I'm looking for some .308 AR platform reloading info. I know Sierra has different guides for .223 data. Is there similar guide for .308? I want to use 150gr and 168gr. SMK's. I have plenty of both right now.
Load guides for gas guns?
- Thread starter skatz11
- Start date
Re: Load guides for gas guns?
Just look around in the 308 loads megathread in the "reloading depot" or whatever it is, just remember that whatever load you copy to start a little lower than what they specify and work up.
Just look around in the 308 loads megathread in the "reloading depot" or whatever it is, just remember that whatever load you copy to start a little lower than what they specify and work up.
Re: Load guides for gas guns?
Main things for semi-auto gas guns - especially the m14/m1a:
Primer Seating - absolutely make sure your primers are BELOW flush by a couple thousandths. In other words, fully seated. The floating firing pin in the M14 platform is quite capable of a slam fire on protruding primers.
Primer Selection - You need hard cups. I have never loaded any of my semi-auto 308s with Federal primers. Just read to many stories to give it a try myself. I am sure there will be a ton of more experienced reloaders than myself jumping in to flame me, saying how they always use federal match or whatever, I just personally prefer to use CCI #34 7.62 military spec primers, and when I cant find those I use Wolf primers as they also seem to be somewhat harder. This is also to prevent slamfires.
Brass Life - At least for the M14 platform, TOSS YOUR BRASS at 5 loads or if any signs of case damage occur. M14/M1a are HARD on brass. Once again, I am sure there are loaders that will say they have 35 loads on LC brass in their M1A, but a 25 cent piece of brass isn't worth a hand or an eye in my book.
Powder Selection - At least in the M14/M1a, you need a powder with a very narow window of burn rate. For the M14 reloader, the IMR 4895 and IMR 4064 are the go to powders for proper burn rate. I have been told never to use any slower burn than IMR4064. I don't plan on experimenting with this. Once again unknown for me in AR10 platform. I am sure someone will be along to tell you more.
Brass Sizing - SMALL BASE DIES, You absolutely positively don;t want a case hanging up out of battery and the possibility of a slamfire and rapid dissasembly (explosion) of the rifle. Once again, I repeat I am sure others will come in and say how they neck size all their M14 brass and shoot 0.25 MOA all day long and twice on Sunday. Just my feeling on making sure my rounds chamber easily. This was learned after I had a FL sized round hang in my chamber. Didn't go off, but I did hear the "I told you so"s from my buddy.
This info is from experience loading for the M14/M1a platform and should carry over to the Ar10 platform, though I have read they are less prone to slamfire.(I don;t own an AR10)
For giggles, drop the bolt on a primed round and eject it before firing. In the M14/M1a you will see a nice little dimple where the firing pin smacked the primer just a little. Once again, don;t know about the AR10. Once someone told me to do that, and I looked at that little dimple, I read as much as I could regarding loading for the platform.
Just my 2cents,
madd0c
Main things for semi-auto gas guns - especially the m14/m1a:
Primer Seating - absolutely make sure your primers are BELOW flush by a couple thousandths. In other words, fully seated. The floating firing pin in the M14 platform is quite capable of a slam fire on protruding primers.
Primer Selection - You need hard cups. I have never loaded any of my semi-auto 308s with Federal primers. Just read to many stories to give it a try myself. I am sure there will be a ton of more experienced reloaders than myself jumping in to flame me, saying how they always use federal match or whatever, I just personally prefer to use CCI #34 7.62 military spec primers, and when I cant find those I use Wolf primers as they also seem to be somewhat harder. This is also to prevent slamfires.
Brass Life - At least for the M14 platform, TOSS YOUR BRASS at 5 loads or if any signs of case damage occur. M14/M1a are HARD on brass. Once again, I am sure there are loaders that will say they have 35 loads on LC brass in their M1A, but a 25 cent piece of brass isn't worth a hand or an eye in my book.
Powder Selection - At least in the M14/M1a, you need a powder with a very narow window of burn rate. For the M14 reloader, the IMR 4895 and IMR 4064 are the go to powders for proper burn rate. I have been told never to use any slower burn than IMR4064. I don't plan on experimenting with this. Once again unknown for me in AR10 platform. I am sure someone will be along to tell you more.
Brass Sizing - SMALL BASE DIES, You absolutely positively don;t want a case hanging up out of battery and the possibility of a slamfire and rapid dissasembly (explosion) of the rifle. Once again, I repeat I am sure others will come in and say how they neck size all their M14 brass and shoot 0.25 MOA all day long and twice on Sunday. Just my feeling on making sure my rounds chamber easily. This was learned after I had a FL sized round hang in my chamber. Didn't go off, but I did hear the "I told you so"s from my buddy.
