Need reloading advice

[MEHavey]

I'll send a variation on something I sent to my graduate forum awhile back... on reloading for both AR variants and M1 Garands

Recomend:

Ammunition: If you haven't already order at least another 1,000 rounds 30-06 from DCM/CMP. (You probably already know HXP Greek surplus 150gr/2700fps is what they (mostly) sell, and it's is considered superior to even Lake City for quality by many aficionados.)

Reloading:
Powder - Stock up on IMR4895 & IMR4064 for the .30 calibers. Get Hodgdon VARGET, H335, H322, and IMR4895 again for the .223. (Obviously, if I only were to get *one* powder, IMR4895 is "it".)

Primers - Get CCI (small & large rifle) primers. Get at least of "brick" of a thousand each. Stay away from Federal primers. They are considered too soft/more prone to slamfire in high-impact autoloading rifles, (but are fine for bolt actions/pistols). MidwayUSA & Cabela's sell it cheap over internet.

Brass - Get (even more) Winchester unprimed brass. MidwayUSA & Cabela’s sell it cheap (again). Some people say "too thin," but I've never had a problem... (and it's got the highest internal volume; and the chamber walls support the pressure, not the brass).

Bullets - I stay with Sierra (primarily) & Hornady. (MidwayUsa/Cabella’s again). Get 150gr/SP, 165grSP and the 168grHPBT-Match (used by the snipers) for the .30 calibers. Depending on barrel twist in the .223, get anywhere from 55gr - 68/69gr match)

Primer Seater - Go with the Lee "Autoprime" manual priming tool. It primes as fast as your little hands can squeeze AND you feel/see how every primer seats (critical for autoloaders). Also get the different shell-holders for the cases being loaded

Dies - Get RCBS *Competition* Die sets (MidwayUsa/Cabellas again). They permit very precise bullet alignment/runout, and repeatable seating depths for different bullets using a micrometer adjustment head.

Press - Do NOT get a rotary-head loading press. The Lyman Crusher-II and the RCBS Rockchucker are the standards. Ditto getting the different case/shell holders for this press as well.

Powder Scale - You'll probably want a balance beam scale to start (and to be the Holy Grail when you feel nervous, e.g Lyman's Pro 1000). But having played the classic balance beam for almost 40 years, NOTHING has impressed me more than the new RCSB electronic "Chargemaster Combo" w/ automatic dispenser & scale. It is literally "…set the weight, push a button, and pour the powder into the case…" a coupla 5-8 seconds later. VERY HARD TO SCREW UP.

"Stuff" - You'll need a case neck brush/motor-mica (http://www.forsterproducts.com/Pages/graphiter.htm); case sizing lube; mouth chamfer/deburring tool; Primer pocket uniformer (manual, but will fit in hand drill)--a must for the autoloaders;

Precision "Stuff" - Get a (digital) blade micrometer. Best investment you will ever make for any number of uses. Get either Hornady's Lock-N-Load Headspace Gauge set to go with it, or an RCBS Precision Mic as well.
http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=485
http://www.intlmidway.com/intl/eprod...eitemid=622021


IF YOU"VE GOTTEN THIS FAR WITHOUT HAVING HIT "DELETE," THEN YOU'RE A RELOADER CANDIDATE

[2571]

Old Rockchuckers were made for eternity. New ones come from PRC and there are 'net reports of breakage.

I started with a R Chucker but have now gone back in time to using an ancient Lyman for pistol. A dollar saved is a dollar for components.

[MEHavey]

>
> Old Rockchuckers were made for eternity. New ones come from
> PRC and there are 'net reports of breakage.
>

Geeeeez. `Wonder if this is part of a bigger "plan."