Reloading .308, starter kits?

[paxtond]

right i want to start loading my own .308 rounds

im looking at what equipment to buy but it seems like a mine field.

somebody reccomended this to me

http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Loa ... Kit-Deluxe

wanted to see your guys thoughts?

[dromia]

Like all one manufacturers kits it includes the good an the bad along with some things that you might not actually need.

Hornady make some excellent equipment and the only issue I have with that kit is the electronic scales, Hornady used to do a good balance beam scale which they dropped in preference to the electronic scale and I think that was a backward step.

The press is an especially fine one and the LnL system has some merits too as your handloading develops.

Its certainly not the cheapest route but you do get all that you need from a quality manufacturer and the kit does seem complete, I have and use many of the products in that kit and find them to be good. Keep in mind that you will still have to add a set of dies as well.

So if you want to get going without the hassle of shopping around and saving the odd £ isn't an issue then its all there for you, the only caveats I would say is I would want a good balance beam scale and check weights as well as the electronic ones and a good die set is also required. Also there is no case trimmer but the Lee calibre case length gauge are cheap enough so long as you are happy with their fixed length and none of cases are shorter than the Lee fixed length.

You pays your money and you takes your choice.

[ovenpaa]

It's actually a reasonable starter kit and has a lot of what you will need, fair to say there are a few parts that I would probably upgrade and some that i would never use, I prefer a digital vernier and would probably look for some beam scales and add the Target Master system at some point.

[Sandgroper]

If it's just 308 Win, why not just go for a Lee Loader? http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?mai ... ts_id=1726

That's what I did when I first started reloading - a whole kit in one. The only thing I would buy as well, is a priming tool as the priming method for the LL is not for the faint hearted! :lol:

[John25]

You can start with just dies, press, scales, priming tool and a tea spoon; but I wouldn't recommend it nowadays.

Some of us started before the days of kit and bought stuff as we thought we needed it. This is why many of is have a shed full of kit we rarely, if ever, use.


Have a look at this:

http://www.full-bore.co.uk/viewtopic.ph ... =+beginner

There was another thread which I can't seem to find.


There are some items in that kit which I wouldn't use to get the accuracy and consistency I need for some of my calibres , the powder thrower for instance (I have two) but I do for my 'fun' loads.

Visit someone who already reloads and see what kit they have.

You will get good advice here too so I would say, before you buy anything, do what you have already done and put your question here.

As has been said, you pays your money.

I started with a Lee Loader too, not the most accurate bit of kit and I don't ever use it, you will very quickly outgrow it.


If you are a complete beginner, add a book to your list.

Be warned, reloading can wreck your social life :lol:

[spud]

ALREADY DONE FOR YOU

http://1967spud.com/index.php/en/the-sh ... r-kit.html


OR IF YOU WANT SOME THING MORE FUTURE PROOF

http://1967spud.com/index.php/en/the-sh ... d-kit.html