Loading 150gr MRX in 308 Win

[cpileri]

Maybe I am missing it, but I don’t see factory loaded 150gr Barnes MRX projectiles in 308 Winchester- and I want some.

My question is going to be how should I set my dies/etc to make sure my loading length is correct?

I have a Lee Hand Press kit, a set of Lee Deluxe 308 dies and a Lee Factory Crimp die; digital and manual calipers.

The Barnes folks recommend in 308 to make sure at least 0.205” of full-diameter projectile shank be set into the case neck for proper crimp, and ALSO to set the projectile to be between 0.03” and 0.07” off the lands for best accuracy.

The load I want to duplicate as much as possible is the federal P308V. The recipe I am using will be
150gr MRX projectiles,
COAL: 2.81”
Case: Federal
Case length; factory (2.005”)
Primer: fed 210
Powder: between 42.5 and 45 gr of H4895

Now, maybe this is much simpler than I am making it. I hope so. But how exactly do I set these dies to make sure I meet:
1. all the length and space requirements, especially the distance from the lands?
and,
2. the ‘tightness’ of the factory crimp? I mean really, is there a torque wrench for this purpose or something? I am pretty strong so if I am not careful I can crimp the heck out of the thing by hand pressure alone. Obviously I don’t want to do that.

Sure would appreciate any help you can give me to make this easier!

In themeantime, I am surfing these sites;
http://www.geocities.com/leereloading/index.htm
http://www.leeprecision.com/

C-

 

[cpileri]

help?

bump

 

[GooseGestapo]

For case length and trimming get the Lee case trimmer set. For less than $10, you don't even need to check the case length after/before trimming. Be sure to chamfer (lightly ream) the case necks after trimming. An electric drill makes this even quicker and easier.

Reloader15 or Varget will likely be your best powders for duplicating the factory load.

Don't start with maximum loads................
Working up a load with those bullets is likely to be a very expensive proposition. I can't imagine shooting bullets that cost as much as $2 each, not to mention the cost of the rest of the componenets.
Won't a Remington CorLokt kill just as well, or perhaps a Ballistic Tip ??????
(I'm familiar with the MRX and it's heritage, I'm just not dissatisfied with the conventional bullets).

Crimping is accomplished with the seating die and depends on how deeply you turn in the die into the press assembly.
I'd recommending not crimping the bullets on the MRX as they are solid bronze/copper and the deformation of crimping is not likely to make them shoot better. Most of the MRX and TripleShok's I've seen reloaded (pictures in magazines) don't indicate crimping.

If you are this inexperieced in reloading, I'd NOT recommend starting out with bullets that cost $40-50.00 per 20 !!!

Without a Chronograph and a very good set of scales, I'd not even dream of attempting what you are looking to do.