Way OT:.pet .308 hand loads anyone?

Have 2 bolt actions and one AR10.want to use 150-165 grain bullets for hunting deer and hogs.

(quoted from post at 03:23:12 10/02/20) Have 2 bolt actions and one AR10.want to use 150-165 grain bullets for hunting deer and hogs.

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Lot of folks hand load ammo like that. I feed my 308 165 grain hand loads all the time.

Rick

Gas-operated autoloaders like your AR10 need ammo that's fairly close to NATO spec. The main thing is to not use powder slower than IMR 4895. I don't know how tolerant your AR10 is, but I have an M14 (aka M1A) and slow powder can bend the operating rod. So you may want to keep your AR10 loads separate from those for your bolt guns.

A very popular target load for the M1A is 41.5 grains of IMR4895 behind a 168 grain HPBT bullet. Obviously you can substitute a 165 grain hunting bullet. I'd think this load would be fine for your AR10.

Powder speed isn't an issue with ARs, there is no op rod to hurt. Balancing port size, port location, gas pressure, and gas volume are the issues. If it is a rifle length system, they are especially forgiving.


The bigger question is "what components do you have on hand", as you are 6 months late to the party.

In case you haven't noticed, there are no primers, virtually no 30cal bullets, and very little powder to be had.

My wife has been after me to get an AR.except for hogs she doesn’t need one.but had some disposable income so I gave in(she pretty much doesn’t put up a fuss when I want something.yes components are hard to find but I tracked down cases and bullets so far.wish I had a load using IMR 4350,I have some I use for my 280.

(quoted from post at 07:23:12 10/02/20) Have 2 bolt actions and one AR10.want to use 150-165 grain bullets for hunting deer and hogs.

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There are hundreds of loads put put by the powder companies on line and in their paper manuals. Regardless of good intentions, IO would neither ask for or give out specific loads, much less use someone elses load, with out first cross referencing against known, good data. This is the age of internet idiots and law suits. Be careful out there!

Of course I verify If a load is safe by cross referencing it in a
manual

Bullets for my Browning BAR for any use, 150 gr soft point boat tail. Excellent results from Speer, Nosler, and Hornaday. I've leaned toward the IMR powders over the years, 4064 or 3031. Used standard large rifle primers of whatever brand I could get at the time. It's been several years since any rounds have been loaded at my press, but I've felt the itch to get back into it. I'll be watching this thread and hope to glean some info. Thanks for the post.

I load on the low end of powder as my accuracy seems to be better with starting loads vs never exceed. I just have bolt guns so no idea on ar stuff.
I use 150-165 ballistic tip bullets.
I love the damage they do inside. Always split in half and catch 2 vitals and looks like hamburger inside. Dropped a nice elk last fall with the 165.
I use Lee loader chart.
Not sure of the powder I use but always look for somthing on the top ten lines in the book.

Work up a ladder load for your bolt actions for best accuracy with the components you have & see if they work in the AR also. Some one elses load may not be the best in your rifle.

The .308 is one of the most forgiving calibers to hand load. I use IMR 4350 & have loaded hot and light loads with excellent results. Never seen a .308 that wasn't a good shooter.

I've handloaded for a standard model M1A years ago. IMR 3031, forget the grains now, would have to find one of my labels or in a friends manual.

I used 130 grain hollow points. I was surprised at the groups, was very accurate. I figured there should be some trial and error 1st. 150 Grain Federal Soft Point (Powershok) factory ammo gives excellent groups and these are highly effective on whitetail.

I think he needs the semi auto die too, I had to use care to fit my casings, was concerned about "out of battery" scenario.

What's your opinion on IMR 3031 for re-loading for an M1A ?

(quoted from post at 18:20:19 10/02/20)

What's your opinion on IMR 3031 for re-loading for an M1A ?

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Is is on the "fast" burning side of what is normally used. It is the slower powders(4350, 4831 and slower) that can have issues with M1 rifles(but not M14 and M1A types as they have a totally different gas system).

If I was working of creating a soft shooting 308 load, 3031 would be one of the powders I would play with.

Agreed - people think the M1a is a much stronger rifle but the difference in design gives the AR10 the ability to handle a wide variety of rounds. Look at the variety of
rounds it little brother the AR15 can handle. The same gas and locking lugs work on everything from the .223 to the 300 Blackout, 6.6 Grendel and the 458 SOCOM.

> I think he needs the semi auto die too, I had to use care to fit my casings, was concerned about "out of battery" scenario.

I think you mean the RCBS "small-base" die. It depends on what sort of chamber the rifle has. On a standard military chamber, the small base die will just shorten case life. But if the rifle has a tight "match" chamber, it may be necessary to use a small base die to get reliable functioning.

> What's your opinion on IMR 3031 for re-loading for an M1A ?

It's been over forty years since I tried IMR 3031 and I didn't care for it at the time. I tried using it in .30-06 and it's a poor choice for .30-06 even with the light bullets I was using. I've never tried it in .308; IMR 4895 works so well I've never been tempted to try anything else. I particularly like how 4895 meters; I don't have to weigh my loads which saves a lot of time. In theory, 3031 should work well in an M1A but I've never tried it.

Anyone who loads for M14/M1A should read the M14 chapter in Zediker's Handloading for Competition. The author has made it available for free download at the link below. (BTW, I just quickly re-read it and he says IMR 3031 is a good choice.)
Reloading for the Match M14.