Opinions on loading 308?

dusticles

dusticles

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What do you guys like to feed your AR's?

I'm building my 1st rifle and I'm undecided on what bullets to use. I have 155 Scenars and 168 A-Max's on hand and I'm leaning towards the
A-Max since my barrel is going to be 1:10" twist. Also, do soft tipped bullets have an advantage in auto loaders?

I've been reloading 308 for a little while but only for bolt guns.

Here's an idea of what I'll be shooting: 24" DPMS heavy SS barrel with DPMS BCG, rifle length gas system, and backed by Spike's ST-T3 buffer with heavy spring

Cheers, D
 
I have an Armalite AR10 with a 24 match barrel, and it just loves 178 gr A max's. It will cloverleaf at 100 all day.
 
The DPMS should like 155 Palma loads and similar to 167 Lapua. Mine doesn't like 168 Federal gold. The faster 167 Lapua however shot very well.

For 1:10 twist rate either light and fast or much heavier ammo should do well. Unfortunately in mine the slower 168 Federal gold which uses the 168 SMK bullet was too slow. You'd have to load on the faster side to get decent results.
 
You've got to just try a bunch of projectiles and see what the barrel likes.
I've got a 20" ss 1:11.25 barrel for my mws that loves 168 a-maxs (1.5" at three hundred yards is an average 5 round group), but the stock 16" cl barrel with a 1:10 twist actually preffered the 155 scenars over any of the heavier stuff.
 
ntm said:
You've got to just try a bunch of projectiles and see what the barrel likes.
I've got a 20" ss 1:11.25 barrel for my mws that loves 168 a-maxs (1.5" at three hundred yards is an average 5 round group), but the stock 16" cl barrel with a 1:10 twist actually preffered the 155 scenars over any of the heavier stuff.
Click to expand...

You can hedge your bets by the barrel length and twist rate. 20-24" 1:11.25 twist tends to like 168 to 175 with close to Federal gold velocities. Only minor tweaking is usually needed.

I've found the 1:10 likes 155 Palma style rounds or higher velocity in the 167-168 range such as the Lapua ammo. Heavier ammo also seems to be favoured.

The rounds my DND AR10 with 24" 1:11.25 twist likes aren't the same as the DPMS. Yet my 5R and rifles with simular barrels like the same ammo as the AR10. Some general observations with the 20-24" barrel lengths and their respective twist rates for 308. This should help with which off the shelf ammo to buy or good starting points fir reloading.
 
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