Reloading Newbie Questions?



SDMF

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REDDING 3BR MATCH-GRADE POWDER MEASURE | Brownells


I can't imagine what I'd have to have for resources, and theoretical need, to buy an $800+ dispenser/scale when one similar to this has been nothing short of awesome for me. I test it for reproducibility every time I reload with a handful of different powders and one very similar to this has been spot on, every time. At least, it is to at about 2 decimal points in grains of powder.

I'd use that other $600 to buy something else, like brass, bullets, and powder.

Those are great with ball/flake/spherical powders. They can be OK with some of the shorter extruded powders, they suck ass with longer extruded powders like IMR 4831. In fairness, I've never actually used the Redding version, but, I have used extensively an RCBS, Lyman, and Harrell's, none of them work well w/longer extruded powders. Even R-22 isn't great through the Harrell's and IMR 4831 is a NO-GO.

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So can one reload, and then "sell" the reload?

Not without an 06 FFL.
 

Allen

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My most extensive testing of the Redding dispenser was using RL-22.

To be honest, I have gotten FAR better results than I expected.
 

Allen

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Damn, I might have had a shit fit if'n that was the over/under when using my Redding.



A fucking shit fit.


I now understand things a little better....
 


TFX 186

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Guys,
I am going to buy some pistol dies for reloading. Specifically, carbide 3 die sets in 380, 9mm and 10mm dies. I want to use them on a Dillon 550 press. I see that dies are hard to find. I don't need them right away as I am still getting my shit together for ordering the press and other accessories. What brand should a guy be looking for? Any to stay away from?
And a big Thank You to [MENTION=412]SDMF[/MENTION] for the advise on presses and steering me in a direction. I trust your advise fully! I truly appreciate advise from fellow sportsmen who have experience and share. :;:thumbsup

Fish On!
 

SDMF

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I prefer Redding mostly for their bullet seating depth being adjustable with a thumb-screw vs. screw/lock-nut combo like RCBS. That said, RCBS parts and pieces (like de-capping pins, etc) are more readily available.

They'll all load good ammo and they're all threaded universally 7/8"-14. Dillon, RCBS, Redding, or Hornady will all work. Lee dies work too, but, IMO/IME their seater-stem doesn't have a locking feature and can potentially move, I'm not as big of a fan of them for that reason.
 

AR-15

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just picked up some 30-30 Winchester dies, now all I need is a rifle
 

Migrator Man

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Picked up a .270 and now need to pick some brass. Winchester is $26 per 50, nosler is $65 per 50, and Hornady is $40 per 50. Winchester brass looks rough with many bulls out of round. Are there any other good options? What would you experts for with?
 

SDMF

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All new hulls get run in/over the expander ball and rounded out before loading anyway.
 


Allen

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Picked up a .270 and now need to pick some brass. Winchester is $26 per 50, nosler is $65 per 50, and Hornady is $40 per 50. Winchester brass looks rough with many bulls out of round. Are there any other good options? What would you experts for with?


When I first started reloading some 15+ years ago, I started out with mostly Win and Rem once fired brass. I suppose I got 3-5 reloads out each of them before cases cracked.
 

SupressYourself

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Hornady is pretty good, Winchester is ok, and Nosler is not worth it.
Lapua, Peterson, and ADG are top-tier. I think out of those, only Peterson makes 270 Win.
In any case, you should run it through your sizer before loading to make sure each is uniform.
 

Migrator Man

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Been trying to find 300 wsm brass . I was reading somewhere that I could resize most of the WSM calibers into 300 wsm. I found some 325 WSM brass locally that is not a bad price at all. Anyone ever resize that has any tips or if you would have any concerns running 325 wsm brass through my 300 wsm dies?
 

SDMF

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Been trying to find 300 wsm brass . I was reading somewhere that I could resize most of the WSM calibers into 300 wsm. I found some 325 WSM brass locally that is not a bad price at all. Anyone ever resize that has any tips or if you would have any concerns running 325 wsm brass through my 300 wsm dies?

Imperial sizing wax. Trim them all before you load them as they'll lengthen when you neck them down.

I've necked lots of .308 down to .7-08 in a single pass and that's a bigger step down (.308 down to .284) than .323 down to .308.

FWIW, Precision Reloading out of Mitchell SD has Nosler Custom brass in 300WSM in stock. $89/box of 25.
 
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Kentucky Windage

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I would rather neck up than neck down. Necking down can result in thicker neck walls. The cure to that is to turn the necks(probably my least favorite thing to do to brass). I had this happen resizing 308 to 7mm-08. You will find out for sure when you seat bullets. The pill jackets will shave off during seating.
 


Zogman

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Migrator Man

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Imperial sizing wax. Trim them all before you load them as they'll lengthen when you neck them down.

I've necked lots of .308 down to .7-08 in a single pass and that's a bigger step down (.308 down to .284) than .323 down to .308.

FWIW, Precision Reloading out of Mitchell SD has Nosler Custom brass in 300WSM in stock. $89/box of 25.

Over $3 per piece of brass!!!! Even more insane than paying $60 a box for Federal Fusion.

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I would rather neck up than neck down. Necking down can result in thicker neck walls. The cure to that is to turn the necks(probably my least favorite thing to do to brass). I had this happen resizing 308 to 7mm-08. You will find out for sure when you seat bullets. The pill jackets will shave off during seating.

So would I be better off using 7mm WSM brass and upsizing it to 300 wsm?
 

SupressYourself

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If the only difference between 325 WSM and 300 WSM is the neck diameter (I haven't checked), then necking down would be the way to go.
You'd only be necking down .015 (roughly), whereas necking up from 7mm WSM would be .024.

I've necked down both 6.5 Grendel and 6.5 Creed to 6mm versions and haven't had a problem.
 

sweeney

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Anyone try using CCI no34 primers in typical rifle rounds such as 6.5 creed or 300wm? They say they are magnum primers similar to cci 250’s but wonder if anyone has used them ?
I use them in my 6.5 cm and prc as well as 308 and will probably use them in 30-06. No problems no issues in any of the factory rifles I started using them in development so worked my way up, if you have a set load with other primer I would start low and load up a few rounds to make sure you don’t have an anomaly.
 

sweeney

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Anyone try using CCI no34 primers in typical rifle rounds such as 6.5 creed or 300wm? They say they are magnum primers similar to cci 250’s but wonder if anyone has used them ?
I use them in my 6.5 cm and prc as well as 308 and will probably use them in 30-06. No problems no issues in any of the factory rifles I started using them in development so worked my way up, if you have a set load with other primer I would start low and load up a few rounds to make sure you don’t have an anomaly.
 


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