308 Gas Gun with Varget

LARUEminati

LARUEminati

Active member
Moving this to the correct thread...

Anyone have data for a gas gun 308 with varget and a 150?

I'm wondering if anyone is running in the 44.5-46.5 grains range with a gas gun? I've been reading some bolt guys getting up to 47.5 which is a full case like I run in my .223's but i'm skeptical in the 308 because I can't find any concrete data for gas guns. My Hornady book lists 44 max and the hodgen data lists 44 to start, the hornady book I have seems to be way short on powder loads for varget.

Best load thusfar is @ 42.8 but it seems like a light load for a 150, i've tried up to 44 but the accuracy wasn't the best. I've read once you start getting back into the 44.5 to 45.5 range is where it tightens back up.

Any input is appreciated.
 
Be careful to not get them too hot. Bent operating rods are a cost of too much pressure. On my Garand I use an adjustable gas plug. Don't know if they make one for the M 14 look alikes.
 
Originally Posted By: MGYSGTBe careful to not get them too hot. Bent operating rods are a cost of too much pressure. On my Garand I use an adjustable gas plug. Don't know if they make one for the M 14 look alikes.

Sorry, I should have been more specific it's an AR-10 platform with adjustable gas.
 
what platform are you loading for? are we talking an AR10 style firearm? a m1a? a H&K (or clone), etc?

thats going to make a difference.

also what barrel length and gas system if you're talking ar10 platform.
 
Originally Posted By: Plant.Onewhat platform are you loading for? are we talking an AR10 style firearm? a m1a? a H&K (or clone), etc?

thats going to make a difference.

also what barrel length and gas system if you're talking ar10 platform.

AR-10 style direct impingement, 16" barrel with mid-length gas, SLR adjustable gas block.
 
especially with an adjustable gas block, you should be able to get right near the top of the charge range. but thats what load developement is for
smile.gif


if i were in your shoes i'd load up some extra (say 6 or 8 ish?) minimum charge loads and dial the gas block to just cycle and get a BHO lock on a single feed with them and then do your load developement at that setting. It'll also give you a good baseline to use for sighters to make sure you're withing your target size.



my 16" LR308 is a carbine gas and i still need to put an AGB on it, but the challenge of that upper is the carbine gas giving me lock time issues, which you can avoid. I even get nasty ejector and extractor swipes with factory ammo (fggm and hornady match 168s) because of that. Going to a hydraulic buffer helped some, but didnt fix it as its terribly over gassed still. I wont even bother putting the can on that upper yet until i get the AGB issue resolved because it'll only be worse.
 
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Originally Posted By: Plant.Oneif i were in your shoes i'd load up some extra (say 6 or 8 ish?) minimum charge loads and dial the gas block to just cycle and get a BHO lock on a single feed with them and then do your load developement at that setting. It'll also give you a good baseline to use for sighters to make sure you're withing your target size.

The funny thing is I did do this, adjusted to BHO with 150 PMC's (before i reloaded for this) and even the 44 grain loads of Varget I tried yesterday wouldn't lock the bolt back at the PMC setting it was just the slightest bit undergassed so I had to give it one more click. I was thinking the PMC's would be the lighest load out there but apparently not.

I'm thinking once I up the charge i'll be able to go back to the original gas setting, That Hornady book just really threw me off because the charge is so light (showing 44.3 max). I'm not seeing any pressure signs.

 
what bullet are you using?

the hornady bullet is based on their bullet at their COAL. other load data may vary depending on seating depth (not OAL but how much bullet is in the case, depending on the bullet design) and other factors.



re: your pmc test - factory loads of ANY type usually have very little to do with what we're doing with handloads. Use the handload as your baseline, since thats what you're doing and work from there.


part of your issue may be the 16" midlength too, but i cant say for sure... my two uppers are (as noted) a 16" carbine gas and a 20" rifle gas.
 
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