Bullet sizer for AR 308 Winchester

[The_Shadow]

I recently picked up a new NOE mold 311-199-SP-K5 3 cavity. I've got some good ones cast and about to do the sizing and gas checking.

I'm actually holding off as I may get a new sizer. My older sizer for the RCBS sizer lubricator is 0.308". I'm thinking I may go with a new sizer for the STAR sizer either 0.310" or 0.311".

Looking for suggestions...What are some of your thoughts on sizing these bullet for an AR 308 Win and other 30 cal rifles sized at 0.311".

I did make a DUMMY round with the unsized bullet (0.311") and it chambered fully and ejected without any difficulty.

 

[Ben]

I think you'd have better luck actually shooting .309 ", .310" , and .311" bullets in your rifle and letting the rifle tell you what it likes vs. people guessing and telling you what dia. to buy. Just my opinion.

 

[Brad]

I think you'd have better luck actually shooting .309 ", .310" , and .311" bullets in your rifle and letting the rifle tell you what it likes vs. people guessing and telling you what dia. to buy. Just my opinion.

YES!
The rifle will tell you what it wants.

That said .309 or .310 are not bad places to begin the quest for the ONE

 

[Ian]

Or measure the rifle's chamber neck and throat and educate your guessing a little.

 

[The_Shadow]

I am leaning toward the larger diameter 0.311" sizer. I'm hoping some who have used this diameter would also chime in with their own experiences to learn of their results...

 

[Brad]

I am sure many have used .311, I have many times in my 30-30. Problemis thst my 30-30 is not your 308.
Each rifle is unique. The dimensions of your barrel and throat determine what size is “best”.
This is how to determine where to begin. https://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/article-2-how-i-make-pound-casts.131/

 

[Ian]

None of have your particular rifle. You have to realize that chamber andbthroat dimensions and states of wear are all over the map. I have some rifles that won't chamber a .309" bullet and some that will swallow .312" with nothing but the gas check in the neck.

I suggest going to the tips and tricks section of the board and reading article on making a pound cast. Read the whole thing, as I recall there is an excellent post by Ed Harris after the main article that describes the same process but in different words. Once you get a oound cast and make some detailed measurements with an accurate C-clamp micrometer, present the data and we can make some very accurate recommendations.

 

[Ian]

Brad beat me to it. I guess he pecks faster than I do!

 

[fiver]

my 30 cal default is 310.
it's been that size for so long I keep forgetting I had Brad make me a 311 size die,, some of my rifles would probably like that size better.

 

[Winelover]

I had Lathesmith make me a .3125 sizer for my Star. I use it for my Armalite AR-10 A4 carbine and my Model 70 Winchester. Neither, of which were ever slugged. Never any leading. No chambering issues. Just make sure you use an appropriately sized expander. I use RCBS's cast bullet expanders.



Ten shot group out of the Armalite.

 

[Bret4207]

Listen to what is written above, each gun is an individual. That being said, I've often found that measuring the ID of a case mouth of a round fired with a full power load will show me where to head. That diameter is as large as you can go without reaming cases. BUT- I have no experience with auto rifles! Feeding is going to play a part in picking your diameter.

 

[The_Shadow]

Thank you all for the help. I was digging around and actually have a LEE push through 0.311" sizer kit I got in a trade. So I installed the Hornady crimp on gas checks on a few without any lube. They say that's the best way so no lube gets under the checks.
Then I applied some White Label Carnauba Red lube in the two lube grooves the passed them back through the sizer to smooth the lube evenly.

Yes I have the RCBS expander for lead bullets use to prepare the case necks, also a slight chamfer of the case mouth to also aid in proper seating so the bullet doesn't shave as it is pressed into the case necks. This worked very well as I made the DUMMY cartridge for test fitting the chamber and cycling.

Now to decide on a starting load to run a tester round to see how things go... Looking good so far!

 

[Winelover]

Feeding and cycling the action, are foremost, for the auto's. My Armalite won't feed anything but a spitzer shaped bullet with 100% reliability. I know I tried a bunch of different type cast bullets. I don't powder coat, but I do use Carnuba Red, exclusively.

Loads must be in the medium velocity ranges to cycle the action. Powder choices, for me, had to be slower than SR 4759 and AA 5744. I got good groups, below 25 grains, but action wouldn't cycle. Increasing the charges, only opened groups up, approaching shotgun patterns. I tested a multitude of powders, up to and including, AA 4350. Best groups, so far, were with RL-15. Few others were satisfactory, I could not get Varget to group, with three different bullets/weights............160, 180 and 200 grain cast.

The quest goes on, currently in hiatus.

 

[fiver]

AIRC the Armalite runs a 1-11 twist and has a chrome lined barrel.
your not going to get much further than that without using some out of the box thinking like I had to with my 5.56 AR's.
bullet diameter isn't your only consideration.

 

[Winelover]

Barrel on mine is stainless, and comparable to a bull barrel configuration. I don't believe it's chrome lined. Don't recall the twist.



Wearing Burris 6 x 24, when testing for groups.




Trijicon reflex, otherwise.

 

[fiver]

is that set up for left handed use?

that's the same green my NM 5.56 wears, it currently has the Stag Varmint upper on it so kind of looks a bit odd with the 5 contrasting color schemes, but nobody says nuthin when I walk back with a target.

 

[Winelover]

Yes it is, since I'm a southpaw. Armalite converted it, when I had to send it back for another issue. Wasn't feeding J-words, properly IIRC. Was a long time ago.............during the Clinton administration.

 

[The_Shadow]

Here is a picture of my NOE bullets as prepared and ready for loading...

 

[Bret4207]

Ilm not up on all the latest laws, but I think in NYS just looking at a picture of an AR like those is a crime....

 

[waco]

Nice looking bullets Shadow!