Casting for the .308 AR

[ncbearman]

My friend has a Bushmaster AR in .308 That thing is a beast. Well he is now interested in casting and reloading. Even boolits are getting expensive. So my question to all you out there is, what boolit have you had success casting and shooting in the .308 AR platform. Your suggestions and experience are appreciated in advance. Thank you.

Russ

[olaf455]

I shoot the Lee 170 gr. With gas check, using RandyRat's Tack 1. Also tinkering with DIY polymer jackets using powder coating.

[seagiant]

Hi,
This is funny! My buddy calls my DPMS-308 "The Beast" as all he shoots is an AR-15! I'll be watching this post. I just bought a MP 226-65 Nato mold to cast for my AR-15! Might try the 308 also! Love my AR's!

[45 2.1]

This one:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?151338-MiHec-30-Sil-brass-four-cavity-solid

MiHec will have extras.... contact him via PM. He is supposed to send out invoices after the first of the year. BTW... this boolit is shooting some very very good groups out of some 7.62 ARs right now.

[ncbearman]

Hi,
This is funny! My buddy calls my DPMS-308 "The Beast" as all he shoots is an AR-15! I'll be watching this post. I just bought a MP 226-65 Nato mold to cast for my AR-15! Might try the 308 also! Love my AR's!

No doubt it is a BEAST. That thing is the only rifle that has given my M1 Garand a run for it's money. The only difference being I don't have to stop after 8 and I don't get to hear the 'ping" :o

[popper]

And you don't get a sore thumb. Cast works fine in my LR-308 carbine. Start at the low end of load data for jacketed. Mould is accurate 4x 31 165B. LFN with big nose sized .310.

[Jack Stanley]

If ya can't a good ping out of it maybe you can trade it in for a rifle that does ?[smilie=1::mrgreen:

Jack

[olaf455]

And you don't get a sore thumb. Cast works fine in my LR-308 carbine. Start at the low end of load data for jacketed. Mould is accurate 4x 31 165B. LFN with big nose sized .310.

Does this mean you had the nose sized to .310 when you ordered the mold? The standard is .300

[popper]

olaf455 - I size to .310. It's just got a big meplat, like a RD 311170.65329

[olaf455]

Did you go with the meplat that is in the catalog, or specify a larger one?

[warboar_21]

I made up a bunch of the Lee C312-185-1R. I was going to load it in my Springfield. Now with all this craziness I thought about trying it in my Armalite AR-10. I would have to push it near max though as I tried a few jacketed loads that were around medium pressure and they wouldn't cycle the bolt every time.

[popper]

Just got the catalog one. It has the same ogive as the 168 Amax, with a blunt nose. Shoots great with 40 gr H4895 & veggie oil as a lube. Thought I'd try the PC, haven't shoot any yet. Not dirty on the bolt but this upper has an adjustable GB I don't want to get clogged. 3-400 of cast through it with no problems. Alloy is 1/1/98 Sb/Cu/Pb or 50/50 #2/Pb with sulfur added. So far accuracy is the same and the 1/1/98 is much cheaper.

[olaf455]

Awesome. Thank you fit the info.

[BruceB]

Go to the "CB Loads/Military Rifles" forum.

The long M1A/.308 'sticky' thread should have some loads that will work in the AR.

If you have trouble with functioning due to insufficient gas, select powders from the slower end of the spectrum. This will elevate GASPORT pressure while keeping chamber pressure at a safe level.

You are NOT limited to "handbook" loads!

[winelover]

I've been playing with AA 4350 in my Armalite AR-10 and 200 grain boolits. I've been getting 100% reliability with velocities as low as 1650 fps. Still pursuing an accurate load.

Winelover

[popper]

Got the 31-165C now, for PC. Accurate sans GC with 2400, going to try RE7 to get function ( 18 gr 2400 + filler will almost function the bolt). Hopefully tomorrow - too windy today. Chronied the full boat load, 2450, got to check these. Should be ~ 1800 & close to MOA.