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Old March 21, 2014, 09:22 AM   #1
Travelin' Man
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Loading for use in AR platform

Hey guys and gals, I've been loading for nearly 20 years now and have always worked up loads for my bolt action rifles to find the most accurate load based on powder and bullets. Two years ago I got my first progressive reloader (a Dillon XL650 w/ case feeder) because I've discovered a love for the AR platform and I've started going through A LOT more ammo than I ever had with my bolt guns.

The question I have though is should I still work up loads just like I do for my bolt guns or just go with max or near max loads listed in the guides? Until now Except for initially shooting factory ammo to build up a supply of brass I've just been loading using a mid range load for whatever powder/bullet combination I've been using and have had what I consider acceptable accuracy but nothing great (1.5MOA being acceptable, 1.0MOA being good, .5MOA being great).

I have ARs now in .223 Wylde, 300 BLK, 6.8 SPC, and an R-25 in .308 Win. and have been looking into a new variation that will shoot .338 Lapua Mag.
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Old March 21, 2014, 10:01 AM   #2
mdmtj
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When I started loading .223 for a couple of ARs, I developed the load just like I would for any other firearm. I began at the start load and worked up looking for a load which gave me proper weapon function and acceptable accuracy. I've worked up rounds with three different bullets and had excellent results with each one. My selected powder load in all three cases ended up at about the 3/4 mark between the start and max listed for that bullet/powder combination.
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Old March 21, 2014, 10:07 AM   #3
madmo44mag
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I started near the bottom and worked loads up for power / bullet combo.
What I found is that every load I developed that shot the best was just above the mid way mark with all powders and bullets.
This held true with my 20 inch stainless bull barreled rifle.
I really expected that rifle to like a little more powder but it shot best with a slightly above mid range load.
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Old March 21, 2014, 12:05 PM   #4
Gadawg88
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I didn't realize you could own more than one AR in the People's Republic of Iillinois! . I would suggest working up each load from the min to max in 0.3 gn increments. Otherwise you might miss the combo that each of YOUR guns likes the best.
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Old March 21, 2014, 12:25 PM   #5
gundog5
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Just my opinion from my experience with re-loading for the AR. I would start at the mid range of the reloading manual as my ar would not even come close to cycling the bolt with minimum loads.
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Old March 21, 2014, 12:45 PM   #6
Jimro
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Loading for ARs...

Full length size your brass every time. Chuck the brass after 4x reloads.

Crimping is optional, but if you are getting a lot of bullet setback from misfed rounds, a crimp on a bullet with a crimping cannelure can fix that.

Use Small Rifle Magnum or Milspec Primers. This reduces the risk of slamfires and doesn't change the cost of your reloads. The Wolf KVBM556 primers have worked very well for me, although I've used CCI #41s as well (they are much more expensive).

You can push to 5.56 load data for an AR with a Wylde chamber without issue. But stop when you get to good accuracy.

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Old March 21, 2014, 02:53 PM   #7
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Thanks for the info guys, I guess I'll treat working up loads for my ARs the same as working up loads for my bolt guns.

Yes, we are allowed to own more than 1 AR here is the Socialist Commune of Illinois!

Jimro, why throw out the brass after reloading 4x? I've been using a Giraud annealer for all of my rifle brass cases, whether for us in an AR or bolt gun for a couple of years and I have NEVER had a case neck split. Here is the link for the annealer:

http://www.giraudtool.com/annealer1.htm
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Old March 21, 2014, 08:32 PM   #8
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My AR's are 1:9 twist and they like 69gr bullets. I tend to load in the middle of the powder range. There's no sense in beating up the gun or your shoulder using hot loads. My Savage 110 BA .338 Lapua Mag does not like Hornady brass.
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