stepping up from hand gun to riffle loading

[bhilliker@comcast.net]

In a year and a half I have loaded 46K hand gun rounds and am having fun with my new hobby. Time to step up to riffle AMMO. Plan is start with 308, 30-06 then 223. Going to get some full length dies and a case trimmer. Plan is to load target loads. I could use some tips on powder, bullet weights etc. My 308 riffle is an AR 10. Any insight would be appreciated.

[kcstott]

46K in 18 months. You should have manual or two?? You should read manual or two.

[bhilliker@comcast.net]

touche' Yes I can read----was looking for some insight to what others are doing for AR target loads. Books give me a hundred options----what are you using that works? Thanks

[rm1911]

[sl0re10]

In a year and a half I have loaded 46K hand gun rounds and am having fun with my new hobby. Time to step up to riffle AMMO. Plan is start with 308, 30-06 then 223. Going to get some full length dies and a case trimmer. Plan is to load target loads. I could use some tips on powder, bullet weights etc. My 308 riffle is an AR 10. Any insight would be appreciated.

People here say the bullet's quality matters. I've always held out for sales (cyber monday and stuff) and bought name brand ones so I cannot verify it (I've only used good ones).

Maybe pick up a case deburring tool too.

I don't do most of those rounds so I don't have a recommendation on powder.

You might want to look at rcbs x dies for resizing. I have one for 223. I trim the cases once and then don't really have to do it again. The die prevents the case neck growing.

[scotty99]

For the AR10 either Varget or Reloader 15 with Sierra 168gr Matchkings is how I would start.


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[bubbala]

do a search for ladder testing. you have to find what you and your rifle like. it can be an involved process . in other words,,, not easily found by asking others.

[ar15barrels]

In a year and a half I have loaded 46K hand gun rounds and am having fun with my new hobby. Time to step up to riffle AMMO. Plan is start with 308, 30-06 then 223. Going to get some full length dies and a case trimmer. Plan is to load target loads. I could use some tips on powder, bullet weights etc. My 308 riffle is an AR 10. Any insight would be appreciated.

The biggest thing you need to learn when moving to rifle cartridges will be sizing die adjustment to get your headspace correct.
Your handgun carttridges have all likely been headspacing off the mouth or the rim and the rifle cases you mention all headspace off the shoulder.
The die adjustment is critical in getting the shoulders to match your guns.

Don't OVER-SIZE or UNDZER-SIZE your cases.
Over-sizing will give you excessive headspace, even though the shoulder lengths might be in spec.
Under-sizing will keep the ammo from fitting the guns correctly and cause chambering problems.

Here is a trick to get JUST ENOUGH sizing:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=21285600&postcount=12

Also read this one which is from before the one above:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=11627980&postcount=11

[kcstott]

touche' Yes I can read----was looking for some insight to what others are doing for AR target loads. Books give me a hundred options----what are you using that works? Thanks

In my AR308??
I use an adjustable gas block and I shoot the same 175 grain SMK load as my F Class rifle.

That and there’s service rifle data in the hornady book.

[kcheung2]

I suggest you buy good projectiles. With handgun ammo, random mfg don't matter much but inconsistencies in rifle ammo at longer distances add up fast.

There's a few powders than can work in all 3 cartridges, Ramshot TAC & AR Comp are a few I've used but there's others. However 308 & 30-06 are more alike to each other than they are to 223 so I prefer to stock separate powders that are more optimized for 223 projectile weights, while keeping the 30 caliber powders the same.

You never mentioned it, but someone else mentioned Garand. If you have one, then it adds a few constraints but it's easily worked around. Just google for Garand-safe powders, IMR4895 is the popular one but there's others that work also. My setup is to use IMR4064 for all 30 caliber-ish loads (308, 30-06, 8mm Mauser, 7.5 Swiss, etc) and that includes ammo for a Garand. It's a stick powder though, so I had to learn to embrace the crunch.

And get some good case lube! Pistol cases slide pretty easily through the dies, but resizing bigger cases requires lube.