Hello, reloading for the 308 with a 26 inch heavy barrel 12 inch twist using 4064 powder and Federal primers. Not sure yet on what type casings, if I'll buy new or buy a few boxes of some type to shoot through this rifle before starting and use them. New rifle so should I put some round through the barrel before starting the reloads ? How about cleaning the barrel between shots while it's new ?
My question is what type of bullet to use starting out looking to shoot 100 to 400+ yards ? I can find many types of bullets but there's not many choices in powder around here.
Thanks !
Bullet 308 reloading
Re: Bullet 308 reloading
My first advice is to avoid Federal brass for full power loads, because it tends to be soft and the primer pockets will get loose after only a few full charge reloads.
I prefer USGI brass which has previously been fired either in M21 or M14 rifles or in bolt actions. You do NOT want 7.62 NATO cases which have been fired from the M240 or older M60 machineguns.
Military brass is different from commercial and requires proper sorting and preparation, and reduction in powder charge to compensate for its reduced capacity, but gives longer life. Brass prep is a book unto itself.
You need to know what type of chamber was cut in your barrel because SAAMI .308 Winchester is different from 7.62mm NATO and the chamber types used on target and benchrest rifles are often tighter than SAAMI minimums, and Match M14 and M24 or M40 sniper rifle chambers are very different than those used in ordinary combat weapons.
Books have been written on bench technique, wind doping, loading ammunition, proper cleaning, etc. None can be covered adequately in a forum thread.
Here are some recommended references to get you started:
http://www.rifle-accuracy-reports.com/b ... ak-in.html
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/308win/
http://www.snipercentral.com/308-winche ... 51mm-nato/
http://www.jarheadtop.com/articles_reloadquant.htm
http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/20 ... ch_04.html
http://m14forum.com/ammunition/95702-go ... -load.html
After you have done some reading and inflated your brain with some serious information overload, feel free to ask specific questions and I'll be glad to help.
I'm sure others will chime in also and in a few months we'll have us a new "sticky"
I prefer USGI brass which has previously been fired either in M21 or M14 rifles or in bolt actions. You do NOT want 7.62 NATO cases which have been fired from the M240 or older M60 machineguns.
Military brass is different from commercial and requires proper sorting and preparation, and reduction in powder charge to compensate for its reduced capacity, but gives longer life. Brass prep is a book unto itself.
You need to know what type of chamber was cut in your barrel because SAAMI .308 Winchester is different from 7.62mm NATO and the chamber types used on target and benchrest rifles are often tighter than SAAMI minimums, and Match M14 and M24 or M40 sniper rifle chambers are very different than those used in ordinary combat weapons.
Books have been written on bench technique, wind doping, loading ammunition, proper cleaning, etc. None can be covered adequately in a forum thread.
Here are some recommended references to get you started:
http://www.rifle-accuracy-reports.com/b ... ak-in.html
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/308win/
http://www.snipercentral.com/308-winche ... 51mm-nato/
http://www.jarheadtop.com/articles_reloadquant.htm
http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/20 ... ch_04.html
http://m14forum.com/ammunition/95702-go ... -load.html
After you have done some reading and inflated your brain with some serious information overload, feel free to ask specific questions and I'll be glad to help.
I'm sure others will chime in also and in a few months we'll have us a new "sticky"