dpete Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 I'm in the process of putting together a 308 AR using Aero Precision parts and a Criterion barrel from Fulton Armory. The barrel has already had about 200 rounds through it but the rest of the rifle is brand new never fired. What would you suggest to use for ammo for the first trip to the range for the initial function tests? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgecrusher Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 Factory ammo, and run her wet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpete Posted February 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 Wet I knew, thanks. Any factory ammo thats better than others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 Anything that is PMC Bronze-equivalent, and up. 147~150 grain, loaded by a major ammo manufacturer. PMC, Winchester, Remington, whatever. As long as it's mainstream ammo, it'll function your rifle. Lighter loads, with 147-grain being the minimum, run at a higher muzzle velocity over heavier loads. Anything 180-grain or over might have issues fitting into your magazines. 175-grain is the common max projectile weight that you can load to magazine length, though there are a few heavier projectiles that will still be okay loaded to 2.800" - not many, though. As a rule, stay away from 180s and up for magazine loading, unless you do homework on the projectile, and it's loading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpete Posted February 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Thanks for the info. The pieces for my build are starting to trickle in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CactusRos Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 (edited) Wet I knew, thanks. Any factory ammo thats better than others? Dunno about "better", but U.S. made m80 ball is a good starting point - usually it's about 20-30% less than commercial. If that feeds well, then try some U.S. made soft points, such as Federal Power-point or Hornady Fusion. After that, you can move on to finding what groups best in your rifle. Remember to get small-base sizing dies if you're going to try handloading for an AR/SR. Beware of foreign-made "surplus" 7.62 NATO. Some can be very good, like the Taiwanese stuff I got in the '80s, but most is QA fallouts that won't meet NATO specs for velocity and pressure. Plus most will be Berdan primed, and once it's been fired, it's only good for melting down into belt buckles. Edited March 2, 2015 by CactusRos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgecrusher Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Remember to get small-base sizing dies if you're going to try handloading for an AR/SR. . Please clarify this. I have used full length does with no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmackc Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) Small base resizing loading dies resize the case to minimum case dimension to facilitate easy clambering in semi-automatic rifles like the 7.62x51/.308 Win. AR 10/ AR308 and M14/ M1A semi-automatics. Many reloaders loading for bolt action and single shot rifles prefer to only do minimum resizing and believe that they get better performance if they "Fire form" cases to custom fit their rifles chamber. Edited March 3, 2015 by mrmackc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) Small Base resizing is not mandatory, at all. Plus, if the original post was read, and comprehended, he didn't ask anything about loading ammo, reloading brass, etc. He's asking about buying ammo, and what would be best to function test his rifle. Once again, this comes down to reading comprehension... Edited March 3, 2015 by 98Z5V Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt.Cross Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 Federal Gold Medal Match is an excellent benchmark round, that's what I've used for a couple rifles now and it's fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmackc Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 Federal Gold Medal Match is an excellent benchmark round, that's what I've used for a couple rifles now and it's fantastic. A very good cartridge case. I use them in .308 and 3006. When I was shooting long range service rifle matches with George Tubb, (David's father) he used a nickle plated Federal 3006 case with a tube primer. He always fireformed his new cases before a match with a light powder load and then only neck sized the case after the first loading. He kept a log book on every hundred cases. He had cases for his National match M1 and also for his favorite Winchester model 70. George was a WWII Army officer product of Texas A&M ROTC and a wonderful NRA director. From the George Tubb Texas A&M scholarship web page: "Mr. George E. Tubb was dedicated to the promotion of the shooting sports. This Canadian, Texas, rancher was the Texas “Ambassador to the Shooting World.” This native Texan and war hero served his nation and the people of Texas with distinction. He was President of the Texas State Rifle Association, a Director of the National Rifle Association, a Distinguished Rifleman, A High Master in High-power Rifle, and a member of eight U.S. Palma teams that competed internationally. In addition, he was a highly decorated World War II veteran. He was inducted into the Army from the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets and was a battle-tested Infantry Company Commander at the age of twenty. He loved his family, God, ranching, his country, and the shooting sports. George was a true American patriot." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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