Dpms lr308

[frank cain]

i am currently loading 48.5 grs of H380. accuracy is good. 3/41inch. 16 inch barrel. my question is most reloading manuels list 52 grs max. i can not get my bullets to chamber with more than 48.5. what is up? i was surprised with the accuracy using blemished bullets. i put a spent round in the gun and it closed properly. i am tired of trying to clean off the resizing lube!! what is the best way to get rid of the lube? can find noone who has carbide dies.

 

[rcmodel]

You are using too slow of a burn rate powder.

No mention of bullet weight you are using?
But if you are using a 150 grain you are using the wrong powder in a .308.

H-380 will be a compressed load in any load giving anything close to normal pressure & velocity. Even then, you can't get enough of it in a .308 to give normal performance & velocity.

what is the best way to get rid of the lube?

Tumble your loaded rounds 15-20 minutes after you load them.

can find noone who has carbide dies.

That's because no one but Dillon makes carbide dies for bottle neck calibers.

And even then, you still have to lube them.

rc

 

[GW Staar]

I have nothing to add to rcmodel's great advice. I tumble for 15 minutes and it does the job.

I reload for the Remington R25 made by DPMS. I think it is fairly similar to your rifle except it has a 20" chroMoly barrel. It does really really well with IMR4895 and Nosler 165gr. ballistic tips. I started with Nosler's starting data minus 2 grains (37.0) and worked up a little, because I was loading old 1966-68 Lake City brass which has less volume in the case than commercial brass.

Nosler notes in their data, that they got their best accuracy (24" Lilja barrel) with the starting load of IMR4895 in their tests. I ended up with 38.5 grains, and out of 100 rounds I got 3 or 4 flat primers....so I won't be going up any more. Accuracy with that hunting bullet was just what I was looking for. Not all, but most 5 shot groups were sub MOA. Those that weren't were my fault to be sure. Best group was 1/2 MOA. Very pleased with the rifle and the load.

 

[grubbylabs]

After I resize I always rinse with warm water. It gets rid of the lube pretty easy. If you are in a hurry for it to dry you can put it over a furnace vent or open the oven door and set your brass on the door with the oven on under 400 degrees or so.

 

[velocette]

Frank;
I too have an accurate DPMS LR 308B. It has had nothing but my reloads for
the 7 years I have owned it. I hope that yours is as great a rifle as mine is.
I use Federal brass, any large rifle primer, 41 grains of IMR 4895 propellant,
(this is just below Sierra's max charge with Fed brass.)
Sierra 168 grain HPBT match bullets. Chronos at an average of 2460 fps from the 18" barrel. Consistent sub moa accuracy.
I use Frankford Arsenal spray case lube, re-size to to a datum line .002" less than as fired, TTL @<2.008". I also deburr the flash holes.
IMR 4895 will suit your 16" barrel far better than the ssssllllloooooowwww
propellant you are using. If you choose to use other brands of brass, all of which have higher capacity than Federal, you may need to increase the propellant charge a few tenths of a grain. I tumble clean all cases before re-sizing / de-capping then tumble again to remove the sizing lubricant & help clean the primer pockets.
Bullets are seated to barely less than magazine length.

YMMV & good luck.

Roger

 

[gamestalker]

I re size, trim - ream - chamfer, rinse, then tumble and load. Pretty much what everyone else does.

As for your powder, RC nailed it! Not the optimum powder for your application (.308).

Let me know when you find a lube free die for bottle neck cases!
GS