Newby here

eaglesnester · September 19, 2007, 01:06 PM

I am hunting with a P17 Enfield made by the folks at Remington. The rifle has been chambered in 308 Norma Mag. The rounds cost about 80 bucks a box of 20 up here in the great white north when you can get em. Not wanting to be caught with my pants down I have no choice but to reload. I don't mind reloading and can hardly wait to get all the good gear and start my studying. Have ordered the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master kit. I plan on getting a chroney as I am a serious target shooter as well as an avid hunter. One question here. Can I reload rounds as accurate and as hard hitting as the folks at Norma load. I mean after all they are the best there is, besides the people at Lapua. Norma has the best bullet components, and automated machines at their factory. Can I match their quality and accuracy by hand loading?
Cheers and Happy Shooting: Eaglesnester

rwilson452 · September 19, 2007, 01:14 PM

Here is a shocker for you, you can beat their quality and accuracy reloading. you can because you can build a round specific to your rifle. Use Norma bullets and you will get the exact same external and terminal ballistics

I am hunting with a P17 Enfield made by the folks at Remington. The rifle has been chambered in 308 Norma Mag. The rounds cost about 80 bucks a box of 20 up here in the great white north when you can get em. Not wanting to be caught with my pants down I have no choice but to reload. I don't mind reloading and can hardly wait to get all the good gear and start my studying. Have ordered the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master kit. I plan on getting a chroney as I am a serious target shooter as well as an avid hunter. One question here. Can I reload rounds as accurate and as hard hitting as the folks at Norma load. I mean after all they are the best there is, besides the people at Lapua. Norma has the best bullet components, and automated machines at their factory. Can I match their quality and accuracy by hand loading?
Cheers and Happy Shooting: Eaglesnester

Sevens · September 19, 2007, 01:14 PM

You should absolutely be able to match, then exceed their factory loaded rounds with your handloads HOWEVER, it will take a lot of time and money and work to do that. The time it takes is twofold... it will take a lot of case prep and it will take experimenting with bullet choices, weights, seating depths, crimps, powder choice and charge, experimenting with primers, etc. Folks in here like to say "there's no free lunch" so you'll simply have to start with a load and work at it until you've reached some conclusions.

Short answer: Factory ammo (especially the high dollar stuff you need to feed your rifle) is usually very, very good ammo and it's very consistent. You can exceed that, but it will take a lot of time and work.

But it'll feel great when you get there!

BigJimP · September 19, 2007, 04:58 PM

A well tuned - and clean - press will go a long ways to getting very high quality reloads for any caliber.

You need to pick a powder that will drop very consistently every time if you use a progressive machine - or for any powder drop mechanism you use. I'm assuming the RockChucker is still a single stage machine, like the one I had 40 years ago, and using the independent powder measure was pretty easy to get a good drop as long as your motion was consistent on the handle and it was mounted very firmly.

All of my reloads, in any caliber, are better and more consistent than any factory loads. Usually I've tightened up my groups at least 25% with my own loads - but every gun has a load it "likes" and it takes time to get it fine tuned but then you should be all set.

September 19, 2007, 01:06 PM	#1
eaglesnester Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2007 Posts: 100	Newby here I am hunting with a P17 Enfield made by the folks at Remington. The rifle has been chambered in 308 Norma Mag. The rounds cost about 80 bucks a box of 20 up here in the great white north when you can get em. Not wanting to be caught with my pants down I have no choice but to reload. I don't mind reloading and can hardly wait to get all the good gear and start my studying. Have ordered the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master kit. I plan on getting a chroney as I am a serious target shooter as well as an avid hunter. One question here. Can I reload rounds as accurate and as hard hitting as the folks at Norma load. I mean after all they are the best there is, besides the people at Lapua. Norma has the best bullet components, and automated machines at their factory. Can I match their quality and accuracy by hand loading? Cheers and Happy Shooting: Eaglesnester

September 19, 2007, 01:14 PM	#3
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,775	You should absolutely be able to match, then exceed their factory loaded rounds with your handloads HOWEVER, it will take a lot of time and money and work to do that. The time it takes is twofold... it will take a lot of case prep and it will take experimenting with bullet choices, weights, seating depths, crimps, powder choice and charge, experimenting with primers, etc. Folks in here like to say "there's no free lunch" so you'll simply have to start with a load and work at it until you've reached some conclusions. Short answer: Factory ammo (especially the high dollar stuff you need to feed your rifle) is usually very, very good ammo and it's very consistent. You can exceed that, but it will take a lot of time and work. But it'll feel great when you get there! __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

September 19, 2007, 01:14 PM	#2
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	Here is a shocker for you, you can beat their quality and accuracy reloading. you can because you can build a round specific to your rifle. Use Norma bullets and you will get the exact same external and terminal ballistics I am hunting with a P17 Enfield made by the folks at Remington. The rifle has been chambered in 308 Norma Mag. The rounds cost about 80 bucks a box of 20 up here in the great white north when you can get em. Not wanting to be caught with my pants down I have no choice but to reload. I don't mind reloading and can hardly wait to get all the good gear and start my studying. Have ordered the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master kit. I plan on getting a chroney as I am a serious target shooter as well as an avid hunter. One question here. Can I reload rounds as accurate and as hard hitting as the folks at Norma load. I mean after all they are the best there is, besides the people at Lapua. Norma has the best bullet components, and automated machines at their factory. Can I match their quality and accuracy by hand loading? Cheers and Happy Shooting: Eaglesnester

September 19, 2007, 04:58 PM	#4
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	A well tuned - and clean - press will go a long ways to getting very high quality reloads for any caliber. You need to pick a powder that will drop very consistently every time if you use a progressive machine - or for any powder drop mechanism you use. I'm assuming the RockChucker is still a single stage machine, like the one I had 40 years ago, and using the independent powder measure was pretty easy to get a good drop as long as your motion was consistent on the handle and it was mounted very firmly. All of my reloads, in any caliber, are better and more consistent than any factory loads. Usually I've tightened up my groups at least 25% with my own loads - but every gun has a load it "likes" and it takes time to get it fine tuned but then you should be all set.