Barebones set up to load 300 AAC with primed brass

[kelbro]

All good suggestions but you'll be 'all dressed up with no place to go' if you can't find any 30 cal bullets suitable for 300BO. Get those FIRST!

 

[PorkChopsMmm]

witchhunter -- good advice about the sectioning of the barn. Primed 300BLK brass is available online.

30 cal bullits -- now I need to start looking for those.

 

[Joshua Seymour]

I have had great luck with speer hot cor 130 grain .30 cal bullets. I load them on top of 17.9 grains H110 giving me about 2200 fps. I haven't had the chance to shoot past 50 yards, but grouping at 50 yards off of a backpack has been nickel sized. I hope it proves to be a good deer load.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you want to stay very inexpensive this press will be a better choice than the hand press.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/807734/lee-reloader-single-stage-press?cm_vc=ProductFinding

Take a look at this two presses, they aren't very big ticket items and will serve you well IMO.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/17...-lock-single-stage-press?cm_vc=ProductFinding
https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-classic-cast-press-90998.html (I like this one, out of stock right now but in stock at midway for $13 more)

 

[Walkalong]

I have had great luck with speer hot cor 130 grain .30 cal bullets. I load them on top of 14.3 grains H110 giving me about 2200 fps. I haven't had the chance to shoot past 50 yards, but grouping at 50 yards off of a backpack has been nickel sized. I hope it proves to be a good deer load.

My barrel doesn't like them, which is a shame, because they hold together very well in wet red clay. (Just short of 2200 FPS) The 125 Gr SST came apart in it. (Lost its jacket) I wan to test the similar bullet from Sierra, but can't find any. Next are the 150/5 Gr tests, if the bullets I want to try ever come in stock.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I'm on a hunt for 200 + gr bullets since I'm staying subsonic only....

 

[Joshua Seymour]

My barrel doesn't like them, which is a shame, because they hold together very well in wet red clay. (Just short of 2200 FPS) The 125 Gr SST came apart in it. (Lost its jacket) I wan to test the similar bullet from Sierra, but can't find any. Next are the 150/5 Gr tests, if the bullets I want to try ever come in stock.

I have a box of the Speer 150s I just haven't loaded any. I fear that they will not have enough velocity to properly expand.

 

[Joshua Seymour]

I'm on a hunt for 200 + gr bullets since I'm staying subsonic only....

Try nosler 200gr partitions. I don't know if they will expand, but partitions are great bullets.

 

[Walkalong]

I have some Speer 150 Gr Hot Core bullets, as well as the newer 150 Gr Grand Slam. I figure the HC will expand better, but I don't know. I also want to test the 150 Gr pointed Core Lokt, since they work at .30-30 velocities. I would also like to try the Hornady 150 Gr Interlock, but it may be too tough.

 

[Swampman]

I pretty much agree with what's been posted so far, but I would urge you to consider a balance beam scale rather than an electronic. In my opinion they're more reliable and less likely to be affected by things like fluorescent lighting.

I may also have a higher opinion of the Lee hand press than many of the previous posters. While I agree that a good bench mounted single stage is superior, I've seen some very good ammo, including .375 H&H, turned out on the Lee hand press. The only task I've seen it fail at was resizing machine gun fired 7.62x51 Lake City cases. That particular batch of cases was so bad that they required TWO trips through the sizing die on a bench mounted single stage before they'd gauge properly.

You didn't say if you'd be loading subsonics for your Blackout, but if so, these bullets might work for you.

http://www.shootersproshop.com/shoo...rain-custome-competition-hpbt-100ct-blem.html

If you're interested in them, you'd best order soon, only 8 boxes in stock as of this post time.

Unfortunately, they're already sold out on these.

http://www.shootersproshop.com/shoo...nosler-30-125gr-ballistic-tip-blems-50ct.html

 

[PorkChopsMmm]

Thanks guys. Great info!

 

[PorkChopsMmm]

OK guys, pardon the wait. I am ready to buy the reloading equipment but someone made a suggestion that threw me off guard -- to buy one of the Lee Challenger reloading kits, like the one below. It seems like the benefit is it comes with the better press, powder measure, primer trays, and some misc. small tools like a chamfer tool, case cutting tool, etc. -- for $130. But I still need to buy a manual, dies, and a digital scale, if I want one. But if I buy the dies, simple Lee reloading press, scale, Lyman book, scale, etc. I am also looking at ~$130 but would have a "complete" set up.

So long story short -- Challenger press kit at $130 plus ~$90 in dies, scale, and reloading manual or just $130 all in for a more basic set up?

EDIT: Here's a link to the kit.
http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-50th-Anniversary-Reloading/dp/B00162RM3E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395017535&sr=8-2&keywords=lee+kit

 

[ddgarcia05]

I just bought a lee hand press. Here are some of the things I had to buy separate.

Breech lock bushing (optional but recommended / cheaper on eBay)
Digital scale $30
Caliper $30
Ammo cases (to put finished ammo / free if you can find trays in the trash at your local range which also double as loading trays)
Dies (cheaper of you buy them at bass pro)
Powder
Bullets
Primers $41 for 1k at bass pro
Loading blocks
Brass

 

[PorkChopsMmm]

OK, so I went in a slightly different direction than intended. When I realized I couldn't prime on the basic Lee press I started looking at the Challenger kit, as mentioned above. Then I realized I would need to buy locking rings and then some other pieces to swap dies and just said forget it an ordered the Classic Cast Turret kit, linked below, from Midsouth. I also bought a bullet puller, digital scale, reloading tray, 300 AAC dies, and a rifle charging die. I think I will be all set to go once I get powder and primers (will buy locally) and some bullets.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000690304

tyeo098 thanks again for the brass!

 

[smovlov]

That's the same route I went! If you haven't already get yourself a set of calipers. I perfer the dial over digital. Don't like hassling with batteries.

 

[HisStigness]

Good call going with classic turret. I'm using that now after upgrading from the Lee hand press. As smovlov said, calipers are important. I got digital ones from harbor freight for $15 and they're still going on the same battery over a year later.

 

[PorkChopsMmm]

Yup, I got the digital calipers from HF. Great minds think alike!