Justintoxicated

Sounds like a hot load. You see any pressure signs?

Too bad, at 100 yards my 5.56 AR is nearly as accurate as my 308 (sub MOA) when I reload 223 with SMKs or nosler 77gr. As far as separating brass for 5.56 and 223 my load seems to work for both about the same using BLC2. I just sort by headstamp to have more consistent groups, but the I didn't find much difference in m accuracy load. For 308 on the other hand, definitely develop a load for each kind of brass.

Looks like I will be sending the barrel back to Rainier arms for inspection.

I would get the hornady too, unless your going to get a 550 for each caliber you want to load.

Yea 175 SMKs with 43gr load, with 40gr I was at 24xx (I'll edit this post later with the exact average). Keep in mind this is from a 24" barrel though. The 155gr Palmas were also flattening primers. I did not chronograph the Noslers due to not wanting to shoot anymore of them. They were the first thing I shot because I was finally able test out some factory ammo. I was able to chrono the federals because a buddy traded me for a few noslers once I had the chronograph setup.

Yea I headspaced it, that's not the problem. Tried contacting them, just waiting to hear back.

So I finally got back to the range, this time with the chronograph and two kinds of factory ammo (Federal 168gr match, and Nosler 168gr Match ammo). The federal shot decent and the primer cups looked about the same as my reloads. Flattened primer and some cratering from the firing pin. The Nosler ammo was a problem, the primers actually fell out of the brass and the anvil got jammed up in the action near the chamber, almost had to mortar the thing to get it unstuck. Velocity from the 168's Federals was about 500fps faster than my 43gr loads for the 175 SMKs. I need to find my paper to give the average but my reloads all read around 2620-2630 fps. Should I start looking for a different Barrel? Maybe the rainier arms ultra match is just junk.

Sinclair is supposed to have more of a taper to give better readings without pressing into the bullet. It's too much taper for my 223 rounds (with the .22cal comparator) but the 308 bullet works pretty good. For the Win 308 round specifically though, I have to load them so far into the case that the comparator nearly comes to the neck of the brass.

damn that's strange. Have you tried the sinclair comparator?

Yea I'm wondering right now if I want to load up the same thing for next time I get to the range. It will be a while though..

- Sure already fired a bunch at .5gr less for the 155 palma (a few times now) , they just don't group as well, pressure signs are about the same I actually went up to I think 46gr with this load (wish I would have recorded it) - I wish I knew which batch of primers I was using, it could be the ones I picked up in December, or they could be from a year earlier. - I believe the chamber is polished but maybe I could look into it. - Can't load them any longer and fit them in the magazine. I do not believe the bullets touch the lands. I can check though.

Governemnt profile barrels to longer heavier barrels, but no not exactly light weight. With heavy barrels I would still prefer a 24" over a 16" for target shooting. The 24" isn't going to twist enough to matter at 100 yards, and @300 yards or more the added velocity is more than worth any concerns over twist.

Just to close this Wilsons turn around time was great and the new block corrected whatever issue the old one had.

I have had set screw types leak, or loosen up over time. I prefer the clamp style. That said not all set screw blocks are equal, and sometimes the clamp is too big to fit. For example I could not find an adjustable clamp together block for my .936 diameter barrel that would fit under my free float tube. If I had the choice I would have gone with syrac clamp block though instead of the wilson combat block i am using.

Yes that would be the proper way to test :) Getting the ejector back in was a real bitch. That isn't a 223 ejector spring in there! The trick was using a piece of 45acp brass and a vice to keep it together while I tapped the roll pin back in. The firing pin, bolt carrier, gas rings were all JP, so I doubt it is tolerance stacking. Must just be high pressure signs. I guess I will have to stop using Varget. If that does not work I guess I will part out this rifle as it won't group like I want it to safely. I figure if I can't load for a decent velocity then there is no point in having a 24" heavy ultra match barrel. Maybe I'll convert it to a light weight 16" barrel plinker or something. I guess on the bright side I didn't order a custom barrel yet like I was initially going to.