I like bags for rear and an adjustable rest for front. I make sure the front sling stud doesn't come in contact with front rest during recoil. Nice smooth slide to the rear during recoil. This doesn't apply to my experience with my 223 bolt Savage PC carbine. My tiniest group on that rifle...
There is also a write-up on how to find how much crimp. I think it starts with one 1/8 turn. It has been a few days since I've read it and there are parts of yesterday I don't remember. And access to loads that have worked for people with the Hunter and the Absolute.
I believe the Hammer forum will convince you to use the Lee FCD. My research on there convinced me. If you keep reading like I did, you will find a big thread about the Lee FCD.
Glad everyone has avoided a serious failure. I've dumped powder with no primers when getting back into reloading (pistol). Heck I've seen a squib with a factory load. The shooter didn't catch it, but a friend and I did. We called it out before he pulled the trigger on a second round. Always...
I highly suggest watching Erik Cortina's video on finding jam. I've done it on two rifles. 280AI and 7-08. Easy peasy. Fired Case, Projectile, Case Lube and Sharpie Marker.
The Hornady manual for 7-08 162 grain A-Max was very good for my 162 ELD-X. I ended up with 2653 at 39 grains of IMR 8208 XBR. I've never gotten anything that close with Nosler Data.
I have some 140 Partition. This is a copy paste of what I posted in an other thread earlier this year. I purchased them from Midway. Attached is the picture I posted.
"I have .284 Partitions with a cannelure that were listed as overruns versus seconds. My research found they were probably...
I recently loaded new Lapua brass with 39 grains of IMR 8208 XBR under 162 ELD-X bullets. I got good groups at 2653 fps and a 4.7 SD. I may mess with seating depth next spring. My rifle is a Bergara B-14 Hunter. I'll be ordering a custom elevation turret. I don't have 150 ELD-X bullets but...