This info is from experience loading for the M14/M1a platform and should carry over to the Ar10 platform, though I have read they are less prone to slamfire.(I don;t own an AR10)
For giggles, drop the bolt on a primed round and eject it before firing. In the M14/M1a you will see a nice little dimple where the firing pin smacked the primer just a little. Once again, don;t know about the AR10. Once someone told me to do that, and I looked at that little dimple, I read as much as I could regarding loading for the platform.
Just my 2cents,
madd0c
Re: Load guides for gas guns?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: madd0c</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
"I have been told never to use any faster burn than IMR4064"
madd0c</div></div>
You have it backwards; you don't want to use anything SLOWER than 4064
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: madd0c</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
"I have been told never to use any faster burn than IMR4064"
madd0c</div></div>
You have it backwards; you don't want to use anything SLOWER than 4064
Re: Load guides for gas guns?
palmik,
You are correct sir. Nothing slower than 4064.
Luckily I am dumb enough to take that as "USE 4064 DUMMY" and thats what I have always done.
And if anyone is wondering yes, I changed my original post so no one gets confused by that bit of misinformation.
madd0c
palmik,
You are correct sir. Nothing slower than 4064.
Luckily I am dumb enough to take that as "USE 4064 DUMMY" and thats what I have always done.
And if anyone is wondering yes, I changed my original post so no one gets confused by that bit of misinformation.
madd0c
Re: Load guides for gas guns?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: madd0c</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Main things for semi-auto gas guns - especially the m14/m1a:
Primer Seating - absolutely make sure your primers are BELOW flush by a couple thousandths. In other words, fully seated. The floating firing pin in the M14 platform is quite capable of a slam fire on protruding primers.
Primer Selection - You need hard cups. I have never loaded any of my semi-auto 308s with Federal primers. Just read to many stories to give it a try myself. I am sure there will be a ton of more experienced reloaders than myself jumping in to flame me, saying how they always use federal match or whatever, I just personally prefer to use CCI #34 7.62 military spec primers, and when I cant find those I use Wolf primers as they also seem to be somewhat harder. This is also to prevent slamfires.
Brass Life - At least for the M14 platform, TOSS YOUR BRASS at 5 loads or if any signs of case damage occur. M14/M1a are HARD on brass. Once again, I am sure there are loaders that will say they have 35 loads on LC brass in their M1A, but a 25 cent piece of brass isn't worth a hand or an eye in my book.
Powder Selection - At least in the M14/M1a, you need a powder with a very narow window of burn rate. For the M14 reloader, the IMR 4895 and IMR 4064 are the go to powders for proper burn rate. I have been told never to use any slower burn than IMR4064. I don't plan on experimenting with this. Once again unknown for me in AR10 platform. I am sure someone will be along to tell you more.
Brass Sizing - SMALL BASE DIES, You absolutely positively don;t want a case hanging up out of battery and the possibility of a slamfire and rapid dissasembly (explosion) of the rifle. Once again, I repeat I am sure others will come in and say how they neck size all their M14 brass and shoot 0.25 MOA all day long and twice on Sunday. Just my feeling on making sure my rounds chamber easily. This was learned after I had a FL sized round hang in my chamber. Didn't go off, but I did hear the "I told you so"s from my buddy.
This info is from experience loading for the M14/M1a platform and should carry over to the Ar10 platform, though I have read they are less prone to slamfire.(I don;t own an AR10)
For giggles, drop the bolt on a primed round and eject it before firing. In the M14/M1a you will see a nice little dimple where the firing pin smacked the primer just a little. Once again, don;t know about the AR10. Once someone told me to do that, and I looked at that little dimple, I read as much as I could regarding loading for the platform.
Just my 2cents,
madd0c </div></div>
ArmaLite AR10s don't have to worry about slamfires, they have spring loaded firing pins and to my knowledge are the only ARs like this. Other .308 pattern ARs will likely dimple primers just like an AR15.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: madd0c</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Main things for semi-auto gas guns - especially the m14/m1a:
Primer Seating - absolutely make sure your primers are BELOW flush by a couple thousandths. In other words, fully seated. The floating firing pin in the M14 platform is quite capable of a slam fire on protruding primers.
