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Posted: 9/7/2009 2:35:44 PM EDT
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OK, I'm in a bit of a time crunch as I'm trying to order a reloading setup to load primarily for precision rifle and some occasional pistol. I used to reload a LONG time ago (mainly pistol) but I know technology and gear has changed a lot in 20+ years. And my experience with loading rifle bullets is limited (i.e. do I full-length or just neck size, etc). So anyway - here's my question: Beyond a press, dies, powder measure, powder scale, shell holder, and primer tool and the actual compontents like brass, bullets, primers, powder, etc..... what are the minimum accessories needed to load accurate, precision match-grade rifle rounds (.223 and .308)? As I sort through the myriad of accessories - I just don't know what is "must-haves" vs "nice to haves". I can always add stuff as I go - but I'd like to get the basic foundation all at once. For a frame of reference - I'm considering getting the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master reloading kit and then adding other accessories as needed to get to a basic starting point. The primary things that come to mind to add are: Tumbler case trimmer Electronic scale/dispenser Bullet pullers Seating dies Micrometer/calipers Anything else I'm forgetting? I know I can spend thousands on every gucci accesssory - but I want just the starting point to be able to load match grade ammo and add the nice to have down the road. thanks in advance! |
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Follow the links -
http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=400 Reloading technology has not changed radically in 20 years. A couple of tools are available now that had to be custom made then. |
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If you are going to be reloading precision ammo, i would recommend getting a flash hole deburring tool. Around 15 bucks for the Lyman, and it works outstanding. Also, if you want to trim your cases to length, you can pick up the Lee handheld trimmer and the toolhead for under 10 bucks.
Erick Z |
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Quoted:
For percision work you might want to turn necks also.  Sir, FWIW the OP asked if he should full length resize or neck size only. If the cartridges he intends to reload are intended to be used in a semi-auto rifle it is generally considered adviseable to full length resize all brass. Only if the cartridges are intended for use in a bolt action rifle should he consider neck sizing and only after a case has already been fired in the rifle intended to be reloaded for. Neck sizing is a practice many bench rest shooters use but most of us that reload for use in a semi auto don't do it. That said, for the OP, I would consider buying an RCBS case mic to use when setting up your resizing die. Shoulder set back seems to be an important dimension for the purposes of precision reloading and I highly recommend you know the actual finished dimension you resize all your cases to as it relates to the rifle chamber you intend to use it in. Also, it is well known that if one uses a resizing die that includes a case neck expander ball that the expander ball has to leave the case neck inside diameter within an acceptable dimension relative to the bullet OD and having these two dimensions match within a fairly close tolerance is also an important dimension for the purposes of accuracy. Adequate case neck lube in conjunction with a carbide case neck expander ball is helpful for the purposes of uniform case neck IDs and shoulder set back. Just remember to remove any case lube from the case neck interior before seating a bullet. There are other choices regarding the type of dies you might want to select. Read carefully, I highly recommend you check out the products of Redding and Forester. Finally, I consider the Sinclair primer pocket depth uniformer, in conjunction with a flash hole deburring tool (inside and out) important case prep tools for use in the production of uniform cases for purposes of precision rifle ammo crafting. JMHO, 7zero1. |
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Quoted: Quoted: For percision work you might want to turn necks also. Sir, FWIW the OP asked if he should full length resize or neck size only. If the cartridges he intends to reload are intended to be used in a semi-auto rifle it is generally considered adviseable to full length resize all brass. Only if the cartridges are intended for use in a bolt action rifle should he consider neck sizing and only after a case has already been fired in the rifle intended to be reloaded for. Neck sizing is a practice many bench rest shooters use but most of us that reload for use in a semi auto don't do it. That said, for the OP, I would consider buying an RCBS case mic to use when setting up your resizing die. Shoulder set back seems to be an important dimension for the purposes of precision reloading and I highly recommend you know the actual finished dimension you resize all your cases to as it relates to the rifle chamber you intend to use it in. Also, it is well known that if one uses a resizing die that includes a case neck expander ball that the expander ball has to leave the case neck inside diameter within an acceptable dimension relative to the bullet OD and having these two dimensions match within a fairly close tolerance is also an important dimension for the purposes of accuracy. Adequate case neck lube in conjunction with a carbide case neck expander ball is helpful for the purposes of uniform case neck IDs and shoulder set back. Just remember to remove any case lube from the case neck interior