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I bought a case of 500 primed 7mm-08 brass. What equip do I need to load these?

Posted on 12/4/20 at 8:44 am
Posted by Eli Goldfinger
Member since Sep 2016
32785 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 8:44 am
Having grown tired of looking for ammo - and knowing it’s about to get worse - I decided to snatch a big bag of primed brass, but I don’t have any loading equipment or knowledge.

What equipment will I need to load these and start reloading?

Any recommendations on powder?
Posted by Success
Member since Sep 2015
1954 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 8:49 am to
Hey a reloading manual. Pick a bullet. You need a press, scale, dies, primers, dies, etc

I’ll trade you some primers for some brass if you’re interested.
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
28205 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 8:50 am to
Google 7mm-08 load data and go from there.

Varget in anything from the .308 parent case works

Any press that you can find, a set of dies, and a powder measure.

Edit to add.
Varget is a powder from hodgdon.
Is you have primed brass, I'm really not 100% that you would need to size your brass. I don't think you would but you would need to check a few pieces.
If you don't need to size it a seating die would be enough to get you started. Also, check the bullet seating in the case. You need a some pressure there but not too much.

Reason I'm not sure is that I have some .45lc that I had to size prior to loading. All my rifle brass I sized to have a uniform neck tension and I also turned the necks. You won't need to worry about that.
This post was edited on 12/4/20 at 8:56 am
Posted by Eli Goldfinger
Member since Sep 2016
32785 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 8:52 am to
The primers are already in the brass.

It sounds like this primer shortage is a disaster. That’s why I went ahead and bought when I had the chance.
Posted by Barneyrb
NELA
Member since May 2016
6962 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 8:58 am to
I'm just getting started reloading also, I did some research and decided the Forster Co-Ax was the best one for me.

I do like the self centering and ability to repeat between reloading sessions. I watched several videos on most all the major brands and thought this one worked best.

It is one of the lesser known brands but so far it has worked flawless.
Posted by jdavid1
Member since Jan 2014
2604 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 9:05 am to
quote:

Any press that you can find,


This. It's incredible how hard a press is to find right now. I decided to upgrade my LNL setup to a Dillon and I can't find one anywhere.

To the OP, if you are just going to do rifle loads I would get a Hornady classic kit. It will have everything to get your feet wet, and it's a pretty good press for the money. Once you have the press you will just need a set of dies, shell holder, powder, and projectiles.
Posted by TheDrunkenTigah
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2011
18156 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 9:22 am to
I’m in the exact opposite position. Bought all the equipment I needed to reload and several manuals, bullets, brass, and the powder that all manuals agreed was most accurate back in January.

Figured I’d get primers once I did a little more research on the loads. Guess who is rationing factory ammo this year.
Posted by jdavid1
Member since Jan 2014
2604 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 9:35 am to
Primers can be found. It just takes some looking. It's just going to be going from local place to place to find them. Nobody online will have them for a while (not price inflated). I happened to stumble on 1700 small rifle primers at academy when they had literally no other ammo/primers.
Posted by Success
Member since Sep 2015
1954 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 9:35 am to
quote:

primers are already in the brass.


missed that part
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
28205 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 9:55 am to
quote:

Forster Co-Ax


Back in May or Jun, I looked for one of these for weeks and couldn't find one. They are wonderful presses and very robust.

I ended up buying a Frankford Arsenal M press.
They're pretty close and I like the Frankford. I mostly use it for sizing and running a mandrel on 6.5 cm and .308 for mostly hunting loads.
Posted by bayoudude
Member since Dec 2007
25853 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 9:58 am to
RCBS has nice kits that will get you started. I have the rock chucker supreme
Posted by TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill, LA
Member since Sep 2008
7455 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 12:40 pm to
My post in this link has more info than you need right now, but I think you'll find it useful nevertheless. I'd suggest you either full length resize the case you bought or expand the case necks on them. It's typical for a few case mouths of new brass to be fouled up. Since your brass is already primed, you can run them through the FL sizing die w/ the decapping/depriming pin removed. Indeed, Varget is a very useful powder for the 7-08 (and many other rounds, as well), but it can sometimes be really hard to find. In addition to Varget, I run Reloder 15 and Hodgdon 4895 in my 7-08. There are a BUNCH of good 7-08 powders. It can be frustrating sometimes buying a pound of powder only to find out the powder's not gonna work for you and your gun. You may have problems duplicating the load you develop w/ the already primed brass unless you can find out the make of the brass. Changing any one component in a load can change the entire load.

As a newbie, it's especially important for you to buy one or two good handloading books that has a good load data as well as the "how to" of handloading. I've bought good manuels from Hodgdon, Hornady, Sierra, Speer and Nosler. Hodgon prints a manuel every year that looks like a magazine. In fact, you can find it in the magazine section of many stores. It has lots of load data, but little, if any, "how to" info. Hodgdon, Hornady and Sierra also have good online loads data and load data apps. Someone already gave good advice on primers to check the brick and mortar stores, especially stores in smaller towns. It's not uncommon to find handloading supplies in some small town pawn shops. The main thing is to learn to handload SAFELY. Enjoy yourself and keep us updated.
Posted by Double The Trouble
Right pass tee bernie's crab traps
Member since Feb 2017
127 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 2:03 pm to
Ever tried using corn?



Curious
Posted by jdavid1
Member since Jan 2014
2604 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 2:39 pm to
Posted by Eli Goldfinger
Member since Sep 2016
32785 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 9:10 pm to
Posted by Eli Goldfinger
Member since Sep 2016
32785 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 9:14 pm to
I bought a set of Lee Collet dies today.

I suppose that means I will need a Lee press...correct?
Posted by Success
Member since Sep 2015
1954 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 9:19 pm to
You can use any press
Posted by Eli Goldfinger
Member since Sep 2016
32785 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 9:27 pm to
Oh I was wondering.

So dies are universal?
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
28205 posts
Posted on 12/4/20 at 9:59 pm to
For the most part they are yes.

There are some that are used with an arbor press.

ETA: you won’t find those at academy, cabelas or anything. Most of them are LE Wilson
There are another company, Whiddon, that makes arbor seating dies as well.
This post was edited on 12/4/20 at 10:10 pm
Posted by saintsfan1977
Arkansas, from Cajun country
Member since Jun 2010
10000 posts
Posted on 12/5/20 at 5:39 am to
quote:

Varget in anything from the .308 parent case works


This won't be easy to find. It's the first powder to dry up off the shelves.
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