match grade ammo reloads?

flowmaster · November 11, 2007, 10:14 PM

is it possible to reload match grade 308 ammo to get it to the exact same specs when i purchased them? i am considering starting to reload for my remington 700 and just wanted to make sure it is worth the investment. Thanks for any input

mrawesome22 · November 11, 2007, 10:30 PM

What specs? FPS?

Good hand loads will always far out perform any factory load. As long as the loader knows what they are doing. Hand loads are custom tuned. Factory loads are mass produced "one size fits all".

Slamfire · November 11, 2007, 11:37 PM

Factory match ammunition is pretty good stuff. I have witnessed the Service Rifle teams using factory loaded match ammunition at Camp Perry. Typically they use factory Federal Gold Medal, or Black Hills Match, out to 300 yards. At 600 yards they use their own homebrews.

Yes, you can duplicate the accuracy, and the velocity of factory match ammunition. You can purchase the same match bullets used in factory match ammunition, you can purchase and load equivalent powders, and you can reuse your brass.

All serious competitive shooters shot reloaded ammunition. There might be one or two who are so wealthy that they shoot factory everywhere, but the norm is reloads. And if you ever see their groups, it can be awesome.

Tim R · November 12, 2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

All serious competitive shooters shot reloaded ammunition. There might be one or two who are so wealthy that they shoot factory everywhere, but the norm is reloads. And if you ever see their groups, it can be awesome.

I agree with Slamfire 100%. I would not cheap out on the dies and scale.

Savings can be unbelieveable. When I was shooting my tuned 308 M-1, Federal Match was about $22.00 + tax on a box of 20. I would need 88 rounds per match so I would need a 100, nice to have a few left over in case something happened and had to refire a string. Reloading the same 100 rounds was about $44.00 not buying in bulk.

The old standby for a bolt gun is 42 grs of IMR 4064 with a Federal match primer. I would also try Wolf (read good reviews and reportably Tubbs is using them) CCI and Remington Bench rest primers to see which one works the best. This all starts a Serria 168 Match King.

I'm currently, although a bit slow at it, working on a 308 load using Reloader 15 for my M-1. Varget showed promise as well. I now shoot a tuned AR which is way cheaper to shoot and has no recoil.

November 11, 2007, 10:14 PM	#1
flowmaster Junior Member Join Date: November 11, 2007 Posts: 4	match grade ammo reloads? is it possible to reload match grade 308 ammo to get it to the exact same specs when i purchased them? i am considering starting to reload for my remington 700 and just wanted to make sure it is worth the investment. Thanks for any input __________________ If you present yourself as bullet proof, expect to be fired upon!

November 11, 2007, 10:30 PM	#2
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	What specs? FPS? Good hand loads will always far out perform any factory load. As long as the loader knows what they are doing. Hand loads are custom tuned. Factory loads are mass produced "one size fits all".

November 11, 2007, 11:37 PM	#3
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	Factory match ammunition is pretty good stuff. I have witnessed the Service Rifle teams using factory loaded match ammunition at Camp Perry. Typically they use factory Federal Gold Medal, or Black Hills Match, out to 300 yards. At 600 yards they use their own homebrews. Yes, you can duplicate the accuracy, and the velocity of factory match ammunition. You can purchase the same match bullets used in factory match ammunition, you can purchase and load equivalent powders, and you can reuse your brass. All serious competitive shooters shot reloaded ammunition. There might be one or two who are so wealthy that they shoot factory everywhere, but the norm is reloads. And if you ever see their groups, it can be awesome.