.308 loading new guy

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unwise11

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I just got into loading, and got all RCBS stuff, and I had my neck sizer break on me, so I called RCBS and they're sending me another, but, I full length sized and deprimed all my cases, I cleaned the flashholes with a little brush.
I then wiped all the cases shiny with a rag, and begun to prime them, now.. I'm nervous, the loading part.. I'm using a 125 grain Sierra Prohunter bullet, and Varget powder, and mainly Federal cases, along with some hornady and PMC I need to shoot.
I am wanting some Data for that bullet, and powder, anyone have some?
And is Tumbling 100% needed?
because I got the outside of my cases pretty clean with case lube and a rag..
Thanks, _JD
 
Loading depends on what type of shooting you wish to do
what the gun characteristics are Barrel length etc.

I would suggest that you obtain some loading manuals
and work with their starting loads.
Most of the major bullet Mfg. have excellent informative manuals.

Good luck

De inimico non loquaris male, sed cogites
 
Tumbling is not required. All it does is clean the outside of the brass so that it will function in your firearm and dies without damaging them. Sounds like you took care of that with the rag. I would reccomend you remove all lube from the completed cartridges before firing. A lubed case fired at hgh-end pressures could be a problem.

WY Child made a good point about reloading manuals. Load data is available on the web (Hodgdon's site and others), but there is alot of very good info in the manuals that you need to be reading.
 
I am wanting some Data for that bullet, and powder, anyone have some?
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Loading manuals are not something you want to try to save money on. I have four different manuals. I usually only use one, but i always compare loads from book to book. I would suggest this one as a starter. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=217655 Not only will it have load data, but much useful information on reloading itself.

And is Tumbling 100% needed?
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I would say yes and no. I like tumbling even my clean bolt rifle cases. Gets the inside all nice and shiny. :D Also, you dont want to have any grit on your cases. You do not want to scar the inside of your dies.

For load data. Go to the hodgdon website. You will find plenty of loads with varget there.
 
I would also suggest The ABC's of Reloading as a good reference book. This book will answer most of the questions that will arise from time to time, but you're always welcome here. The book has "instant answers" however.
 
Hodgdon lists a range of 48.0-50.0 gr of Varget for that bullet. Naturally, you should start with 48.0 and see how that works first. If all is well, you can gradually increase it.

You definitely need to get a couple manuals though. How on earth did you break a neck sizer?
 
JD

Load data is often written with Winchester / Commercial Brass. They are a little thinner and have a little more case volume than Federal Cases "FC" witch are pretty much identical to Lake City "LC" Military Brass. So when loading for Federal Brass you need to start a couple of grains lower than most of the loading manuals and online loading data you find.

Hodgdon powder has a nice website with load data here's the link: http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Bullet Weight (Gr.) Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Starting Load: Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Max Load Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

125 GR. SIE SP Hodgdon Varget .308" 2.700" 48.0 3049 42,400 CUP 50.0C 3135 45,700 CUP


Varget is a great powder but I would reccommend it's use with a heavier bullet. The 125's are lite and a faster powder will most likely work better.
 
I may have missed it if someone else mentioned it, but JD you didn't mention checking your cases for length. If they are too long you will need to trim them also.
 
for the 125g pills here is what ive got in lees 2nd edition for varget.

starting loads are 48gns, compressed, 2.700 o.a.l. yielding 3018fps.
maxxed loads are 50gns, compressed, 2.700 o.a.l. yielding 3135fps.

Varget is a great powder but I would reccommend it's use with a heavier bullet. The 125's are lite and a faster powder will most likely work better.
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i would agree with jp.

i'd bet 168g hpbt would be superb in your rifle. other advantages too, like less powder. starting loads for a 168 with varget are in the 42g range. its only 6g less, but every 8th round or so is a "powder freeby" lol.......... also the longer bullets will give you more uniform neck tension by virtue of the brass having better purchase on the bullet. another advantage would be that with 168's, you wont need to compress..... (i know its safe, but i hate hearing powder crunch, lol)

of course, i wouldnt go throwing your 125's away, but make sure and try some 168's

someone above mentioned trimming, and you will need to trim those cases.
 
The neck sizer was apparantly goofed when I got it, and stuck cases, that were well lubed, do once fired cases need trimming?
I can't afford all this, Trimmer= 80 manuals= 20 bullets= 20
Grrrr.
 
Buy a basic case gauge that you can file over for trimming, buy cheap bullets, but invest in a manual or two.

Personally, I like the Wilson trimmer, it's cheap and solid.
Lee makes the Zip Trim, cheaper by far. I know nothing about it personally though.

Bullets can be had in a variety of forms, but I've never bothered loading hunting bullets for learning loading, but rather work my way up with a similar paper punching bullet.
If you want to go especially cheap, buy mil-spec bullets from pull down sales, or factory blemish bullets. (Most of these will be in the 150-190 grain category from what I've seen, but that makes the powder charges a bit more forgiving with the Varget you mentioned.)
They fly just fine for most people's purposes, as long as you're not one of the hair of a gnat at half a kilometer crowd.


Enjoy whichever way you go, but I'd suggest at least spending the money on a book or two.
The mentioned ABC's of Reloading is good, as are just about any of the big named ones you can come across.
 
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I doubt you could put enough Varget in a .308 case to blow up an in-spec rifle with that 125gr bullet, at least not without compressing the powder a lot.
 
I doubt you could put enough Varget in a .308 case to blow up an in-spec rifle with that 125gr bullet, at least not without compressing the powder a lot.
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nope. prolly not. even starting loads with a 125g bullet are compressed.


the op should be able to get a complete trimming setup for around 20-25 bux (provided you have some sort of drill available (cordless is best but any kind will do)

here ya go. this is all you will need to trim those 308 cases (provided you have a drill of some sort)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lee-Cutter-Lock...610?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a02552f9a

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lee-Case-Length...890?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e5d4fdd02

less that 15 bux with shipping included
 
What's the big deal about compressed loads? are they dangerous? or harder to load?
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no big deal really. not harder to load or anything.

it just always gives me the willys hearing powder crunch and crackle over a live primer.

its not dangerous (or at least ive never heard of anyone having an incident compressing loads if following the recipes in a manual)
 
No, not really. It's just that when most of us began reloading we were always loading on the mild side to start with and were used to seeing some space between the powder and the bullet. My first compressed load just kind of made me nervous because it just didn't seem "right" for some reason to be mashing that powder down into the case with the bullet. But I did it, figuring the load manuals and a million idiots on the internet couldn't be wrong. Once I got past that first batch, it didn't really bother me. It does make you want to double check all your references and weight measurements though when you first start to mash on that powder.
 
My first compressed load just kind of made me nervous because it just didn't seem "right" for some reason to be mashing that powder down into the case with the bullet.
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ya, me too, lol.

jd, with heavier bullets you wont be compressing them because you use far less powder.
 
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