ninjajimmy Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 After some thought, and with how expensive match 308 ammo is i've decided to give reloading a shot. I plan to mostly reload for the bolt gun, but after some testing with the SR, plan to do that as well.I've don'e research and have received most of what I ordered.RCBS Rock ChuckerRCBS Case Lube kitRedding Deluxe Die Set .308RCBS Shell HolderSinclair Ultimate Case Trimmer (only thing i'm waiting to arrive) RCBS Chargemaster 1500 RCBS 505 scaleFlash hole Deburring ToolFlash hole reamerPrimer Pocket ReamerPrimer Pocket CleanerCase Chamfer and Deburring toolLarge Rifle Primer Pocket UniformerNeck brushFrankford Arsenal Case Tumbler/Separator RCBS Stuck case remover RCBS Hand primerPowder Trickler 2FunnelWilson Case Length Headspace gaugeAlso ordered a pair of calipers as well as the Sierra and Hornady Reloading Manuals. I grabbed some Varget and Federal 210M primers. Plus, I've already scored 400 Hornady 178gr A-max bullets. I also scored a Chrono to have even more data when testing loads.Wasn't sure what I was going to do for a bench, but I found a gem at Harbor Freight. It's about 100lbs empty and looks like it will be perfect for a first bench! Rock solid with no movement! The press is going to mount on the right side where the vise is. I've seen others make a wood adaptor so the press is removable and out of the way. Got my press in and started playing around with full length resizing/depriming as well as bullet seating. Marked the OAL of these on the case. The cases are not trimmed (still waiting on my trimmer). Just cleaned, deprimed, resized, and bullet seated. I found some of the cases were getting small dimples when resizing so I'm experimenting with how much lube. Going for a less is more thing. Also plan to try a few different OAL. Something close to what I have now, the guide sugested OAL, and slightly longer than the guide specified 2.810" Now just waiting on my case trimmer from Sinclair. Unfortunately, the case trimmer is on backorder so i'm not sure when i'll get the full process started. Here is where i'm at right now. It's all coming together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Looks good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 That RCBS electronic powder drop is a damn nice piece of gear. One day, one day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mineralman55 Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 You are off to a great start. I would have recommended the Dillon BL550 or any other good progressive loader, but that horse is out of the barn. The dimples on the cases come from too much lube on the shoulders, as you've found out. I started out with the RCBS case lube kit, but have switched to the Dillon spray on lube. It's the bees' knees. Put your cases on a cookie sheet, spray a couple squirts on them, roll them around the tray, put them in the sun and let them dry (about 10 minutes). No more dimples. You got the case gauge. Use it. Often. If you need more .308 cases I've found the current batch of USGI 1X fired cases from Widener's to be top notch. All LC12 and in great shape. Cancel the Sinclair trimmer. For trimmers the Little Crow WFT works great. You get a square trim every time and it is fast, fast, fast. Giraud makes a similar one that deburs and chamfers simultaneously for a bit more but I've no experience with that item. Good luck, and be safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planeflyer21 Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 That bench has to be one of the great unknown deals in the reloading world! Very solid, very functional. Looks like a top notch setup! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 I started out with the RCBS case lube kit, but have switched to the Dillon spray on lube. It's the bees' knees. Put your cases on a cookie sheet, spray a couple squirts on them, roll them around the tray, put them in the sun and let them dry (about 10 minutes). No more dimples. +1 on that! The spray lube is a MUCH better way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisco Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 +1 on that! The spray lube is a MUCH better way to go. Have to try that, I am still using the lube pad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shibiwan Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 I've used both the RCBS lube spray and Hornady One-Shot lube. Both work way better than rolling the cases on the lube pad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONTANA308 Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 Nice setup! That's a good looking bench Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 I've used both the RCBS lube spray and Hornady One-Shot lube. Both work way better than rolling the cases on the lube pad. Yup! I've used a couple of different spray lubes. It's not so much which lube you use, it's the process that is the time and mess saver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjajimmy Posted October 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 My trimmer arrived so i'm in the process of tumbling some brass. I also ordered a Lee depriming die so I can deprime before I tumble without resizing. Hoping to make up a few loads this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mineralman55 Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 My trimmer arrived so i'm in the process of tumbling some brass. I also ordered a Lee depriming die so I can deprime before I tumble without resizing. Hoping to make up a few loads this weekend. Why? You're just adding another step. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjajimmy Posted October 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 That way the primer pockets get cleaned some when tumbling. Got through some last night. Tumbled, deprimed, resized, primer pocket cleaned/reamed, flash hole reamed, case trimmed, and primer seated. Tomorrow ill do powder and bullet on some to bring to the range and test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted October 19, 2014 Report Share Posted October 19, 2014 JImmy, those bad boys ^^^ need a chamfer to 'em. Also, in this one... Get a light taper crimp on those things if they're going to run through the Big AR. Bullet setback will ruin your day, man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mineralman55 Posted October 19, 2014 Report Share Posted October 19, 2014 That way the primer pockets get cleaned some when tumbling. Got through some last night. Tumbled, deprimed, resized, primer pocket cleaned/reamed, flash hole reamed, case trimmed, and primer seated. Tomorrow ill do powder and bullet on some to bring to the range and test. Unless you're running steel pins and wet tumbling, a regular vibrator with corn cob or walnut media isn't going to clean the primer pockets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planeflyer21 Posted October 19, 2014 Report Share Posted October 19, 2014 Unless you're running steel pins and wet tumbling, a regular vibrator with corn cob or walnut media isn't going to clean the primer pockets. I'm using a walnut media bought at the feed store as "animal bedding". With a little more polishing compound and a few less cases in the tumbler (allowing them to really cycle fast), my primer pockets have been getting cleaned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjajimmy Posted October 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 JImmy, those bad boys ^^^ need a chamfer to 'em. Also, in this one... Get a light taper crimp on those things if they're going to run through the Big AR. Bullet setback will ruin your day, man. The cases I shown were chamfered and debarred already. Hard to pick up on the eye phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 How about the crimp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjajimmy Posted October 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) Well I hit them again with the tool and the chamfer is better now. As to the crimp, I need to play around with the bullet seating. Even a slight taper crimp, you won't notice it by just looking at the round from what i've read. There is no cannelure on the bullets i'm using. A slight taper crimp should be all I need if the bullet isn't tight enough without one. Edited October 20, 2014 by ninjajimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 With a good inner and outer chamfer, you can see a light taper crimp - it shows up, man. Cannelure doesn't matter. I'll try to dig up some pics of cannelure and non-cannelure projos in my 300BLK loads, crimped. I've got them somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Armory Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Can you SAY ... LEE Factory Crimp Die ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 (edited) Or even the RCBS Full Length Die Set - you can taper crimp with those, as another function after the seating process. The RCBS AR Series dies have the crimp function built straight into the seating die - once the ram fully seats the projo, it crimps it right then. One and done. Edited October 21, 2014 by 98Z5V Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shibiwan Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 +1 on the lee factory crimp die. Who cares about "one and done" when cranking stuff out on a progressive. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Who cares about "one and done" when cranking stuff out on a progressive. :D You really get to monitor the accuracy of each one, on that progressive - don't ya? They're ALL match rounds, ain't they?... :banana: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 You really get to monitor the accuracy of each one, on that progressive - don't ya? They're ALL match rounds, ain't they?... :banana: You Betcha! <thumbsup> Actually, I've read a couple of articles in the past few years that said progressive loaded rounds and individual loaded rounds have been found to have very little difference in accuracy. They stated that the consistency of a good progressive machine is quite good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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