300 Blackout question

[161]

I ordered a 300 Blackout AR upper, no idea when I'll see it. Been reading on here about people using the Lee 312-155-R2. Is there a reason the 312-160-TL won't work?
Thanks
161

[Doc Highwall]

Yes it will work. Who's upper and what twist does it have?

[nhrifle]

That will work fine. Do yourself a favor and start making brass before the upper arrives. Once you start shooting that you won't want to stop. In my opinion its probably the best thing to come along for the AR platform in awhile.

[Mike Hughes]

Yeah, the 300 Blk is a hoot. The Lee 160 will work, but I like the 155. The spire point design allows you to seat the boolit at a longer OAL-about 2.060, which puts the gas check inside the bottom part of the neck. The 160 will need to be seated at about 1.85 OAL, putting the gas check down below the neck. I would also recommend ordering a freechex III from Charlie, and make your own gas checks. If you shoot your 300 Blk half as much as I do, the check maker will pay for itself in no time.

[bmiller]

I agree completely with the other guys! Start making brass now! I never thought a blackout would be this fun! Looking at buying a checkmaker. I have had good results with the 155 grain bullet.

[nhrifle]

As far as the die set, I recommend the Lee set, or one with a tapered expander. Much easier to work with. Many ways to make brass and it's not that hard to do.

I'm thinking of cutting the gas check area out of my mould so I can shoot unchecked boolits -- just cast, tumble, let dry and load. I love the caliber!

[161]

The story is I ordered one from Model 1 Sales that one has a 1 in 8 twist. They said 8 -10 weeks. I have a dealer looking for a Smith & Wesson M&P. So I'll take the first one that shows up. Already picked up the Lee dies and made about 20 brass. I have several thousand 223 brass. And a couple hundred 147 FMJ to get me started.

[Springfield]

I've got a barrel on the way for my upper/lower, but looks like I waited too long, NOBODY has bolt carrier assemblies.

[Tonto]

I got the double cav mold from Santa....I'm going to try and remove the check shank from my single cavity mold. This is a great round. If you are going to load down, try unsized and tumble lubed versions of this Lee. With the right alloy, load and lube, you might not need the gas check at all. Correct about making brass, easy and a great way to recycle that 556 brass in ziplock bags stacked everywhere.

[41 mag fan]

I bought a 2" cutoff saw from Harbor Freight, and a jig from vonzep on here to cut my brass. It's still a little long, but after I make my shoulder, then I'm going back in and trimming to minimum length using a WFT from Little Crow Gunworks.
Best trimmer I've ever used so far.

I'm using a pair of RCBS dies on mine

[Dark Helmet]

http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/search/eSearch.aspx?SearchTerms=M16%20Bolt&eMode=

[xacex]

http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/search/eSearch.aspx?SearchTerms=M16%20Bolt&eMode=

They show them in stock, but put one in your cart. February is the projected in stock date. I got a bolt in the mail on Monday from Brownells, but I had to get all the parts separately and assemble it. Still cost me about 130$ that way.

[161]

Did a little tinkering yesterday. These are some I cut too short, no powder or primers.
56785

[nhrifle]

Looking good so far.

Try running the brass through the sizing die before you trim. After sizing, I trim long with a pipe cutter like you use, but I spin my cases with a Lee Trim Zip. Cut them long, one more trip through the sizer to iron out where it was cut, then trim to length.

I have a batch of 1000 going now. ALmost finished the rough cut, then to final trim and debur. Lots of work, but it means lots of shooting!

[john hayslip]

Redding has an unlisted in current catalog trim die for the 300 blackout. I was unable to get it from a dealer but called Redding and they sent it to me at dealer cost without shipping charge. You might need an extended shellholder to make it work in your press. I have one for the luger round if I need it that should work, You lube the case and run into the die and take a swipe across the top with a hacksaw with a fine tooth blade and all that is needed then is a final trimming and chamfering. Cost for the die is about $79 but it is a major time saver. I need to get in there and reload some subsonic rounds to run through a friends suppressor. It sound like a pellet rifle with slightly supersonic and am wondering about the sub stuff.

[Moonie]

I use the 155 instead of the 160 as I don't care for TL designs, I just tumble lube regular lube groove designs, I will have a lubrisizer eventually.

[Gunnut 45/454]

I got the Lee 155gr coming. I hope it will be an accurate boolit, been using the Lee 150 and 170gr . But a pointy bullet just seems right in the AR platform should be a good one for my '06 as well!:-D

[threepdr]

If you are going to load down, try unsized and tumble lubed versions of this Lee. With the right alloy, load and lube, you might not need the gas check at all.

If shot case pistol bullets for years, but I'm new to rifle casting. I'll be shooting a 16inch 300 BLK. Will the Lee mold shoot OK without a gas check? If so, what velocities will it be limited to? I'll check in the Freecheck debvice that was mentioned here, also. Thanks!

[HandLoad]

Anybody having Trouble with the Necks being too thick? I can't chamber rounds I made from .223/5.56 Brass that has been trimmed to length and chamfered, with Hornady 110 Grain V-maxes stuffed it....they jam up at about 3/32 into the Neck area - Forward assist will not drive them Home, and they are Pretty stiff to Get out of the Chamber...

Looks like I have to Turn the necks of 2000 Rounds?

