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Old 08-03-2018, 03:20 PM
old tanker old tanker is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Fort Knox, Kentucky
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I load bolt guns and semi autos separately in three calibers, for a variety of reasons.

Gas operated semi autos are restricted by port pressure. A heavy for caliber bullet combined with a slow burning progressive powder that is great hunting load and no problem in a Model 70 Winchester is a bent operating rod, or worse in an M1.

Going the other way, a load that works in a semi auto is almost always OK in a bolt gun. The only fly in that ointment come usually in .223/5.56 where the older varmint rifles might have 1-14 or 1-12 twist rates and not stabilize the heavier bullets that are now popular.

None of my rifles in 5.56/.223, 7.62/.308 or .30-06 require small base dies, but sometimes they are needed for reliable operation in a semi auto. Reliable feeding from a semi auto's magazines often limits bullet shape and cartridge OAL.
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