Finally built an AR10. Any tips on a .308 load for it?

[Lennyjoe]

Finally got around to adding an AR10 to the collection, not it’s time to work up a load. Have a bunch of 7.62x51 brass that will take some work getting staked primers out and have several choices for powder, 4064 being one of them. Recon I’ll start with 168’s for now so any tips or suggestions on load starting points are greatly appreciated. FWIW, I’ve loaded tons of AR 15 loads in .223, 7.62x39, 6.5 Grendel and .50 Beowulf so I’m. It unfamiliar with the AR.

 

[troy fairweather]

Hornady has some service load data in there books

 

[nick22]

I love mine but I had to resize on my single stage hornady then move to my 550 dillon to load the cartridge. I just couldn't get a complete resize that would fit into that tighter chamber. None of my .308 rifles were so picky but it's a good shooter.

 

[AJC1]

AR mil loads are 147.... I would decide which weight is your jam, get an adjustable gas block and hang there. I'm really partial to 165-168s but choose and tune....

I love mine but I had to resize on my single stage hornady then move to my 550 dillon to load the cartridge. I just couldn't get a complete resize that would fit into that tighter chamber. None of my .308 rifles were so picky but it's a good shooter.

 

[TEXASJD]

155g and Varget
125g and 748

 

[2ndtimer]

168g and IMR-4064
125 g Speer TNT and TAC

 

[mavracer]

Should be very easy to get the combination of 4064 and 168s to shoot well.

 

[irishlad]

39.5gr of Varget and 168gr AMAX

 

[Kaldor]

150 fmjs and a cheap ball powder for an M80 ball cloner load is good enough to blast steel. A 168 and 4064 will be a decently accurate load.

 

[DMW1116]

I switched to Speer 168 grain bullets and use their load data for IMR 4064 in 7.62x51 brass. For a real tack driving load I use Sierra 175 grain SMK and IMR 4064 in 308 Winchester brass. Somewhere between 40 and 43 grains is a sweet spot so far. IMR 4064 and a 150 grain Hornady FMJ shoot nearly as well as the Speers. AR Plus and a Hornady FMJ are just behind the IMR 4064 load.

I have a couple more that are not considered service rifle loads but seem to work like they are. A Hornady 168 grain Amax and SW AR Plus seem to work well together. CFE 223 and the 168 grain Amax also shoot well but requires the gas block be dialed down a fair bit to prevent bent rims and other brass damage, so try that one with caution. It shoots about the same as the 175 SMK load in terms of accuracy though.

 

[Charlie98]

Should be very easy to get the combination of 4064 and 168s to shoot well.

That right there... ^^^ Match made in heaven.

You didn't mention the barrel length, nor what kind of 168's you have. I've found the Sierra MatchKing to be the absolutely most accurate bullet I've ever used, across a number of rifles, and in a few different cartridges... so I always recommend that as a good place to start if you are using standard off-the-shelf bullets (vs the high dollar match bullets.)

Troy mentioned service rifle data... that is also a good place to start, and then you can work your handloads up to where you want them, if needed, as you get used to your new rifle. If all you are doing is poking paper, service rifle data works swimmingly.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Gah I realized I don’t have any 4064 anymore. Gave it to my nephew so all I have is CFE 223. Have 168 gr Hornady BTHP so I’ll build a mild load for break in/scope sight in then get more powder options.

BTW, 18” barrel with adjustable gas block

 

[DMW1116]

I’ve had good accuracy from Hornady bullets and CFE223. It nearly equals my 175 grain SMK/IMR 4064 load. However, my AR10 spits brass nearly as fast as bullets unless I turn down the gas. Your shorter barrel may help too. I have a 20” rifle length system. I didn’t think the AGB was necessary until I shot my CFE 223 load.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Shot 20 of them today and only has 1 case get a good ding on it. I’m gonna turn the block down a bit when I go out tomorrow and run 40 rounds thru it to get the scope on paper. Will fine tune loads after

 

[bigpower491]

Any 168gr fmj/hollowpoint and some 4064 will make a great combination. I used more varget in my DPMS, but it was pretty much a toss up between the 2. Hornady service rifle data is what I used irregardless of bullet make. Start at the bottom and work up.

 

[41 Mag]

Most all of what I have loaded were 150gr Rem CL's. I had a box of factory handy when we threw a scope on tha thing for hog hunting and at 100 they grouped around 1.5".

I used H4895 and some bulk CLs I had on hand and haven't looked back. We tried a couple other bullets but so far those old CLs just keep on working.

 

[IALoder]

Imr4064 is just awesome with 168 smks in my AR10 with the charge in the middle of the load range. The Fed GMM 168 and 175gr "clone" loads also do VERY well in mine, but do swipe the case heads a little. AR Comp, and N140 are also fantastic shooting powders for me in auto loaders. I see less or no case head swipes with AR Comp, I think because it's a little faster burning than the 4064 or N140.

 

[Charlie98]

Imr4064 is just awesome with 168 smks in my AR10 with the charge in the middle of the load range. The Fed GMM 168 and 175gr "clone" loads also do VERY well in mine

There have been a few different versions of the 'FGMM' load. Besides IMR4064, which I believe is what is used now, there was also RL12 at one point (or perhaps RL15... I forget.) But... it's pretty hard to beat IMR4064 with the 168.