I have an AR type firearm in 308. I want to reload ammo for it but have a few questions. I have a set of the standard 308 dies but for a firearm of this type would the small base dies help with feeding? Also, what would be a good powder/bullet combo? I have a lot of IMR 4895 as I like it for my 243, 308, and 30-06 bolt guns. Thanks.
Reloading for an AR type firearm
- Thread starter Big Yac
- Start date
I use RCBS standard 308 f/l dies for my lr308.
Have used imr 4064,bl-c (2),as well as varget with good results.
Getting ready to start loading for a 308 bolt gun and will use the same set up.
Have never used small base dies so really don't know about that one.
Hope this helps
Leonard
Have used imr 4064,bl-c (2),as well as varget with good results.
Getting ready to start loading for a 308 bolt gun and will use the same set up.
Have never used small base dies so really don't know about that one.
Hope this helps
Leonard
toolguy2006
New member
Big Yac:
You probably cant go wrong with IMR 4895. The "Bible Load" for an M1A uses 40.5 to 41.5 gr IMR 4895 under a 168 Gr match bullet.
My Sig Sauer in .308 absolutely will not cycle without the use of small base dies, but yours may be different. As far as bullets, I have always had good luck with Hornady A-Max's, but lots of people swear by the Sierra Match Kings as well. I've known some semi autos that wouldn't feed certain hunting bullets reliably.
Also, you may want to take a look at this if you haven't already. It gives some great advice on " do's and dont's" of reloading for semi-auto service type rifles.
http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf
You probably cant go wrong with IMR 4895. The "Bible Load" for an M1A uses 40.5 to 41.5 gr IMR 4895 under a 168 Gr match bullet.
My Sig Sauer in .308 absolutely will not cycle without the use of small base dies, but yours may be different. As far as bullets, I have always had good luck with Hornady A-Max's, but lots of people swear by the Sierra Match Kings as well. I've known some semi autos that wouldn't feed certain hunting bullets reliably.
Also, you may want to take a look at this if you haven't already. It gives some great advice on " do's and dont's" of reloading for semi-auto service type rifles.
http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf
Big Yak, what's the rifling twist in that barrel and how long is it?
That'll make a small difference in what bullet might shoot the most accurate.
And IMR4064's been the "standard" for best accuracy in .308 chambered semiautos for bullets weighing 165 to 190 grains since the early 1960's. But you'll probably have to weigh charges; it doesn't meter very uniformly. IMR4895's been a close second and doesn't need to be weighed for good accuracy up through 600 yards.
That'll make a small difference in what bullet might shoot the most accurate.
And IMR4064's been the "standard" for best accuracy in .308 chambered semiautos for bullets weighing 165 to 190 grains since the early 1960's. But you'll probably have to weigh charges; it doesn't meter very uniformly. IMR4895's been a close second and doesn't need to be weighed for good accuracy up through 600 yards.
Thank you all for the advice. I see in my post I said an AR style firearm but the gun is actually an H&K 91. I cannot remember at the moment the barrel length or twist rate. I'll post that later tonight. I have the IMR 4895 that I love in my 243, 308, and 30-06 bolt guns so theres plenty of it. I also found I have some IMR 4064. The type of shooting I"ll be doing is mostly target shooting out to 300 (mostly), 400, 500(maximum) yards. I know thats a wide range of distances and was thinking the heavier bullets might work best, 168 or even 180 grain bullets again since I use the 180s in my 06 I have a good number of them. Thanks again. 
500 yards is doable with pretty much any bullet and IMR4895 will definitely do the trick. If your twist turns out to be 1:10 then I think anything in the 168 to 180 grain range is good, though finding anything in stock now is tricky. The 178 Amax and their BTHP Match bullets have been reasonably easy to find and at a good price too.