A J
Well-Known Member
I know this subject is no doubt asked by every new member to this forum at some point, but I'm looking for some starting advice from someone who may have a similar setup to me and in most of the existing threads I have found, the advice has been very much specific to that persons rifle / requirements.
I'm looking to start home loading for the first time. I currently have a Sako 85 with a 20" Varmint barrel - 11" twist (ASE Ultra stainless mod) in .308 and I don't have any existing loading kit.
I'm generally of the mindset that buying right the first time is better than buying cheap and buying twice, although I don't want to spend more than I really need to. I guess the reloading kit is fairly generic and not specific to my rifle, but any advice on what kit I should start off with would be greatly appreciated.
Do I need a media tumbler or sonic cleaner, or both? Should I get a multi stage press, or is a standard press sufficient with the right additional tools? What additional tools should I get and any recommendations?
I guess where it gets specific is what cartridge components should I start out with.
What loading book?
What bullet type / weight for range use?
What bullet type / weight for stalking? (I currently have some factory Hornady 150gr SST, but not tried them out in the wild yet)
What brass.. Sako, Hornady, Lapua, Fed?
What powder?
What primers?
I intend to load for both stalking and range use and I appreciate that I'll require different bullets for each discipline. The rifle will get more use on the range than for stalking at the moment.
I also intend to load for .223 in the near future and once I know what I'm doing, so kit that will be capable of swapping between the two sizes easily would be beneficial.
Thanks.
I'm looking to start home loading for the first time. I currently have a Sako 85 with a 20" Varmint barrel - 11" twist (ASE Ultra stainless mod) in .308 and I don't have any existing loading kit.
I'm generally of the mindset that buying right the first time is better than buying cheap and buying twice, although I don't want to spend more than I really need to. I guess the reloading kit is fairly generic and not specific to my rifle, but any advice on what kit I should start off with would be greatly appreciated.
Do I need a media tumbler or sonic cleaner, or both? Should I get a multi stage press, or is a standard press sufficient with the right additional tools? What additional tools should I get and any recommendations?
I guess where it gets specific is what cartridge components should I start out with.
What loading book?
What bullet type / weight for range use?
What bullet type / weight for stalking? (I currently have some factory Hornady 150gr SST, but not tried them out in the wild yet)
What brass.. Sako, Hornady, Lapua, Fed?
What powder?
What primers?
I intend to load for both stalking and range use and I appreciate that I'll require different bullets for each discipline. The rifle will get more use on the range than for stalking at the moment.
I also intend to load for .223 in the near future and once I know what I'm doing, so kit that will be capable of swapping between the two sizes easily would be beneficial.
Thanks.
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