Semi-lightweight AR-15 in 30 Herrett AR

[ManrisFrack]

So this started with a couple of impulse buys - the first being a Mag Tactical lower from Klubfunstore and the second being the barrel from AR15 Performance. I sat on both for awhile and then had the bright idea to put my lightest barrel (which isn't exactly light at 1lb 12 oz) with the Mag Tactical lower and go for a lightweight-ish short range AR.

This was my first top to bottom, no help from anyone AR. I made some mistakes but it's together and I can deal with "character" as long as I put it there. It came out at 5lb 11oz bare and 6lb 6oz with my Eotech 512.

Now I just have to get some ammo together for it. Supposedly, it can push a 125gr Ballistic Tip to 2600fps. Any recommendations for a neck turning setup are welcome.

I should've found better light but here it is:

 

[meketrefe]

Nice!!
The 30 herret is a nice fun casing to shoot, even better from a stronger 6.8 case and AR!
Not sure you will get to 2,600fps but probably not too far from there.

For turning the necks you can use the forster lathe reamer or K&M. There are others.
I use them both and they work great. The K&M provides angle cutters so you can touch the shoulder w/o cutting into it.
If you don' t have a nice drill press or lathe then look at the 21st century one that also has angled cutters.

Having an option with support and power attachment is the way to go otherwise your hands will be pretty tired very soon.
Use plenty of lube.

Ordering by Caliber for Neck Turning Lathe

 

[ManrisFrack]

Nice!!
The 30 herret is a nice fun casing to shoot, even better from a stronger 6.8 case and AR!
Not sure you will get to 2,600fps but probably not too far from there.

For turning the necks you can use the forster lathe reamer or K&M. There are others.
I use them both and they work great. The K&M provides angle cutters so you can touch the shoulder w/o cutting into it.
If you don' t have a nice drill press or lathe then look at the 21st century one that also has angled cutters.

Having an option with support and power attachment is the way to go otherwise your hands will be pretty tired very soon.
Use plenty of lube.

Ordering by Caliber for Neck Turning Lathe

Thanks for the info. I hadn't seen the K&M.

I was leaning toward the Forester because of price and the ability to use a reamer (I've got a 270AR barrel that I'll get together someday too). $300+ for the 21st Century is a lot just to turn necks for those 2 cartridges.

 

[meketrefe]

Thanks for the info. I hadn't seen the K&M.

I was leaning toward the Forester because of price and the ability to use a reamer (I've got a 270AR barrel that I'll get together someday too). $300+ for the 21st Century is a lot just to turn necks for those 2 cartridges.

Oh so you got bitten by the 270AR bug too? LOL I didn't go for that one because I designed and made the powerful 7mm AR Gunner and also 35 AR gunner so
no need for yet another one!! ...you know, the addiction!
I think the Forster trimmer pays by itself and you can get later the 3 way cutter that makes super consistent cuts when trimming w/o need for
deburring or chamfering. But initially you can also use it for neck turning. just need to add the cutter and pilots for 30 and 270 calibers.
The nice thing is you can bolt it to a piece of 2x4 and then they have the extension for the power unit like an electric drill.
This makes things so much faster and easier. IMO it is the best deal for trimming and turning with quality and good prices.
The long shaft one with the longer bed is the way to go even if you don' t plan in turning or trimming magnums.
Just because if later you decide to add the 3 way head then you will need the extra length. And the price is about the same,
very well priced.
Nothing wrong with RCBS or hornady neither but forster has been my favorite and most consistent and versatile.

 

[ManrisFrack]

The Forster is probably the way I'll go. I wish they had that 3-way in 270 though. And thanks for the tip about the longer bed - wouldn't have thought about that in a million years.

The 270AR was actually purchased first. I jumped on a group buy run by MSRHunt back when H was still touting Creedmoore parent brass and no turning or reaming. It was supposed to be pretty easy until the early adopters started reporting that it was taking turning, reaming or excessive bump and that 6.5x47 Lapua parent brass was getting significantly more life than the Creedmoore stuff.

The reason the Herrett got finished first is because I wanted the light, handy AR. My 6.8, while only an 18", isn't light. Well that, and I wanted to try my hand at pinning the thread protector. Nearly crapped myself when the gas block wouldn't go on over it.

 

[ManrisFrack]

Okay, finally I've "finished" this gun and finally put my first rounds together. First I'll replace the originally photos that photobucket cut off.

 

[ManrisFrack]

Next, a close up of the ammo. 150gr Hornady Interlock SP over 27.0gr of AA2200.



I started with brand new 6.8 brass trimmed and then formed with a 30 Herrett die using the chamber and a stripped bolt as a gauge. I also ended up neck turning a little as I found the necks to be uneven. This is SSA brass that I bought just prior to the Nosler buyout and my experience isn't unique with brass from the same period. I won't be making much effort to make this last and I'm really considering a total switch to Starline or once fired Federal for this gun. I really want to hunt with this gun this year so I'm hoping I can manage with the 20 cases I've prepped.

The new cases are usable but I want fully fire-formed cases for consistence in hunting load development. End goal is to use this 125gr MKZ from Cavity Back Bullets.

 

[ManrisFrack]

And finally the gun. I had Tarjac in Waterloo dip it with Kryptek Highlander. The lower is a magnesium alloy and the manufacture used a proprietary coating. The dip isn't sticking well to this coating and has flaked off around the holes. The rest of the gun seems fine. I think I'll dip/paint my own stuff from now on.

I switched the carrier to a lightweight from Right to Bear Arms & Supply. It was on sale for $65 and I couldn't resist. There's a bunch of other lightweight stuff, mostly from VSeven. The gas block is a titanium adjustable from Next Intent (now Master of Arms) and the trigger is a Geissele G2S. Once I get my hunting load squared away, the Leupold is getting replaced by the Eotech 512.

 

[Marine Cpl]

You guys notice that camo makes the Thordsen not look as bad?

Nice rifle.

 

[ManrisFrack]

You guys notice that camo makes the Thordsen not look as bad?

Nine rifle.

Thanks.

It's still a Thordsen when you hold it though. Went MR2 on my 6.8 and it's a pain in the ass. Gonna try gas-less side charge on a Grendel, see if I hate that less than the Thordsen.

 

[ManrisFrack]

Ended up taking this to the range Friday and everything ran well. I think I used way too much gas as I was getting some pretty nasty swipes on the higher charges. I didn't have time to mess with it though. Primers looked very normal so I don't suspect that it's pressure.

The shoulders measure 0.010" longer than what my unfired rounds did. As tight as they were with bolt/chamber (one layer of tape was enough to make some not chamber) I was very surprised the shoulder moved that far.

The 27.0gr load mentioned above had a 4 shot average of 2198 fps. I went up to 28.5gr for a 4 shot average of 2339 fps. That's a 150gr bullet going 75+ fps faster than a 300 Blkout can push a 110gr from the same length barrel.

Now to see what I can make the 125gr CavityBack do.