DPMS 204 question

[cherokee305]

I finished building my dpms 204 AR this fall and am just not putting a few rounds thru it. I have somewhere around 200 down the pipe and I'm very happy with how it is shooting. My only problem has been about every 75 rounds of so I'm having to clean my BCG because I start having feed issues.
Now, its a home built rifle using a DPMS barrel and BCG slapped on a aero precision upper.

I have been loading up 28 grains of H335 behind a 32 grain Vmax, I've had very good luck with H335 in my .223 ARs, but I guess my question is, is H335 at that load too dirty and not burning completely? Havnt had time to try some different powders in it, but I guess that's my next step unless someone has a better suggestion.

[Grayfox]

Benchmark powder worked vey well with the 32gr. bullets. Alot cleaner burning than H335. A very good powder is IMR8208XBR. I used it last Prairre Dog season and it built up very little on the BCG.This is my favorite AR15 powder for the 204 Ruger.

Also what primers are you useing? Try magnum primers with ball powder if have not done so.Stay away from Federal Match Primers in your AR15. Remington 7 1/2 and CCI are really good primers.

Grayfox

[ClaimJumper]

Old .223 Quickload data . Might get somebody here to run a 204. update with same powders +H4895

I use R-10X because it's cleaner in the AR's. Look at the % of Propellant burned for 10X (99.8%)and H-322(98.2%).

In my experience, the Ball powders were not as clean.


Cartridge : .223 Rem.
Bullet : .224, 55, Hornady FMJ-BT w/c 2267
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.260 inch or 57.40 mm
Barrel Length : 18.0 inch or 457.2 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.

Matching Maximum Pressure: 55000 psi, or 379 MPa

or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 105 %

These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

58 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.

Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
IMR 3031 105.0 26.5 1.71 3178 98.8 53878 13839 0.830 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 748 98.9 28.0 1.82 3157 95.6 55000 14049 0.825 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H322 96.6 25.5 1.65 3134 98.2 55000 13075 0.825 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H335 96.0 27.5 1.78 3123 96.4 55000 13561 0.830 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon BL-C2 99.5 28.5 1.85 3121 94.5 55000 13949 0.837 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot X-Terminator 94.4 25.8 1.67 3116 98.0 55000 13069 0.834 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-10x 91.5 24.1 1.56 3115 99.8 55000 12428 0.839 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot TAC 99.5 27.5 1.78 3112 94.6 55000 13565 0.832 ! Near Maximum !

[Grayfox]

I quit useing Rel10x because it gave me a carbon buildup in the throat area and was hard to remove.Now I use IMR 8208XBR and that carbon buildup problem went away. The BCG was alot cleaner too.

Grayfox

[Valar]

I too have been shooting the 10 x as greyfox is aware. Accuracey is awsome in the 204. However. I seldom shoot more than 50 rounds consecutive and I also will clean every 20 or so. Grey seems to spend more time at the bench than I do. however, on a p dog hunt I may too. I for one love 10x but I am going to try xbr.. The burn rate is very similar but cleaner may also mean longer life of barrel etc. A good tip is worth a try! I have also been a fond user of IMR 4895 This powder too shoots very well in 204 Then again it is known to shoot well in many calibers, including my 308

[RedLeg]

Not sure if this is your problem. My experience is that to much oil will attract carbon, sand, etc resulting in feeding/jamming problems on the BCG.

Too little oil will heat up everything where everything expands, resulting in feeding jamming problems when tolerances are tight.

Variables include tolerances in the BCG/receiver, contaminants like powder/carbon, etc.

The product I like to use is called Weapon Shield.

http://www.weaponshield.com/page2.htm

I am an old timer that used to love the smell of Hoppe's no 9. I still use it for initial cleaning. However, it needs to be used with proper ventilation, etc. I find the cinnamon like smell of Weapon Shield to be more pleasant. I also think it is less volatile to humans.

I find that if you put WS on the parts that need to be oiled on an AR, rub it off, and repeat several times waiting a day or so between applications, you will get very smooth BCG, receiver, etc. It does not seem (to me) to attract contaminants like most oils.

HTH