Share your info on loading for an autoloader

[RavenVT100]

Any platform, AR, Garand, etc.

Do you use an OAL gauge with each bullet like Fulton Armory recommends?

What type of gauge do you use to measure the headspace of your cartridges?

What kind of powders do you use, how compatible is it with your gun's gas system? With which powders have you had success?

What is your method for ensuring that your rounds do not produce slam fires (i.e. what type of "hard" primers do you use)?

What type of advice would you give to someone who is starting out loading for an autoloader?

Thanks!

 

[ocabj]

Do you use an OAL gauge with each bullet like Fulton Armory recommends?

Not all the time.

What type of gauge do you use to measure the headspace of your cartridges?

Checking headspace on cartridges? I almost never do. I have an LE Wilson cartridge headspace gauge for .223, but hardly use it.

What kind of powders do you use, how compatible is it with your gun's gas system? With which powders have you had success?

Varget, RL15, and 4064 for .223. 4064 and 4895 (commercial and surplus) for .30-06. Never loaded for a .308 gas gun.

What is your method for ensuring that your rounds do not produce slam fires (i.e. what type of "hard" primers do you use)?

Make sure primer is seated flush or slightly lower than flush.

What type of advice would you give to someone who is starting out loading for an autoloader?

Aside from the usual caveats of loading for a bolt? Just make sure you use the proper powder if loading for the M1 Garand. Stick with 4895 as a baseline powder for M1 and M14. Avoid Winchester SR in the AR15, especially if loading heavy bullets.

 

[RavenVT100]

When you do check your chamber for OAL, what type of gauge do you use? Stoney Point?

 

[ocabj]

Yes. The only time I really check for chamber length so that I can seat to the lands is for heavy bullets in the AR (or my slow fire prone / long range ammo).

 

[RavenVT100]

Why do you do so with heavy bullets? Can you not seat them far from the lands due to their length?

 

[ocabj]

Correct. Heavy/long bullets like the Sierra 80gr or any VLD style bullet cannot be seated to magazine length in the AR15 because it will be too deep. The ogive will be below the neck of the case, thus, there will be no neck tension holding the bullet in place. And since you single load the rounds during slow fire, you can seat to lands to maximize accuracy.

 

[rg1]

Here's a great article on reloading for semi-autos:
http://www.exteriorballistics.com/reloadbasics/gasgunreload.cfm

 

[Poper]

Auto-loader reloading

1) Platform: BAR
2) OAL gauge: Dial Caliper
3) Headspace Gauge: RCBS Precision Mic.
4) Powders: Medium to medium fast: IMR 4064, IMR 4350, Ramshot Hunter seem to be ok compatibility wise. No excessive build-up. No damage. (Cal. Is .300WSM and not loaded "hot".)
6) Prevent "slam-fires": Brass preparation includes uniforming primer pockets. This will ensure the primers seat slightly below the case head when fully seated and the pocket is properly cleaned after firing.
7) Advice:
- a: Read, read and then read some more. ABC's of reloading comes to mind as does the Sierra and Hornady handbooks.
- b: I encourage use of small base sizing dies. They will size the case .001" smaller and will help reduce feeding and chambering problems.
-c: Ball powder seems to be more messy and leaves more crud in the bore but is less likely to leave unburnt granules behind that may interfere with the bolt fully closing or get into the workings and magazine.
- d. Don't load near the high end. Stay near the middle of the the load data for you particular chambering. It punishes you and the firearm less and usually accuracy is better, too.
-e: Use only quality components and thoroughly inspect every case before loading. (I load on a single stage, so I look at EVERY case multiple times.) Case length can be critical on some guns. Keep case length properly trimmed. Never let them get long.
-f: Enjoy the loading activities as much as the shooting.

Poper

 

[Matt Dillon]

+1 on enjoying the reloading! Also, use hardened primers, such as CCI 34 and 41 when loading for semiautomatic rifles, along with a good crimp to prevent bullet setback when slammed into the chamber.

 

[Jacka L Ope]

1. Platform: Springfield Armory Standard M1A Loaded

2. OAL gauge: Dial Caliper

3. Headspace Gauge: L.E. Willson cartridge headspace gage

4. Powders: IMR 4895. For my M1A loads, I duplicate M852 match cartridge: 42.0 gr. of IMR 4895, 168 gr. SMK (right out of the Technical Manual for Army Ammunition TM43-0001-27, Chapter 11) and the CCI No. 34 Arsenal Primer.

6. Prevent out of battery/slam-fires": To duplicate and improve upon military cartridge primer/bolt face clearance, I ream and uniform the primer pocket depth to .131" (industry specification is .132" max.), square the bottom corners and seat primers to a uniform depth of approximately .006" below flush (industry max. seating depth is .008").

7. Advice:

A. No cutting corners. Safety is paramount.

B. I also encourage the use of the small base dies to ensure reliable cartridge feeding.

C. Recommended reading:

Reloading for Semi-Autos and Service Rifles

Reloading For The Match M14

Recipes For Success: Reloading For The Match M14

Reloading for the Match M14

I'd also recommend this book: The U.S. .30 Caliber Gas Operated Service Rifles, A Shop Manual, Volumes I & II by Jerry Kuhnhausen (a name that speaks for itself). Covers the Garand, the M14, M14A and the M1A variants. Both volumes actually come in the same printed volume and are worth every penny.

Cheers!