DM15

Good info. I didn't think I was pushing limits with 43.5 gr. Lee starts at 43.0 gr and max 45.5. The fact is however that I am having problems. I have couple hundred loaded. I probably won't pull them yet. I tried some other powders yesterday and may load enough of them to hunt with. If problems cease them I will know. Leaning toward BL-C2 at 46.5 or 47.0gr. Just a one shot ladder got 2551 and 2599 respectively. May run a small ladder again in that range to confirm. Odd question. While testing yesterday I noticed most brass is almost too hot to hold for a few seconds after firing. That's expected and it cools very fast. However one shot in particular didn't eject. I ejected by hand immediately and picked up brass. It was as cool as when I loaded it and almost as shiny. It wasn't even warm. This was the top load of Varget at 46.0 gr. Is this a sign of delayed combustion or something wrong?

The Grendel is the rage here. I didn't bite. Ammo was cheap and available. I went with a 30 cal offshoot of the 6.8. Its very efficient and effective. Honestly if a guy doesn't handload or care about tinkering with guns, the most practical choice would have been the 7.62x39 preferably in AR platform. Cheap and effective for most practical situations.

There is plenty of opportunity for long shots. If there are several pigs I need to get closer. They scatter at the first shot.

I often get within 50 yds. As long as I see them first I go to them. I probably don't shoot much over 200 but want the ability for further.

In short, I have other options on hand. I just wanted to build a large frame and wanted a 308 for its versatility and available components.

Other than the satisfaction I get from building it and getting it perform to its potential, it pays its way controlling hogs with a thermal. I like to hunt but we farm/ranch. Hogs are expensive.

Sounds good. I arrived at that number by taking 200 fps off of load data to compensate for the short barrel. Maybe I have the bar set to high. Also, I just inspected the brass in the pics again and noticed they are different year model PPU. Most all that brass was 17 with a few 16 but those pics have a 16,17,18, and a 19. I don't think that has any bearing on the issue but just keeping my story straight. They all weighed very close.

My goal was to shoot 150 gr at 2700 fps out of 16" barrel. Is this unrealistic for the 308 is this platform? I have 30 cal in an AR platform that will do 125 gr at 2650. A couple of pounds lighter and about 2/3 powder usage. Surely the tried and true 308 can handily trump that.

I have the Vltor RE A5 tube, HSS tungsten buffer 3.25" and weighted 6.8 oz., and EA1095 spring. I did some load work today with different powders since H4895 hasn't surfaced again. In doing so I chronographed a few of these 4895 loads as a check for new loads. Today the 4895 were 2648 fps where they were 2700ish in February. It was about 70 degrees today and don't remember in Feb. but colder. I found it odd the velocity dropped but that is why I checked them so I wouldn't be chasing 2700 with the new loads. Also another caliber chronoed lower than previously with same loads. This is a Caldwell chrono but is usually consistent when in the shade. It seems that what should be isn't here lately. I am on board with working up loads w/o the suppressor. I haven't been doing that, but shall give it a try. Brass is PPU 17 7.62x51. Pretty sure its once fired when I bought it and this is the first firing for me. Average wt was 175.44 gr with a 1.60 gr spread. It was almost as consistant as the Lapua and beat the Hornady Match.

Here are a couple of pics of the worst of the brass. These were when I was opening up the AGB. The broken one was with the shorter gas tube. That was the only time that happened. BTW it was the first shot in a big group of hogs. This is a Toolcraft DLC BCG that I purchased new for this build. I probably have 150 rounds thru this gun. This is PPU 17 brass that I bought as 1X fired. It still had the red sealer around the primers so I believe it to be accurate. This is my first firing on them, so they are 2X fired total. I developed the load for this gun. It has been working well with a couple of exceptions. Now this is showing up. Nothing has changed except the different parts and a little warmer weather. Federal 150 Power Shok 2.1900 2.7195 H4895 43.0 PPU 2691 2/2/2021 Federal 150 Power Shok 2.2000 H4895 43.0 PPU 2682 4 2/8/2021 Federal 150 Power Shok 2.2000 H4895 43.5 PPU 2735 6 2/8/2021

I installed Armalite spring and carbine length gas tube. Now I am having more trouble than before. I am pulling the rim off of the brass or bending it. I have the AGB shut one click from off. This doesn't always lock the bolt on empty mag. Any more and the above issue worsens. This is when shooting suppressed. When unsuppressed I have to open the AGB much more to get it to just cycle (not lock bolt back) and it damaged the rims badly. This seems to me to clearly be a timing issue. The action is trying to open before the pressure is low enough right? It seems to be magnified with the longer gas tube. It now seems that my load isn't correct for barrel setup. I am shooting 150 gr flat base soft points with 43.5 gr 4895. This shouldn't be a hot load. To be fair I was having intermittent trouble with the mid length DPMS tube. Failure to cycle on the first shot and one rim damaged by the extractor. However, most all the other brass looked good and didn't show swipes or over pressure signs. Thoughts on this one?

Looks good. I have that Adaptive Tactical stock also. Really like the soft recoil pad and can't beat the price on them.

No sir. I certainly want to be safe and definitely don't want to encourage anyone else to try anything that might cause harm. Now please educate me as to where the problem lies assuming that HS is in spec. If the bolt locks up properly, doesn't disengage to early, where will the danger lye? Not arguing, just want to know what goes wrong.

I too have been on the same trail as you. I'm probably on many watchlists now with all the searching I've done. I've about concluded that if 1) the headspace is in spec and 2) you overcome the difference in gas tube length, then it will work. I think it is wise to not intentionally seek to mismatch components from the two different styles, but if that is what you have in todays climate then its worth investigating. I haven't found evidence that the bolt and extension lugs will damage each other, or any other damage to the rifle. Once again it seems to be safety first and that is verified/denied by checking headspace. This is my opinion for now and not intended to guaranty success or safety for others.

I'll try and track down a no go gauge. Rare in theses parts except buying one. I really want to know now if it passes now. I agree for the most part, however it was never properly HS tested. Ignorance was bliss but now I just want to know for sure. Also, I don't want to prematurely wear out any parts due to any ill fitting pieces.