[x101airborne]

I am sure he is busy as all get out, but Grumpa here makes some dang fine 300 blk brass. I mean, I am really impressed. Give him a shout.
I have been loading and doing development for my Dad's 11 inch supressed BLK using Grumpa brass, magnum small rifle primers, 5.5 and 6.0 grains red dot and the 247 grain NOE plainbase. Accuracy is just under 2 inches at 100 yards and velocity for the 5.5 grain load is 1020. This has a pistol length gas system and cycles well. Only thing is it did not lock the bolt back on the last round, but I think that is the mags fault, not the rifle's or the ammo. That thing is a lot more quiet than my son's crossman pellet rifle.

[Moonie]

Anybody having Trouble with the Necks being too thick? I can't chamber rounds I made from .223/5.56 Brass that has been trimmed to length and chamfered, with Hornady 110 Grain V-maxes stuffed it....they jam up at about 3/32 into the Neck area - Forward assist will not drive them Home, and they are Pretty stiff to Get out of the Chamber...

Looks like I have to Turn the necks of 2000 Rounds?

I've only had this issue with PMC brass so far, and only in 1 of our 2 uppers.

[Gunnut 45/454]

Mike H
So how does seating bullet below the neck hurt anything? I know both the 150 and 170 gr Lee's seat that deep cause I put them at 1.900" COAL! Both shoot very accurately with zero leading at supper speeds! So what is the problem?

[crawfobj]

I use the redding trim die too, and you definitely need the extended shell holder to go with it. I picked up a mini sawzall from harbor freight to cut off the necks, then trim to length on my Forster trimmer.

If you use the combination neck reamer/end trimmer, you won't have a problem with variations in case thickness, which can vary quite a bit from one bran to the next.

[Mike Hughes]

Mike H
So how does seating bullet below the neck hurt anything? I know both the 150 and 170 gr Lee's seat that deep cause I put them at 1.900" COAL! Both shoot very accurately with zero leading at supper speeds! So what is the problem?

Well good for you. I have read several discussions about trying to keep the boolit within the case neck. What is supper speeds?

[xacex]

You wont get a subsonic boolit to stay in the case neck with a 300 blk. The NOE 311247,and lee 309-230 AAC go well into the case. Even with a gas check on them. They shoot smaller groups with the gas check in my comparison last few trips out.

[Mike Hughes]

You wont get a subsonic boolit to stay in the case neck with a 300 blk. The NOE 311247,and lee 309-230 AAC go well into the case. Even with a gas check on them. They shoot smaller groups with the gas check in my comparison last few trips out.

I have planned on getting one of these molds. Which one has gave the best results? I assumed these bigger and heavier bullets would seat well below the neck. With the lighter boolits, I am using 17.5 gr of Re7, which fills the case to the bottom of the neck. The 155 gr Lee seems to be a good choice with the supersonic loads.

[x101airborne]

Well good for you. I have read several discussions about trying to keep the boolit within the case neck. What is supper speeds?

Supper speed means meat getter velocity LOL. I am just kidding. I couldn't resist.
Dont mis understand the discussions about keeping the base inside the neck. Most of our short neck cartirges have the base below the neck. It is usually not OPTIMAL, but it is not really a detrimental situation either.

[Gunnut 45/454]

Mike h
Well I found with the Lee 150/170 because of the melplate I had to seat them shorter or they'd hang up. By looking at the Lee 155 I should be able to keep the GC in the neck. I'll know Monday as thats when it supposed to get here!:mrgreen:

[Mike Hughes]

Hey Gunnut
I think you will like the 155, I tested quite a few of the 150 and 155 and accuracy seemed to about the same. The 155 feeds better, I think you will be happy with your twenty something dollar investment

[xacex]

I have planned on getting one of these molds. Which one has gave the best results? The 155 gr Lee seems to be a good choice with the supersonic loads.

The Lee gave me the better result, but the NOE is catching up. I had to do some feed ramp polishing, and knock the edges off for tie NOE to feed well. So far I have seen an increase of accuracy with a gas check seated on the lee.

The Lee 310-155-2R is great as a supersonic boolit. I have shot thousands of this boolit, and have seen the spectrum as far as accuracy goes. Don't expect to see 2000 FPS with this one. I got close, but cases were trashed after one use, and accuracy was horrid for an otherwise accurate rifle. I cant wait for the Mihec 311410 to appear in my mail box. 124 grains of hollow point happiness for all of my 308's.

[Gunnut 45/454]

xacex
I'll be more then happy to run them in the low 1900's . I take it you were using W296/H110 in your loads? I found those powders really wear out the brass quickly- I like IMR 4227 and Lil'Gun alot more brass friendly!

[chickenstripe]

anyone try the 31141 in the blackout?

[Doughty]

I have some loaded for my son's rifle. Just waiting for him to get the time to try them. They work fine in my HK SL-7.

[xacex]

xacex
I'll be more then happy to run them in the low 1900's . I take it you were using W296/H110 in your loads? I found those powders really wear out the brass quickly- I like IMR 4227 and Lil'Gun alot more brass friendly!
Yup, my issue with trashed cases were with the H110. I still have a few pounds of it I need to use, but switched to Lil gun. Hopefully I can use it for a Beowulf load or something. Low 1900's are a good speed for this one.

[161]

Picked it up at the Cedar Rapids Gun show today. A SOTA Arms sitting on my Rock River.
60159

Sorry about the feet. But they are size 9 extra wide if anybody wants to know.:)