Reloader Newbie with ????

[rauchman]

Greetings all,

I have an itch to get into accurate target rifle shooting out to 300 yards. I live in NJ and would like to actually shoot out to 1000 yards but no place around here exists for that. I primarily shoot handguns and currently have a few 22lr rifles and a 16" Bushmaster AR. I'm not into hunting, so hunting wouldn't have a factor in caliber choice. Looking to get a bolt gun in either .223, .243, 6mm Rem, or .308 for target shooting. I have never reloaded, don't have reloading equipment yet, but figure that to truly enjoy shooting centerfire rifle I will have to get reloading equipment to offset cost of purchased ammo and also to work up accurate loads for said rifle.
So here are my questions that I hope you folks can help me with:

1. Which caliber is recommended out of the ones listed to acheive extreme accuracy, least cost, but could be used out to at least 600 yards in the event I find a longer distance range?

2. With regards to .223 and .308, does it pay to get military surplus ammo to shoot for fun out of an AR and possibly an FAL, and then reuse the brass from this ammo for very accurate shooting in a bolt gun?

3. With regards to .243 Win and 6mm Rem, I've read that .243 barrels burn out relatively quickly. Someone had mentioned that if you don't "firewall" the ammo the barrel will last much longer. This was explained as not using loads that are very hot. Wouldn't this then take away some of the umphh that the .243 is capable of? Also, is the 6mm Rem known as a round that burns barrels quickly? Basically, which of these 2 rounds would be preferred for reloading and accuracy capability?

4. As far as reloading equipment. Is a progressive press preferred for making very accurate ammo? If so, is the Dillon 650 a good way to go? If not, then which presses and equipment is recommended? I'm not a high maintenance kind of person. I'm looking for lowest amount of effort for the most performance possible.

Thanks for your time.

Ken

 

[Bacchus]

Based on the cartridges you mentioned, I'd go with the 308. I'm sure you can get to 600 yards with all of them, but it should be easier with the 308.

I think that military surplus ammo is usually a good deal. I would order some and then re-use the brass. It shouldn't be a problem.

As far as single stage vs. progressive presses:

Single stages are slow. They are also significantly cheaper than progressives. It depends on how much you want to reload at a time (are we talking 100 rounds a session or 500) and how much time you're willing to devote to it. I use a single stage and can reload about 75-100 rounds per hour, max.

 

[Steve Smith]

Hard to get to work with intersting questions out there.

I shoot an AR-15 in Highpower Rifle competition and I like the round a lot for punching paper. I shoot at 600 yards regularly, and many friends do well at 1000 with theirs. We do use different twist rate barrels and bullets, though.

A .223 with the proper twist rate and bullet can outshoot most if not all .308s in wind at distance. The .223 also has the advantages of good barrel life and low reloading costs.

There are an awful lot of 6mm cartridges. Some are great on barrels, some are awful. Almost all are great at distance.

.243 IS bad on barrels. Killer on targets though. Reducing the load negates some of the benefits, as you suggested.

A lot of Highpower shooters use progressives. I do, and I've proven to myself time and again that they produce excellent ammo for even 600 yard shooting. Most folks will tell you something different though, just because they've never tried it. I use a 500b. I think a 650 would be great.

 

[rauchman]

I'm looking to load the most amount of ammo I can, with the least amount of work. I take it, a progressive loaded is the way to go with this. However, do you get more accurate loads with a progressive, a single stage, or does it matter?

 

[Steve Smith]

I think ultimately you'd get the MOST accurate ammo out of an arbor press. However, this is pretty arguable. Read "Black Magic" by John Feamster. Its about ARs so most will be off topic for you...but his scientific comparison between single stage ammo and Dillon 550 ammo is very telling. I have not gone to the lengths that John did to prove the viability of the progressive in a world of single stages, but I have done enough to know it is just as good, if not BETTER. But I am a nobody. FWIW, David Tubb uses a (slightly modified) Dillon. His modfication was the addition of a Prometheus powder measure. Unless you're competing with him, I don't think you have to worry about that.

 

[rauchman]

Another question,

Can, for example, a Dillon 650 press be used with, let's say RCBS or LEE dies? In other words, can one manufacturers press be used with other manufactures dies?

 

[Steve Smith]

You bet. I don't think I know anyone using Dillon dies for rifle.

 

[rammy]

as a newbie myself (just started reloading this weekend.) I like the fact that I have some controll over the reloading process with the single stage press. I like to learn all the ins-and-outs of reloading before I make that step to a progressive press. I feel that there is less control. it is hard to explaine my way of thanking. Once I have a better understanding of the reloading process I think that I would like to upgrade. I enjoy shooting and I enjoy reloading plus I get to shoot 2x as much!!!!

mark