wolfox

I agree with Dakota, try trimming to the specifications he listed here. I have set my trimmer to 2.005 and use a full resizing die from Dillion Precision in my RCBS Rockchucker. Be sure to lube all of your cases, but keep it off of the exterior of the neck. Lube every 5th neck interior with a brush rolled across your lube pad and they will size up and trim sweetly, no hangups or even squeak in the die - nor excessive handle pressure is needed. Chamfer the necks with your deburring tool to aid slipping the bullets in and you will be golden. I haven't had a single miss-feed or miss-fire after m

2" groups are very realistic with the 308-1 "Hunter". I have one with wooden furniture and about my only complaint is that the forearm stock will have it's set screw back out half a turn after a busy day at the range. But what you have there is a fine, working machine once you get your sight issues worked out. I handload my own with Sierra soft point spires @ 165gr. mainly now. Seems to be the sweet spot for accuracy down range and energy retention for great terminal ballistics. User her proudly!

Gentlemen, if I may? There are minor differences in the internal volume between NATO and Commercial .308 Winchester cartridges. The case walls and necks are thicker in the NATO round, reducing overall internal volume of the cartridge in a very small amount. But like incorrect headspacing and bullet COAL can reduce internal volume of the cartridge to the point that gas pressures become dangerous; reloading NATO brass to .308 Winchester powder and bullet weight can create a gas pressure spike that will explosively disrupt your firearms and hands. THAT is the main difference between the two.

Thanks for the info fellas. I will then no longer hesitate to set up my bench and get to work. At a $1 a shot for commercial Federal ammo for .308 Winchester and having the materials at hand - I am just itching to get back into work. I have been keeping the primers in a separate ammo can with a dessicant pack salvaged from a shipping pack that contained a PC hard drive and they look fine. I will move the brass out there too while I set up the bench to let them settle into temp... I appreciate the advice!

Quick question folks, and I need a response preferably from a seasoned reloader. I not only reload .308 Winchester, but .40 S&W, .45 ACP, 9mm x 19 and .44 Magnum. I have recently had to relocate myself on a semi-permanent medical sabbatical and 1200+ miles away from my original digs. Where I went, it's hot, hazy and humid most of the time. Other days it's hotter and even more humid, I had to almost literally swim across the yard to my truck. But here is the big question: Does humidity in the work environment that you are reloading in affect the completed cartridges life expectancy

I on the other hand reload my own ammo and pushed to limits of the .308 quite a bit and without appreciable wear, danger or problems. You will have to work pretty hard to hurt your Saiga. What do ya think of this stuff? https://www.hornady.com/shop/Ammo_LMHM_popup.htm 165gr. with a muzzle velocity of 2880 at 3038 lbs. Are your reloads anywhere near these numbers? Can the S-308 take it? I would steer clear of this stuff, this ammunition looks like it will be best if used in manual bolt operated rifles. Too much gas pressure will tend to slam the bolt and beat up the rotatin

Anything yo can buy in a box or battle pack is going to be alright. Commercial producers make ammunition to work in most actions, most weapons, with a wide range of tolerances. So go buck with whatever you can find out there. I on the other hand reload my own ammo and pushed to limits of the .308 quite a bit and without appreciable wear, danger or problems. You will have to work pretty hard to hurt your Saiga.

All cases were trimmed to 2.005" (COAL), bullets were seated for an OAL of 2.714".

First post, yay me. She is a restored (previously owned) Saiga model 308-1 chambered for both .308 Winchester and 7.62x51mm. Optics are by Leapers, A.K.A. "The Bug Buster" Model #scp-632aomdl2. Nitrogen filled, emerald coated optics w/illuminated R/G/B tac recticle, parallax and eye relief adjustments were free. She is seen here with 25 round magazine affixed and a double Weaver mount fitted for AK rifle mounts. Rings are 1" Weaver standard Warne Maxima series - and it's all rock stable under the immense recoil this rifle has under the loads I shoot. Chrome lined barrels are the sta