AR-10 ladder testing?

[186thFCo]

Here is a stupid question for you. If I'm doing a ladder test on my AR-10, do I start with the bullet seated .010" jammed into the rifling like I would with my bolt gun? Or would that cause malfunctions and not work?

 

[domdoc]

I wouldn't do it in an AR-10. I don't think there's anything to be gained. More than that, though, the closing force on the bolt carrier group of an AR-10 is very high, and that introduces an element that is not present with bolt rifles. And I always single-load jammed rounds in a bolt rifle. If you're single-loading, and you release the bolt some before you let it fly, that might make it OK. The real reason I don't recommend it is because it's relatively easy to clean out a bolt action after a round comes apart during extraction of an unfired round. If that happens in the AR-10, there are a lot more places to clean, and they are harder to get to on the firing line.

 

[186thFCo]

Ok so on a AR-10 platform how do you safely work up to a max pressure load without jamming the round on a ladder test? I have a 16" barrel on my rifle so I want to get as much speed out of my 175gr bullet as a can.

 

[Iamero]

Speed and 16" barrels are an oxymoron. Just put a 20" on that sucker! Haha

 

[tnichols]

I wouldn't do it in an AR-10. I don't think there's anything to be gained. More than that, though, the closing force on the bolt carrier group of an AR-10 is very high, and that introduces an element that is not present with bolt rifles. And I always single-load jammed rounds in a bolt rifle. If you're single-loading, and you release the bolt some before you let it fly, that might make it OK. The real reason I don't recommend it is because it's relatively easy to clean out a bolt action after a round comes apart during extraction of an unfired round. If that happens in the AR-10, there are a lot more places to clean, and they are harder to get to on the firing line.

^^^ Agreed.

 

[tnichols]

Ok so on a AR-10 platform how do you safely work up to a max pressure load without jamming the round on a ladder test? I have a 16" barrel on my rifle so I want to get as much speed out of my 175gr bullet as a can.

Just curious, what COL are you running?

 

[186thFCo]

Just curious, what COL are you running?

I'm not sure yet I starting load development now

 

[SubOptimal]

Load the round to SAMMI specs while you are developing your reloading skills. You will have more than enough to work on for a year or so in terms of skill and precision in your reloading before you have to start worrying about chasing lands and the like. When your reloads start equaling the consistency and accuracy of factory match ammo, you can start looking at esoterica like loading to chase lands.

 

[186thFCo]

Load the round to SAMMI specs while you are developing your reloading skills. You will have more than enough to work on for a year or so in terms of skill and precision in your reloading before you have to start worrying about chasing lands and the like. When your reloads start equaling the consistency and accuracy of factory match ammo, you can start looking at esoterica like loading to chase lands.

I have been reloading for a while now on my bolt guns but I have never done a work up on an AR platform before, all I want to know is if there is any difference in load development with an AR compared to a bolt action, specifically the seating depth from the ogive.

 

[tnichols]

I agree with Sub, load to SAAMI specs for OAL in a gasser.