reloading and shooting 308 in bulk

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brdds

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I got a new AR in 308. 16" barrel, 1 in 10" twist. I already reload 308, but in smaller quantities for hunting. I plan on sending alot down range for fun. My plan is to purchase 1000 inexpensive rounds that I can then reload. Anything that will get me 5 MOA is good enough.

What are good options for initial cartridge purchase with reloadable brass?

What are good inexpensive bullets to buy in bulk? My first thought was Rem Core Lokt 150gr.

Do I need a different powder than 4895 for this shorter barrel?
 
Brdds, for inexpensive bullets look online for 147-150 military FMJ bullets to send down range. Usually, you can find a deal on Gunbroker, especially some of the pulled GI bullets. I have found them adequate for practice ammo in my M1A. Either IMR or H4895 will work great for those bullets along with W748 and Varget. Good shooting.
 
Do I need a different powder than 4895 for this shorter barrel?
Click to expand...

You need a powder appropriate for your gas system, which has nothing to do with a short barrel.

I expect that the rifle was designed around the pressure curve of IMR 4895. IMR 4895 was the powder used in the development of the 308.

First choice are are H4895, AA2495 (Accurate Arms copy of IMR 4895), and of course IMR 4895.

A ball powder that works well, but leaves a lot of residue, is AA2520. Accurate Arms told me that grain for grain it has the same pressure curve as IMR 4895.

I have used IMR 3031 with good success in a M1a, it should work well. I would not use anything faster than IMR 3031.

I would nothing slower than IMR 4064. Which is a great powder but the long grained sticks don't throw well.
 
Ball powder, as a general rule, always has more carbon/soot than stick powder. Protect your gas system from carbon and use stick powder (4895 or equal). More accurate thru a wider range of loads and cleaner burning.
 
4895 should be fine. Sierra handbook recipes has special section for gas guns. Speer has special flags for gas gun friendly recipes as well. Speer has loads based on Mil brass volume so no further knock down factors are required.

For a cheap start up to meet your goals, you can shop Wideners: (www.wideners.com)

Start with:
PPU308FMJ 308 145GR FMJBT AMMUNTION $13.25 / 20 OR $325 / 500
PRVI 308 145GR FMJBT AMMUNTION
Boxer Primed, Non corrosive, Same military brass as M80 and it has the anneal mark but NO CRIMPED IN PRIMER!! Same specs as M80. Good to go for reloading.

Reload with:
MBM80 500 30CAL 145GR FMJBT M80 PROJECTILES $80.00/500 or $159.00/1000
- or-
MBM2 .308 dia 150gr M2 Projectiles $92.00/500
-or-
MB30168H MIL-SPEC 30 CAL 168GR BTHP MATCH BULLETS $93.00 per 500

I would recommend roll crimping case mouth into a cannelured bullet, until you build sufficient confidence in neck tension for the hold. And, as always, work up your loads starting from minimums. YMMV.
 
For good brass in factory, try the Federal white-box XM762D. 150-grain FMJBT. The last batches I've bought had FC09 brass, annealed case necks, military thickness brass, and very consistent. You will have to swage the primer pockets after first firing, but I prefer military brass in a military-style semiauto. It will have a bit less case volume than commerical civilian brass but it lasts longer, especially if you are not loading up at the maximum (which there is no need for- hit between 2500-2700 fps and you are good to go.) This is actual Lake City manufactured ammo.

It is about the same price as the Prvi Partisan civilian stuff "counterclockwise" mentions above, but IMHO the brass is superior.

For fast bulk reloading I prefer a ball powder for progressive loading- it flows better in a powder measure- I like H335 but BL(c)2 or Win 748 etc. will work fine.
 
I'm with Evan; I like the ball powders better too. Ramshot TAC is another good one and can be found on sale more often that many others. If your blasting away and don't have a reloader yet, If you buy an LNL you can get your first 1000 with the purchase of the machine. Look at some of the surplus ammo for your brass the first time. As for your 5MOA requirement that should be easy, I get better than that from this and it’s not designed to be a tack driver.

1919.jpg
 
I've sent over a thousand of these Wideners with IMR 4895 down range from a 16" Barrel DSA SA58. They will definitly beat 5 MOA with a low cost. I think I get ~3 MOA from my Fal. The fal isn't the most accurate weapon either.
 
I'd go with IMR or H 4895 or Varget in 8lbers. Reloder 15 can get in 1 or 5lb containers.

Widener's, Powder Valley, Graf's, MidSouth Shooter's, Midway USA, etc. Check for specials in their flyers. Here in Texas, the gun shows will have bulk bullets for not too bad. Definitely buy in bulk with semi-auto. Look into group buys as well.

Sierra match bullets aren't bad priced, but will definitely be more expensive than pulled military surplus.
 
medalguy said:
Here's one of the last sources for milsurp bullets. As recently as a year ago I could purchase pulldown bullets for around 6 cents each. Those days are gone I'm afraid but these are excellent quality new manufacture.

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=7239&dir=278|281|727
Click to expand...
One thing I'm confused about is the caliber designation. I've heard from some that to reload .308/7.62x51 you need 30 cal rifle bullets (which you provided a link to), and from others that, no, you need .308 bullets.

I see that Wideners also carries these ".308" bullets, but when you read the description, they are saying that are for the M1 Garand (which shoots a 30-06).

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=7239&dir=278|281|727

I'm a bit confused!
 
762NATO,
When winchester went commercial with the round after development for military, they called it "308". It is all the same. Get yourself a loading manual like Speer #13 or #14. It lays it all out in there. .308 is the diameter for american standard "thirty" caliber and 7.62 x 51mm military.
 
.308 is the actual diameter of the bullets. Some .30 caliber rifles use a .310 or .311 bullet like the 303 british or the 7.62x39 or x54r. All of the american .30 cal stuff is .308. Cartridges that use a .308 diameter bullet are...

.308
.30-06
.300 mag
.300 super mag
.300 weatherby
.300 savage
.30 remington
.300 whisper
.300 etc....

As long as the bullets you are looking at are not .310 or .311 then you are okay. OH and the .308 casing usually does best with bullets 180 grain or lighter. The heavier bullets are for the larger casings.
 
Thanks...I thought it was something like that.

I don't shoot anything heavier than 150gr with my M14. When I get a bolt gun, I might go a bit heavier.
 
Ar-10 .308

What is a good, inexpensive ammo for LT308 that is NOT FMJ (FMJ not allowed on range)?
 
Most posts have been about bullets, but powder is a big part of the cost of reloading as well. I have been loading using pulldown WC846 powder and gotten excellent results with it. It's powder salvaged when Israeli 7.62 x 51 ammo was demilled, and is sold to reloaders. You can get it from several surplus dealers, such as Pat's Reloading, for $99 per 8 pounds.

This is bulk grade powder, not cannister, so you HAVE to work up a load for each lot of powder. It's similar to BL-C2 but not every lot reacts the same, use a chrono when working up a load. This powder is starting to get scarce, and when it's gone, that's probably all. I can remember when this stuff was about $40 per 8 pound cannister.
 
Pats also had pulled 308's a few months back for .09 ea. 147grs. as I recall. Perfectly suited for the rifles in this thread. IMR 4895 is my preferred powder for these bullets and functions great in the 223 as well or so I've heard as to how I've never loaded 223 with 4895 powder. Good to know in a bind what is doable for the different calibers we load.
 
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