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.

So your 308 AR does not produce ejector smear marks with factory ammo?

The Bushnell XRS is a bit overkill at 100 yards :)

That makes sense. I think the Winchester primers are just from a bad batch after doing some research. Seems they moved their primer production facility and were having some teething problems Once I contact winchester I will update. I'm going to look for the firing pin gap too. Maybe JP bcgs are overated..

I can try 40.0 gr again, but the group was a little tighter with 43 grain. I think I will have to move the target back to 200 yards to get a better indication. Luckily the 43gr load does show signs of high pressure but nothing too terrible IMO (just enough that I'm not comfortable going higher). Again the brass looked similar with 40.0gr varget but the flattening of the primer was slightly less, and slightly less ejector smear and cratering. Both are 5 shot groups. lr 308 100 yards by Glamisduner, on Flickr As for the 155gr loads, I think I will try them again but with different primers next time. These were loaded in commercial brass so the loud does not sound too over the top to me, but I have yet to find factory ammo for comparison.

Well that sucks because my rifle does not like those charges. I'm not sure that's 100% though cause I have used their numbers before in my other semi autos, granted I have never needed to approach their maximums to get an accurate load. In fact I find sierras numbers to be too conservative in almost all of my rifles. Actually usually I typically use my Hornady reloading manuals numbers since they start out the very conservative. Their starting loads so far have ALWAYS been weaker than factory ammo. And even with their starting load I get high pressure signs on the LR308 with both 155s and 175s. The adjustable gas block has been adjusted to eject brass properly if not a bit weakly but once I find my accuracy load I will dial it in more right now it looks like 43gr varget under a 175gr smk is the best (using military cases), and 44.5gr varget under a 155 smk (commercial brass). With the adjustable gas block I should be able to fire stouter loads if anything. Hodgdon lists 155's with 44grs at 2759 fps which is on par with other good factory ammunition. But like I said I get the same pressure signs with only 40gr of varget under a 175 smk, granted the primer isn't quite as flat. Yes I checked headspace. The rifle passed both a go and no go SAAMI gauges. I haven't seen any 308 ammo for sale in over a year around here. Pretty sure it would do the same thing though I will pick some up if it is ever back in stock. I used hornadys numbers which have thus far always been on the light side compared to factory ammo. As far as reloading I'm using Redding National Match sizing dies, and sometimes a small base FL die if needed (was for the Black Hills Brass, but was not needed for the LC). COL was checked to be consistent with a comparator, and each round was individually weighed and trickel up to the nearest .1gr\ I think I am going to contact winchester about a bad batch of primers. My friend bought his WLR primers around the same time and had one do the exact same thing in the exact same place. His load was 42gr varget under a 168gr bullet, but in a 30-06 case which isn't a very stout load for a bolt gun. It showed no pressure signs other than the pinhole that pitted the bolt on his very nice 1903a3. I love CCI primers but haven't found them for sale at a reasonable price in years ($45 for 1000 is not reasonable to me). Actrually I take that back I have found tons of #41s for use in my other ARs. CCI so far is my favorite primer manufacturer. The tula primers seem to be working well too but they are a bitch to seat. I don't know if ejector smear and cratering is normal for 308 ars. Maybe someone can post some pics of what their brass looks like after firing?

All I do is level the rail, then level the scope using the vertical adjustment knob cap. Works for me. Hell last time I took the scope off and put it back on I didn't even have to make a single adjustment (and this wasn't a QD mount!)

Add Heart and Satern to that list of great barrels. I would get cut rifled if you can though.

Dont get a 24" 1:10 twist heavy profile barrel they shoot 175gr SMKs terrible. ;) lr 308 100 yards by Glamisduner, on Flickr

The problem was not from the JP SCS. The nice thing about it is that you will never get buffer detent hole wear on your lower. It's easier to clean and lubricate. There less or no gap between the buffer and the bolt carrier. The downside is that the damn thing just falls out when you take apart your upper. but once you get used to it it's not really an issue.

As an owner of both a syrac and wilson I'll chime in. I'm using the Low Profile Wilson Combat Adjustable gas block. It's a 2 set screw design, you loosen the outer hollow set screw, then push the allen wrench down farther to get to the actual adjustment screw, turn to make your adjustment, then set the outer screw to lock the adjustment screw into place. Not quite as nice as the syrac, but syrac does not make one for my diameter barrel. I actually time mine for more the 3:00 position so it hits the net and I don't have to go chasing brass :). I have the Syrac on a 5.56 AR. Both have extended length handguards so access to the front is key. I don't care for the locktight style, but I'm spoiled by syrac and wilson. The Syrac was harder to install cause that damn roll pin was a crazy tight fit. The Wilson came with a straight gas tube already installed. Of the two I prefer the Syrac.