RCBS Dies for .308

[edSky]

Hi, I'm going to start reloading for a .308 Springfield M1A. I'm new to reloading for long guns and I'm happy with my RCBS pistol dies. I was looking at getting the following:

• RCBS Competition 2-Die Set 308 Winchester
• RCBS Precision Mic 308 Winchester

Will these dies and the precision mic get me going? (I'm all set with everything else). Thanks, all.

 

[Slamfire]

Let me recommend that you buy the RCBS small base die, a Wilson type cartridge headspace gage, and RCBS water soluble lube, for your M1a.

The small base die will improve function and ammo interchangeability between rifles. It is also safer in the M1a. You absolutely want no delay to bolt closure in a mechanism with a free floating firing pin.

I recommend RCBS water soluble lube because the spray on lubes do not provide adequate lubrication when small base sizing 308 or 30-06 cases. You will stick a case with those spray on or Lee Wax lubes. Imperial wax is another great lube.

No matter what die you use, set the die up with the Wilson headspace gage and size the case to gage minimum.

Under no circumstances use Federal primers, or primers that are advertized as “more’ sensitive in this rifle. Combinations of Federal primers, sensitive primers, high primers, fat cases with sensitive primers, have caused out of battery slamfires in this rifle for decades now.

I recommend CCI #34 “Mil spec” primers, or failing finding those, CCI standard. CCI primers are well known to require a good wack to set off.

And if you have not been told, don't use bullet weights heavier than 175 grain, and I recommend that you use IMR 4895/H4895/AA2495. The slowest powder to use is IMR 4064.

 

[edSky]

Thanks, SlamFire1. I use a Wilson cartridge gauge for my pistol reloading, and also use the RCBS lube for resizing, so I'm with you there. I'll definitely get a Wilson cartridge gauge for the .308.

Thanks too for the die recommendation and especially the primers. I appreciate it!

Ed

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I use small base rcbs dies for my SuperMatch. I also use c-34 primers and Seirra 168 BTHP's. Imr-4895 is my standard powder with federal gold medal brass.

Is yours a run of the mill M1A or a match gun. My super requires small base dies and my National likes them. Normals are to big.

 

[Sunray]

"...small base die..." A standard full length sizer die will do as well. It's an either/or thing. All semi-auto's require FL sizing every time.
You don't need CCI "milspec" primers. They're nothing but magnum rifle primers.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The problem with the M1A is that "do as well" is a more of a calculated risk then some folks take.

My Super will not completely close the bolt on non-small base dies. It must be small based sized.

Now some folks have not experienced this or do not recognize the risk. What is the risk you ask? Well if the M1A fires out of battery, it can basically blow up big time. Now I don't know about you but I found my Super and National to be expensive and I really don't want to replace them.

Didn't Springfield include a pamphlet on slam fires with your new gun? I know they did in mind and when I talked to them they specifically mentioned using hard military primers like the c-34.

Go read Kuhansens book on the M-14 and he mentioned hard primers as the solution to slam fires.

Anyway. I can't really convince you one way or the other, just I can tell you as a heavy M-1A shooter (I had 7 of them at my peak) I never had problems with my c-34's, small base dies, IMR-4895 and Sierra 168's.