beginner please help!!

[lil_hunter12]

id say ill have to use 150 grain and lighter bullets. my factory 150 grain bullets shoot great any brand. but you cant use 180 and hit the broadside of a barn from inside it.
 

[lil_hunter12]

i got my lee loader in my load books for the .308 lee case trimmer and lee powder measure kit. now i have the need for powder primers and bullets which will have to wait a few weeks. since i am working my way through college and a payment is coming up on the next payday.

[Travis Morgan]

For $22 that would have to be the classic loader.  They are fine, if you just want to make a few rounds of ammo.  Also be aware that since it neck sizes only, you'll probably only be able to load brass that has been fired in the gun that you intend to reload for.  That is to say if you have two .308s, you'll need to keep the brass from each rifle separate, as well as the reloaded ammo, as each will be formed to that particular rifles chamber.  Gather all the info you can, and get answers to all your question before you start reloading, it will save you much frustration, money and time.  Good Luck, JR

     Horseapples. I use mine to size .30-06 ammo. You just have to use plenty of lube and a little muscle. I use the Lee instead of my Rockchucker because when I stick a case in the Rockchucker, I get it REALLY stuck. I'm just glad I didn't start reloading when I was younger and stronger.

[Travis Morgan]

If I had to start over again today I would but Hornady equipment they give away free bullets for there items.
http://www.hornady.com/get_loaded.php

     The only dies I buy anymore are Lee, Hornady, and Redding. Lees are the cheapest, and a tie for the favorite. Lees also have a powder through dies so you can pour powder in during the sizing operation. If you really get into reloading, you're gonna have a lot of LEE dies, as they're at least as good but cheaper that the other brands, and carry more specialty stuff like factory crimp dies and neck sizing dies that don't cost more than a complete set. If you get off on Precision and happen to own a few Blue Chip stocks, you'll have the Redding or Forster precision micrometer stuff.
    As for powder, I'll recommend Varget, as it works really well in all but extremely hot temperatures, but it'll still work better than most then. Varget also works for pretty much any normal caliber, and data is really easy to find, unlike with some other powders I could name. Open any load book, and there's some Varget data for your caliber, most likely. It's been used world wide         in long distance competition by guys that only use what works.

[Oldshooter]

Find primers before you invest in equipment yet.

AND POWDER!!!

[lil_hunter12]

i can get powder but all the guy has is winchester 760 and it is 24.99 a pound. i was gonna buy a pound of that some primers and bullets the other day but the man didnt have primers and bullets. he said he'd hold me a pound back of the powder. and try to get some primers and powder in.

[Travis Morgan]

Don't forget that you can generally scrounge brass buckets at the range for free.

[lil_hunter12]

i havent got a range nearby so i plan to just reuse the cases i have and get all the cases from my buddy when he had a .308 and see if the cases will chamber we both used the same 2 brands of ammo. so the loads should be the same.

[Travis Morgan]

Actually, when you fire a round, the brass swells to fit the chamber. The brand of brass makes no difference. Once you full length resize them though, that will not be an issue.

[lil_hunter12]

i bought the lee loader so i that will size the necks and i also bought a lee case trimmer and lee case length gauge and shell holder i am not sure what i have to have to full length resize the cases but i have heard i can only load for my rifle with cases fired from it.

[Travis Morgan]

Actually, they'll probably chamber just fine, but even if you only neck size, after about 3 loadings, you're gonna need to full length resize. If you look on E-bay, you'll probably find an RCBS Rockchucker pretty cheap. It's about the strongest press out there.