Questions:

1. Anything else I need to (or ought to) get?

2. Will the Speer manual's recipes work for Sierra bullets? (related: is Sierra's manual good?)

3. Could someone give me some guidance as to a starting load, and what components I ought to begin with?

4. When working up new loads, how many of each type should I make?

5. I'd like to find two loads that give similar results to the Fed GMM - one for target, and one for hunting (deer in Wisconsin)

Any help/suggestions is/are much appreciated!

question #2...yes...it'll work

question #3...start with 40 grains of Varget and either Hornady A-Max or Sierra match king 168 grain bullets...strictly for target here!

question #4....start with making five shot groups each load

question #5...get some Hornady 165 interlocks for hunting and work up a separate load for that bullet.

question #1....get a trickler....not expensive but a fine tool.

When you get the RCBS kit check if there is a length gauge.....you need one and a dial calipers is a nice tool.....and don't pay more than $35 for it.

When nothing works for you post here again.....there's a wealth of information available on this forum.

A good source for brass.

It's not Laupua but you're not shooting BR.

Also some Imperial Die sizing wax.

Any appreciable difference between Winchester and Fed Gold Medal?

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Johnson:
A good source for brass.

It's not Laupua but you're not shooting BR.

Also some Imperial Die sizing wax.

I don't think you'll be able to tell the difference. I use the brass that is available in all my rifles except my LV Bench rest Viper drop port.

Yiminy,
First WELCOME!!!!
Second I would like to recommend one of the best reloading books for you to read:
Lyman 48th
It explains a lot.
The other good part is it has load info for different powders as well as different bullets.


Smedley

PS I don't care for Winchester brass. I have had trouble with work hardened necks that lead to neck splits.(just my 2 cents)