I always sort by head stamp with my .308 brass.
I always work up loads for each head stamp.
If you follow that, you will never have any problems or concerns with your brass.
I have taken it one step further lately, and use a particular head stamp for a particular bullet, just to keep things...
Double check the cases in a case gauge to make sure they are sized properly.
Once that is ruled out, check your manuals for proper COAL, just to make sure your seating to right depth.
I've built 6 Ar's so far, and only two of them have the same lower. I have never seen any real difference. At this point, I am looking for roll marks I think are kool rather than any particular brand.:D
You simply cannot beat the gun you get for the money you pay with a Rock Island 1911 of any flavor.
I have on myself, my brother has one, as do several friends. None of them have had problems and they all shoot well.
There is a "magic target" out there in internet land that breaks down all the different sectors of a target, and tells you what the problem general is. My search abilities are crap, or I would post a link.
I fear that I am going to be the guy with 10 years of food, enough armament to outfit the locals, and all the gear and equipment to make it, then I die from doing something stupid, such as falling off a ladder, getting cut with a rusty blade and forget to have an up to date tetnus, etc.:D
www.sksboards.com
Read till your eyes bleed.
It is pretty hard to go wrong with any SKS variant. Keep away from "modded" sks's.
Cheapest route in general right now are the yugo sks's, as they were the latest to come across the pond. As with any milsurp rifle, take a good look at the...
Mutual aid groups are much more practical. Its not like you want some rigid command structure of people, and have any desire to assist the state or feds in any real function, as a proper militia is designed to be. Throw in the stigma from the media, an the occaisonal nutjob, and militias are...
If your going to stick with irons, I would certainly go with the M1a. I have a DPMS LR-308, and I love it. I have thought long and hard about selling it and picking up an M1a, as they are a classic gun.
None of my AR's have a forward assist. I like the looks of the upper without it. I figure that if my round does not chamber properly on its own, then I will use the charging handle and try a new round, as obviously there's a problem with the one trying to be chambered.
As a re-loader, I shudder...
My wife only goes along when she feels it is time for a new weapon/holster/gear/etc for herself, then she usually spends more than I do.
She is in to quilting, and does not insist I go with her to those, so I do not either.:D
10 minimum. I went the route of a lower number of mags (over 10 :D ), but I have all the parts to rebuild them all twice. Followers, springs, and floor plates are cheap and easily found.