Primer Selection - You need hard cups. I have never loaded any of my semi-auto 308s with Federal primers. Just read to many stories to give it a try myself. I am sure there will be a ton of more experienced reloaders than myself jumping in to flame me, saying how they always use federal match or whatever, I just personally prefer to use CCI #34 7.62 military spec primers, and when I cant find those I use Wolf primers as they also seem to be somewhat harder. This is also to prevent slamfires.
Brass Life - At least for the M14 platform, TOSS YOUR BRASS at 5 loads or if any signs of case damage occur. M14/M1a are HARD on brass. Once again, I am sure there are loaders that will say they have 35 loads on LC brass in their M1A, but a 25 cent piece of brass isn't worth a hand or an eye in my book.
Powder Selection - At least in the M14/M1a, you need a powder with a very narow window of burn rate. For the M14 reloader, the IMR 4895 and IMR 4064 are the go to powders for proper burn rate. I have been told never to use any slower burn than IMR4064. I don't plan on experimenting with this. Once again unknown for me in AR10 platform. I am sure someone will be along to tell you more.
Brass Sizing - SMALL BASE DIES, You absolutely positively don;t want a case hanging up out of battery and the possibility of a slamfire and rapid dissasembly (explosion) of the rifle. Once again, I repeat I am sure others will come in and say how they neck size all their M14 brass and shoot 0.25 MOA all day long and twice on Sunday. Just my feeling on making sure my rounds chamber easily. This was learned after I had a FL sized round hang in my chamber. Didn't go off, but I did hear the "I told you so"s from my buddy.
This info is from experience loading for the M14/M1a platform and should carry over to the Ar10 platform, though I have read they are less prone to slamfire.(I don;t own an AR10)
For giggles, drop the bolt on a primed round and eject it before firing. In the M14/M1a you will see a nice little dimple where the firing pin smacked the primer just a little. Once again, don;t know about the AR10. Once someone told me to do that, and I looked at that little dimple, I read as much as I could regarding loading for the platform.
Just my 2cents,
madd0c </div></div>
ArmaLite AR10s don't have to worry about slamfires, they have spring loaded firing pins and to my knowledge are the only ARs like this. Other .308 pattern ARs will likely dimple primers just like an AR15.
Re: Load guides for gas guns?
Thanks for all the good info! Sounds like its safe to try my existing bolt gun load for the 150gr SMK.
Thanks for all the good info! Sounds like its safe to try my existing bolt gun load for the 150gr SMK.
Re: Load guides for gas guns?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: madd0c</div><div class="ubbcode-body">palmik,
You are correct sir. Nothing slower than 4064.
Luckily I am dumb enough to take that as "USE 4064 DUMMY" and thats what I have always done.
And if anyone is wondering yes, I changed my original post so no one gets confused by that bit of misinformation.
madd0c</div></div>
EVerything else you wrote looks good to me. But you forgot to mention one thing; keep the bullet weight under 180 grains. Personally, I load 1x fired federal brass with 150 grainers and they have been working well for me. I will step it up to 168s in the near future.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: madd0c</div><div class="ubbcode-body">palmik,
You are correct sir. Nothing slower than 4064.
Luckily I am dumb enough to take that as "USE 4064 DUMMY" and thats what I have always done.
And if anyone is wondering yes, I changed my original post so no one gets confused by that bit of misinformation.
madd0c</div></div>
EVerything else you wrote looks good to me. But you forgot to mention one thing; keep the bullet weight under 180 grains. Personally, I load 1x fired federal brass with 150 grainers and they have been working well for me. I will step it up to 168s in the near future.
Re: Load guides for gas guns?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: skatz11</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for all the good info! Sounds like its safe to try my existing bolt gun load for the 150gr SMK. </div></div>
Let us know how it works. I have found my 308AR to be very easy to load for, and as far as brass wear goes loose primer pockets are my only concern. My garand was way more finicky.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: skatz11</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for all the good info! Sounds like its safe to try my existing bolt gun load for the 150gr SMK. </div></div>
Let us know how it works. I have found my 308AR to be very easy to load for, and as far as brass wear goes loose primer pockets are my only concern. My garand was way more finicky.
Re: Load guides for gas guns?
The problem with slow powders and the Garand was that the port pressure with slow powders would over accelerate the operating rod and bend the sucker, disabling the weapon. The M14/M1A op rod was changed, but why risk an expensive damage scene? The mid rate powders and the original weight bullets are what the machines are designed for. JMHO
The problem with slow powders and the Garand was that the port pressure with slow powders would over accelerate the operating rod and bend the sucker, disabling the weapon. The M14/M1A op rod was changed, but why risk an expensive damage scene? The mid rate powders and the original weight bullets are what the machines are designed for. JMHO
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