Justintoxicated

I don't even know if I believe in a break in procedure. Because I bought a Rainier Ultra Match Barrel, I did do a cleaning after the first 10 shots. Then again when I took it home (about 50 shots later). I think if you have a hand lapped barrel you don't even need to break it in, that's what the lapping was for after all. I broke mine in with handloads too, which probably goes against what everyone's procedure is :P I can't even find any 308 ammo for sale so I said screw it and made my own.

It will be awesome if you can crank out a few rounds, shoot them, adjust, crank out a few more and test them. :) I can only dream.

The JP is the lightweight one right? Buffers affect the timing, so it might be better or worse depending on your rifle. Or else get an adjustable gas block.

I think you want a 15" handguard if you want it to cover the gas block on a rifle length system. Actually 15" will cover it by a couple inches.

Actually the FA still works without the serrations as long as it hits the back of the BCG which is likely would in any normal situation where it might be used (tight chamber or something).

any gas seepage around the gas block?

It came in my 308 parts kit so no. It does look like a standard bolt catch though.

Check brownells too, I got everything from them.

I went to the locally long distance range and finished breaking in the new 308 AR :)

I hate picking up federal 223 lately cause it's always short 1.740 or less I have tons of it and it just sits there. Of course I trimmed as the last step after swaging like 1000 cases loI. I always trim to 1.750 even if the brass does not really need trimming it gets chucked in the trimmer, cause it's easier to just process than measure then process. This gives a more uniform crimp.

I'll get some pictures this weekend, but it's typical cratering and flattening of primers. I was loading to just a hair longer than suggested 2.806 seems to be a good average OAL but we all know tips vary some even on Palmas. I also wrote down the numbers to the O-give from my sinclare comparator. This tool is only sitting less than a mm from the top of the case rim when measuring but this is my first experience with palmas and 155's. I also seem to be having a hard time getting a good crimp, I'm lowering my crimping die to its max setting and it's only leaving a crimp about 1/2 a mm on the top of the case. Maybe I should try seating the bullets out more? But I'm not sure they will fit in the magazine then. This was my best 5 shot group so far @100 yards which uses 44.5gr Varget,a nd the CCI primers, I fired rounds up to 46gr although I didn't test the 46gr loads @100. I fired them at 900 yard target cause I was out of ammo,and it was my frist time shooting past 300yrds so I had to try it . Some of them hit it, most others just missed to one side or another (I blame not reading the wind cause it was a bit gusty). Untitled by Glamisduner, on Flickr Yes I pulled my 5th shot, I'm terrible and always seem to pull the last one! Tested 44, 44.2 44.4 44.5, 44.5 with CCI primers (slightly less Cratering with those), 44.7, 45, 45.5 gr @ 100 yards. I shoot off bags so my results are never 100 percent conclusive. Both 44.5gr loads were able to put bullets through the same hole, the 44.4gr groups were close but my best was 44.5 still. Coincidence? I don't know.

I don't bother for Semi Auto, but maybe if I was loading for a bolt gun I would.

So how did that work out? I ended up putting in the CMG bolt catch and it seems to be working fine now. When I first installed it it was locking back the bolt on every shot, but that went away pretty quick. Not sure what was causing that to happen. BoltCatches by Glamisduner, on Flickr L to R Armalite, Old broken CMMG, CMMG V3 I snagged some 175gr SMKs but they haven't shipped yet so I continued my load development on my SMK 155gr palmas. I have been told that these need a heafty load to reach 1000 yours accurately but my rifle seems to like closer to the starting load from what I have tested so far. I was able to reach out to 900 yards with them though :) this was my group @ 100 yards with 44.5gr Varget, only .5 over the suggested starting load of 44gr Varget. The new Catch has more material than the old one, and hopefully no casting flaws. Untitled by Glamisduner, on Flickr Untitled by Glamisduner, on Flickr My best 100 yard 5-shot group off bags (Still need more practice)... I always seem to pull the last shot (in this case it hit the bullseye.) Untitled by Glamisduner, on Flickr

