getting started with .308 win

[MassDuster]

hey all, I'm pretty new to reloading, and am about to start loading some .308 win for my ar-10. Im looking to start with making some ammo for the range/targets. Just looking for some recommendations for good brass/bullets/powder mixes to start off with. I have a single stage RCBS rock chucker for now.

thanks!

 

[Beef82]

Re: getting started with .308 win

Here:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=323517#Post323517

AR10s don't have op rods or any of that nonsense to destroy so basically any standard .308Win loads will do. You probably have 1:10 twist tube which should stabilize any grain bullet.

Brass note military 7.62 headstamp brass is generally thicker and will require up to a 2gr download. It lasts a long time but is not reknowned for extreme accuracy. Commercial brass, whatever is cheapest would be my recommendation, Winchester tends to be a good price/quality value.

Bullets, match or longrange SMK175, Horn HPBT178, SMK Palma 155, Horn 155Amax, Nos CC175. Under 600-800yds 168s tend to do very well. Blasting ammo, whatever is cheap, FMJs usually. Hunting bullets, there's too many options you're on your own without more details.

Powder, Varget, RL15, and 2000MR have done well for me, TAC if volume not absolute precision is my goal.

Buy a manual or manuals read them start below max loads, work up.

 

[redbullitt]

Re: getting started with .308 win

Lapua brass is the good stuff. Hornady,Rem, Win, and Fed are just fine, especially for an ar10. Lake city is good too. Just keep in mind each brand of case has different powder capacities by a little bit, so a load in winchester may show pressure signs in Lake city cases. The gas guns are a bit tougher on brass and tend to scatter it a little, so I usually use Winchester or cheap Federal (doesnt last as long as the others) brass for mine.

Bullets, it is going to depend what you are doing. Long range, then 175 smk or 178 amax will work well. The 168 smks work just fine too for closer stuff, and the 155s are worth a look too.

Varget has treated me just fine in bolt and gas guns with 155 to 178 grain bullets.

Regular old cci primers have done fine from what I have seen, but if you want a match one then go for it. Test it and see for your rifle/load.

The Rock chucker will do exactly what you need it to.

Start low and work up the load. I would do a ladder and ocw test. Pressure signs can be a bit different on the ar10 vs a bolt. My ar10 likes a cooler load than the bolt. I use around 42.5g varget with 175s.

 

[TenZero]

Re: getting started with .308 win

What 331 said. Mine shoots 175 SMKs and 178 AMAXs really nicely with 42.5 gn Varget. It shoots even better at 44, (seems like another node there) but I was seeing pressure signs I didn't like.
fired FGMM brass
42.5 g Varget
175 SMK
Fed 210m primer

 

[mtrmn]

Re: getting started with .308 win

General use/plinking etc:

Widener's 145gr FMJBT bullets (made by PRVI, I think)
CCI #34 mil primer-your choice here is basically unimportant in my experience
TAC or IMR4895--42 gr
seat bullets to max mag length minus about .010"
LIGHT crimp w/Lee factory crimp die

Shoots 1 to 1.5MOA at 100 yds in my 20" 1/10 twist barrel, if I match my brass and weigh my bullets etc.

168 gr Nosler match bullets get same treatment with 41.5 gr IMR4895. Less than 1 MOA with 10-shot group at 100 yds.

 

[Bluesop7]

Re: getting started with .308 win

For general shooting, I would recommend 175 Sierra Matchkings, Varget, and CCI primers. For brass I would say Winchester if you dont mind doing a little work and Lapua for out of the box awesomeness. For a cheaper route I would use 178 Hornday A-Max with the aforementioned components. In my experience Varget is just about as good as it gets with bullets in the 150 to 175gr range.

 

[MassDuster]

Re: getting started with .308 win

Thanks for all the advice and help!

As far as primers go, and I know this is probably opening a can of worms but would you recommend I go with regular CCI primers or with military grade? I know a lot of guys recommend the military grade to avoid slam fires.

Also, I'm picking up dies this week - anything recommended or anything I should absolutely avoid?

Thanks again!

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: getting started with .308 win

I never had any slam fires on my AR15 with CCI-400 primers (after thousands and thousands of opportunities...)

 

[Bluesop7]

Re: getting started with .308 win

I can't comment on slam fires as I have no experience with AR-10's but CCI are supposed to be pretty hard (or so the internet experts say), albeit probably not as hard as military grade, but still hard. I would avoid Federal as they are supposed to be fairly soft. This is all hearsay but I've read it time and again so I figure there must be at least a little validity to it.