need help 308 ar

[biga972]

I am trying to load for a AR308, I have the lee FL dies. but I can not get my round to chamber they get stuck......It seems like they did not get sized right am I doing something wrong? My set up is a lee press with rcbs lube die and lee FL sizing die. Any thoughts would be helpful.



Thanks again

 

[243winxb]

After the FL die hits the shell holder, you need to screw in the die an extra 1/8 to 1/4 turn.

 

[W.E.G.]

You need to use one of these.

 

[biga972]

243win this was how they where sized

W.E.G what is that what does it do?

 

[rsrocket1]

This isn't a DPMS chamber is it? Those are known to be tight.

Take a black sharpie and completely color the brass black and try to chamber it. Look to see where the marker has rubbed off to get an idea what is keeping it from chambering properly.

 

[biga972]

yes it is a DPMS. I will try the sharpie and see what I can find.


Here is what I find odd and really has me pulling my hair out I have measured the shell with some factory rem ammo and the shell has almost the same measurements. The reloads are with in the measurements from the reloading books I have.

I did try and clean the chamber and still same thing.


If is a tight chamber problem it there a set off dies that would be better? I hate to buy another set of dies not knowing if this is the problem.

 

[243winxb]

biga972, when FL sizing and the ram/shell holder is at the top of the stroke, make sure there is no space between shell holder & FL die. If that is OK. Make a steel shim .005" thick to place on the shell holder, under the case head. Needs a hole for the decapping pin. Now size the brass, does it chamber now? This will push the shoulder back more on sizing. If a DPMS , you may have to buy "small base dies". Or return your Lee dies for adjustment. What is the history of the brass?

 

[Roadkill]

I have the same gun. Have been loading for M1A, PTR91, & FALs for years with no problems then I get the AR10 and it wouldn't chamber worth a damn. I pulled out my store bought stash. Had some Federal, Winchester, Australian surplus, and German surplus. Took five of each to the range. The gun liked the Federal best. Went back home, pulled the bullet from a Federal round, then readjusted my dies to the federal shell. Loaded a few, took it back to the range and it fed, fired, ejected perfectly. Also worked fine in a FAL. I pulled and resized a few hundred rounds for the AR10 and as I shoot the other .308s I reload using the adjusted sizing die. Probably have 500 rounds through it now with no problems but the trigger. Finally bought another assembly and its the gun I wanted to begin with.

 

[243winxb]

308 Win. DPMS needs Small Base Dies.

A RCBS small base die has fixed the problem before, here on THR, 2 times if memory serves. Buy the set for $7 more and get a seating die compared to the single FL SB die. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=681255 Or contact Mr. Lee

Small Base die explanation

If you have the Lee Pacesetter die set with a full length-sizing die, you shouldn't need a small base die. Other manufacturers make small base dies on the premise that semi-autos require cases sized to the minimum allowable case dimension for reliable feeding, but in reality most semi-autos have chambers cut on the large side for that same purpose. The result is overworked brass and shortened case life. If you have any chambering problems with ammunition that has been sized with a Lee full length sizing die, return the die and a couple fired cases to the factory for free adjustment.

Our address is;

Lee Precision Inc,
4275 Hwy. U,
Hartford, WI 53027.

 

[243winxb]

308 Win Chamber Drawing Link

The reloads are with in the measurements from the reloading books I have.

See the SAAMI chamber drawing/measurments here >

http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC_Drawings/Rifle/308 Winchester.pdf

 

[biga972]

243 thanks for all the help I have ordered a set of small base dies.



Thanks again to everyone.