before seating a bullet. There are other choices regarding the type of dies you might want to select. Read carefully, I highly recommend you check out the products of Redding and Forester. Finally, I consider the Sinclair primer pocket depth uniformer, in conjunction with a flash hole deburring tool (inside and out) important case prep tools for use in the production of uniform cases for purposes of precision rifle ammo crafting. JMHO, 7zero1. I'm sorry, you're right - I wasn't clear on the planned application. Its actually both as I will be reloading both .223 and .308 for precision rifles. The .223 is an AR and the .308 is a bolt gun. So I will plan on full-length sizing for the AR and neck sizing for the .308. You bring up an interesting point about setback. Is there a good link or explanation to what it is and how to adjust it? Because that is the one area in the precision aspect of reloading that I feel really clueless about what it is and what to do about it. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
For percision work you might want to turn necks also. Sir, FWIW the OP asked if he should full length resize or neck size only. If the cartridges he intends to reload are intended to be used in a semi-auto rifle it is generally considered adviseable to full length resize all brass. Only if the cartridges are intended for use in a bolt action rifle should he consider neck sizing and only after a case has already been fired in the rifle intended to be reloaded for. Neck sizing is a practice many bench rest shooters use but most of us that reload for use in a semi auto don't do it. That said, for the OP, I would consider buying an RCBS case mic to use when setting up your resizing die. Shoulder set back seems to be an important dimension for the purposes of precision reloading and I highly recommend you know the actual finished dimension you resize all your cases to as it relates to the rifle chamber you intend to use it in. Also, it is well known that if one uses a resizing die that includes a case neck expander ball that the expander ball has to leave the case neck inside diameter within an acceptable dimension relative to the bullet OD and having these two dimensions match within a fairly close tolerance is also an important dimension for the purposes of accuracy. Adequate case neck lube in conjunction with a carbide case neck expander ball is helpful for the purposes of uniform case neck IDs and shoulder set back. Just remember to remove any case lube from the case neck interior before seating a bullet. There are other choices regarding the type of dies you might want to select. Read carefully, I highly recommend you check out the products of Redding and Forester. Finally, I consider the Sinclair primer pocket depth uniformer, in conjunction with a flash hole deburring tool (inside and out) important case prep tools for use in the production of uniform cases for purposes of precision rifle ammo crafting. JMHO, 7zero1. I'm sorry, you're right - I wasn't clear on the planned application. Its actually both as I will be reloading both .223 and .308 for precision rifles. The .223 is an AR and the .308 is a bolt gun. So I will plan on full-length sizing for the AR and neck sizing for the .308. You bring up an interesting point about setback. Is there a good link or explanation to what it is and how to adjust it? Because that is the one area in the precision aspect of reloading that I feel really clueless about what it is and what to do about it. Sir, beside my experience based on empirical evidence my knowledge of the subject from actual reading was in the Precision Shooting Reloading manual. It's an excellent instructional resource and I recommend it highly but definately lacks what most reloaders consider essential of a reloading book, charge tables/cartridge/bullet combo. Another possible source of written material on the subject is Glen Zediker's new book, the title escapes me, but you can find a synopsis and order one on his web site. Google his name for lack of the link. Basically speaking you need to measure the shoulder dimension of a case fired in the chamber of your rifle with an RCBS case mic or similar tool. Then you need to adjust your sizing die to provide you with a measurement made of the resized case using the RCBS case mic with a goal to achieving a .003"- .004" difference between the unsized and the resized dimension for the gas operated semo auto rifle. For the bolt action you can probably aim for considerably less, you should only need enough shoulder set back to enable for you to close the bolt with minimal resistance. As I alluded to in my previous post pay close attention to case distortion due to the extraction of the case neck expander ball from the case interior. Inadequate lubrication of the case neck interior results in increase friction as you withdraw the ball from the case interior and will distort the shoulder set back you achieved when you resized the case on the up stroke of the press. HTH, 7zero1 |
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Quoted: Basically speaking you need to measure the shoulder dimension of a case fired in the chamber of your rifle with an RCBS case mic or similar tool. Then you need to adjust your sizing die to provide you with a measurement made of the resized case using the RCBS case mic with a goal to achieving a .003"- .004" difference between the unsized and the resized dimension for the gas operated semo auto rifle. For the bolt action you can probably aim for considerably less, you should only need enough shoulder set back to enable for you to close the bolt with minimal resistance. Good explanation. Thank you. |
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