dhc4ever wrote:

Vince, Which one you get will depend on what you want to shoot. On a historical note, remember that 5.56 was adopted so troops could carry more rounds and were easier to shoot. Also they envisioned fighting people with a similar mindset where if you wounded someone you needed 10 people to look after them. Not the last 3 wars weve been involved in where youre better off all round killing them out right. Didnt the yanks pull the 7.62 M14 out of mothballs for just this reason?

Sorry Pete...missed this post the last couple of days.

Not sure the reason the US went over to 5.56mm in the M16, but I suspect it was a combination of politics, economics and carrying more ammo. The fact that caring for a wounded soldier took at least 10 off the battlefield is certainly applicable to the "civilised" Army, but I don't believe it applies to some often encountered these days. The application of 7.62mm medicine solves that problem nicely.

The way I am looking at things, I can do anything a .223 can do with the .243 and a .308 will round out my calibre collection. I can load the .308 down and use cast bullets for plinking, but when hunting, the .308 can deal with anything I am likely to encounter...more so than a .223 or .243...especially pigs. My only other concern is the cost of reloading, although with the different cast moulds we have it will even out between the two calibres.

Maybe I need to get both calibres, but I can't afford that...the banker (read SWMBO) isn't that agreeable.

Bushmaster wrote:

Anal?? Who's "anal"?? I have been using a RCBS Powder Pro electronic scale for the last 15 years (same one). It seems to be accurate to within +/- one tenth of a grain. and it's much faster then a beam scale which is accurate to within +/- one tenth of a grain also. Being faster the a beam scale is quite handy for me as I WEIGH EVER POWDER CHARGE before it goes into a case, handgun and rifle. I also have a 5-0-5 RCBS beam that sits on a shelf with a plastic dust cover over it. I clean EVERY primer pocket too. Anal?? Who's "anal"??

Nothing anal about that mate...I do exactly the same for the sake of consistency and accuracy.

Wife, "What's wrong Honey you look so sad?"

Me, "I am just so sorry I bought that damn 308, what a piece of trash can barely keep my shots on the paper, wish I had that 223 instead, and now there is such a special price on that 223 at Mom & Pop Gun Shop. I could just kick myself in the a--"

Wife, "Well, I just hate seeing you so upset over this can't you just sell the bad nasty 308 and go get the 223."

Me, "Yeah, I could do that but I'm not sure I can sell the 308 before the price on the 223 goes back up at Mom & Pop Gun Shop."

Wife, "Well I don't see why you can't get the one you want and get the 308 listed for sale. It will sell eventually, right?"

Me, "Oh yeah it will sell I'm just not sure how quickly, so I guess I've learned my lesson should have bought the gun I really wanted, and not listened to Vince, and Bushy, and Suz."

Wife, "Sweetie, just go get the 223 at the good price and sell the other as soon as you can, OK?"

Me, with a small tear rolling down my cheek, "Oh darling you are the best, I'll get that 308 listed right now and then go to at Mom & Pop Gun Shop"

Ad in the local paper. "For Sale very used 308 rifle bent barrel, broke firing pin $1000.00."

5 years later wife, "Did you ever sell that rifle?"

Me, "No honey but I'm still trying, I just don't understand why nobody's buying 308's, I'm sure it will sell soon, You are so sweet to check on it though, just couldn't ask for a better wife. I think I'll go out right now and put a few rounds through that 308 and then clean her, just in case somebody calls about buying her, I want to make sure she's working OK."

Oh Give me a break....For pete sake!!

I don't even like .308s

Of course I don't like .223s either.

Oh Bushy, he's tryin to get away with it, jest throwin out names that's all.



I'll deny
everything
Suz

Just haven a little fun Bushy, blame it on Vince, it's his fault sobbing about his wife not letting him get a gun or two, or five. I say get the gun(s), it is better to act decisively and apologize for it later than to seek approval to act and risk objections.

This thread took a winding turn ;-).

Use Lee auto-disks in Lee rotatory press with a calibrated RCBS 720 scale to check every 10-15th. This is for handgun and rifle plinking loads. Accuracy loads are done with the single stage press, with the RCBS scale calibrated, then checked with a balance scale and powder thrown with a Lee Perfect measure. Every load is weighed.

In my house I can do anything I please................................ as long as it pleases the Mrs.

strange nobody mentioned the Dillon... when I reload shotshells I use the Lee Load All, for rifles the RCBS 505 or the Lyman scales (no digital scales for that purpose) with a Lyman powder measuror and the Lyman single stage press. But for handguns I use the Dillon 550 and I cannot remember when I had to adjust that powder dispenser. For the 9 mm para, the .38 Sp and the .45 ACP I always use 3,8 gr Ba10 and only take other (lead) bullets. For the .44 RM I have a second dispenser and special .357 RM loads go back on the Lyman single stage.
I don't feel the need for an auto dispenser.

And I only use digital scales when sorting or checking complete rounds.

Old fashioned? Or as a chemical engineer just too careful or maybe somewhat strange between the ears? I even don't use the powder trickler but a small labspoon instead... a man can devellop strange habbits, but why change when you're not sure you're going to improve?

I like the way this man talks. Yes indeedee.

Agreed Aloys, I also have electronic scale but trust and use my 505 more. Still load on Pacific presses, the c shape press for handgun to rifle and the pacific dl-150 for shotgun.

No need for speed, never had any problem since my Dad gave them to me in 1972!

I have the RCBS Chargemaster scale & dispenser combo & love it.
I can't recall the last time it threw a charge that wasn't within 1/10th of a grain & it makes reloading go a heck of a lot smoother as I can be seating a bullet whilst the next charge is dispensed & weighed.
Every now & then I check charges with my 5-0-5 & both scales always agree.