I snapped a picture of the bolt catches when I got them in. left to right: Armalite, CMMG (the one that broke), CMMG Gen3. I'm thinking to install the CMMG, it looks the most stout, but who knows which materials are best. i would imagine the actual metal is more important than design as far as breaking? Can someone explain to me in a new way what the little notch that is tabbed out does? That is supposed to catch on the magazine right? Note that the armalite's nub sticks down unlike the CMMG, I would imagine this is a superior design? However the CMMG seems a little thicker. How important is it to have that nub lower than the rest of the edge? Should the bolt stop work without a magazine inserted? Mine seems to catch the bolt without the mag inserted. BoltCatches by Glamisduner, on Flickr

I like the nylon brushes I got from midway they work well, very stiff. Bore snake is good too, but I don't use mine much. I don't like the idea of putting dirt back into the barrel if you do more than one pass. I usually use a brush and jag, then if it's taking too long use the bore snake towards the end when the barrel is mostly clean. Every time I run my bore snake though I get more crud out when I follow up with a jag.

I ordered the armalite, but I don't think it has shipped yet. I got the following response from CMMG. I have issued a sales order to our shipping department. They should be pulling a new bolt catch and bolt catch screw and shipping them out to you today. By the way our new bolt catches for our .308s are stouter so you hopefully won't have this one break. Should I cancel my order for the armalite one?

Thanks guys, I ended up ordering one from rifle gear but it's always good to have another site to order parts from in the ol bookmark list. it may have made more sense to just buy the parts kit for spare springs and detents but i think I'll be alright. Funny Rsquared :P, but this rifle has zero DPMS parts. Granted the CMMG parts kit is likely similar in quality, I don't think I will be buying anymore CMMG parts kits anytime soon, although my friends haven't had problems with theirs. :P I'm thinking about getting that ergo target grip, but not sure I will like the palm shelf. I like the new BCM grip angle but it's not as important on this rifle, im not even sure its nicer for a bench gun. I'm taking way too much time to decide on a grip, but something I could toss a firing pin (someday ill get a spare) and some allen wrenches in would be ideal. I mean I guess I have that now but this grip feels too skinny to me. Hmm will a 308 firing pin even fit inside the a grip?

I bought that Percision reflex one then realized my JP handguards barrel but uses the standard size barrel nut wrench so I have this tool I can't even use it. I already had the AR15 version for other rifles but it wouldn't fit either because the barrel diameter was too large. The holes all lines up but the inner diameter was too small :( All this money on tools and I ended up borrowing my friends yankee hill wrench and just applied torque by hand without a torque wrench...

$32 worth it for the armalite? It's $15 to ship it :(

i switch between the imperial sizing wax and HOS. the HOS works great for 223, but I have stuck a cases when loading 30-06, and almost stuck a 308 case as well.

My method of using hornady trimmer and hand drill is probably nearly as fast?

I started working on a load and the recommended starting load is 44gr varget. I fired and found pressure signs in the starting load. The winchester primers had some minor cratering. I went up anyways until I was also getting flattened primers with 45.5 gr varget. I'm going to pull my 46gr loads. What gives, pressure signs with starting loads? is this an AR in 308 specific problem? The brass looked fine though, only primers showed symptoms, no bulging etc. I was using Black hills once fired brass, but I did size them with a redding small base die due to some minor buldging at the base in from an unknown rifle they were previously fired from. Should I start again with like 40 grs of powder? I was able to drive bullets through the same hole at 100 yards 3 shots in a row off bags with 44.5gr but I need to test more between 44 and 44.5gr to find the sweet spot. maybe try up to 44.8 as well since I was jumping by .5gr to find the ballpark this first range trip. I have a feeling 44.5 might be the sweet spot though I don't like the cratering in the primer.

I ended up with a Wilson Combat adjustable gas block. I like my syrac clamp on better, but the wilson is the same quality and adjustable from the front for a .936 diameter gas area. It's not clamp on though because then it wouldn't fit under the FF tube, I also like the detent on the syrac, but the Wilson does have a brass set screw to lock it in place so no locktight is needed.

JP recommends not using the buffer retainer detent. I'm wondering if using this buffer is the cause of my broken bolt catch on the first shot. Perhaps it is allowing over travel?

nice shooting