Reloading your own 308 Winchester ammunition can be a rewarding and cost-effective endeavor. Whether you're a seasoned reloader or just starting, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of prepping and reloading 308 Winchester brass, ensuring accuracy and safety.
Preparing Your 308 Winchester Brass
Before you even think about reloading, you need to properly prepare your brass. This crucial step ensures consistent performance and prevents potential issues down the line.
1. Case Inspection and Sorting
Begin by thoroughly inspecting each casing. Look for:
- Cracks: Check the necks, shoulders, and bodies for any cracks, even hairline fractures. Discard any damaged cases.
- Dents and Imperfections: Significant dents can affect case capacity and potentially lead to pressure issues. While minor dents might be acceptable, severely deformed cases should be rejected.
- Primer Pockets: Examine the primer pockets for any damage or excessive wear. Loose or damaged pockets can cause misfires. You can use a primer pocket uniformer to clean up slightly damaged pockets.
- Case Length: Maintain consistent case length for optimal performance. Cases that are significantly shorter or longer than others should be separated.
Once inspected, sort your brass by headstamp (manufacturer and lot) and case length. This helps maintain consistency during the reloading process.
2. Cleaning the Brass
Cleaning your brass removes residue and debris from previous firings. This improves case life and ensures consistent performance. Several methods exist:
- Tumbling: This is a popular and efficient method using a rotary tumbler with media (corncob, walnut, or plastic) and a cleaning solution. This process cleans and polishes the brass simultaneously.
- Ultrasonic Cleaning: This method uses ultrasonic vibrations to dislodge debris from the brass. It's very effective but can be more expensive than tumbling.
- Manual Cleaning: For smaller batches, manual cleaning with brushes and solvents is feasible, though it’s more time-consuming.
Regardless of your chosen method, ensure the brass is thoroughly dried before proceeding.
3. Sizing Your Brass
Sizing your brass is critical for ensuring consistent chambering and proper bullet seating. This process uses a sizing die to resize the case to its original dimensions. You'll need a sizing die appropriate for your specific reloading press. Consider full-length sizing for cases with significant expansion or neck sizing for cases fired in the same rifle to preserve case life.
Reloading Your 308 Winchester Brass: Step-by-Step
With your brass prepped, you're ready to reload. Remember, safety is paramount. Always follow the reloading manual for your specific components and equipment.
1. Decapping
This step removes the spent primer using a decapping die. This is often integrated with the sizing die for efficiency.
2. Case Preparation (Optional)
Depending on your preferred method, you may choose to further prepare your cases, potentially including trimming to a uniform length, chamfering the case mouth, and deburring to improve overall bullet seating and prevent case damage.
3. Primer Seating
Using a primer seating tool, carefully seat new primers into each resized case. Avoid using excessive force; a firm press is sufficient.
4. Powder Charging
Use a powder measure to accurately dispense the correct amount of powder into each case. Always double-check your powder charges to ensure accuracy and consistency. This is the most crucial step in ensuring safe and accurate ammunition.
5. Bullet Seating
Seat the bullets to the desired depth using a bullet seating die. Ensure consistent seating depth for accuracy.
6. Crimping (Optional)
Crimping helps securely hold the bullet in place and prevents it from being dislodged during handling or firing. This step is accomplished with a crimping die.
Conclusion
Reloading 308 Winchester brass offers significant advantages for the dedicated shooter. By following these steps and prioritizing safety, you can produce accurate and reliable ammunition at a fraction of the cost of commercially produced rounds. Remember that consistent attention to detail and adherence to safety guidelines are essential throughout the entire process. Always refer to your specific reloading manual for detailed instructions and safety precautions.
