ammo question for a m14/m1a

[MDStroup]

Ok here is my problem. I plan on building a mk14 mod 0 clone with a 18 or 18.5 inch barrel soon. So I wanted to start buying some ammo now so when it is complete I can start shooting it right away. I was think about buying a few of those 1990 German made M80 battle packs because they are cheap and I have been told they get reasonable accuracy for surplus ammo which is good enoungh for me because that ammo will just be used for plinking. But my problem begins here, I bought a few boxes of Federal premium gold match BTHP 175gr 7.62x51 NATO at a local gunshop, but when I got home my friend said that I can't use that type of ammo in a semiautomatic, only bolt actions because it is loaded to hot for a semi and if I tried to use it in my gun I would just destroy it. Now I don't know alot about the different types of ammunition there are but I am thinking this is wrong, or am I the one who is wrong and should just get rid of this ammo and stock up on something else.

 

[08Cayenne]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

You can shoot FGMM 175's out of your M1a without any mods, actually it's the most accurate factory ammo I have used. A cheaper match grade ammo is the PPU 168 or 175 match, I think it shoots a little better than standard surplus.

 

[bricktop]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

The FGMM stuff is fine, if not great. The standard ammo used in Iraqistan for the M14 DMR is M118LR, a very similar 175 grain SMK loading.

I too bought a green DAG battlepack, and it is OK stuff. But, I wanted to reload to save money in the long run, so I usually ended up buying only ammo with reloadable brass from then on out.

http://m14forum.com/ammunition/23308-che...check-back.html

 

[kraigWY]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

Correct me if I'm wrong (and I may be since I've only fired Gov issure or reloads in my M1A), but wasn't Federal premium gold match BTHP 175gr 7.62x51 designed for gas guns?

 

[Nitro69]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

Call Andy at Smith Ent.......if they are going to build your gun....let them tell you what you can and can't run through it.

 

[Mike Petersen]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

FGMM is all I run in my 3 EBR clones. It is pretty much the same as M118LR which is the preferred ammo for the M14EBR-RI. The main difference is that the FGMM seems to chrono a little more consistantly.

 

[longshotbml]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

Your freind is a moron. Federal GGM is formulated with medium powders to be shot through any platform. My 3 M1A's will agree.

 

[MDStroup]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

Thanks for the help. I thought he was wrong. Maybe he was just upset because 3 weeks ago he bought the same stuff for his m40a1 clone he has and he payed $35 a box while I only payed $20 when I bought it. Now I going to get a few more boxes before the price raises. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Grump]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

The Vietnam-era sniper ammo was original M118 Match, "white box", with what they called a 173-gr FMJBT bullet.

Most of those which I have weighed ran closer to 174 grains.

It was typically loaded with IMR 4895 or what became WCC 846.

I believe the last big contract for current M118LR specified IMR 4064 powder.

All the original M118 stuff happened long before adoption of the M24 and the M40 or whatever they're called. It was primarily M14/M21 ammo, not a lot of bolt guns in service at the beginning of that era. I once had some FA58 from when it was XM118 ammo. That was designed for the M14. The "2550 fps" standard (+/- 30 fps) was measured at 26 yards, which = about 2600 fps at the muzzle. 22-inch tube.

Have your friend explain how any of these things, and a 1-gr heavier bullet in the 175-gr SMK, and a higher velocity from a longer barrel on the current sniper bolt guns, really makes any difference to an M14 type.

BTW, I have never seen a verifiable official report of some past "hot-loaded" M118LR causing wear or damage to M14s over in the sandbox. Rumors, all.

 

[sinister]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

We should probably sticky this info somewhere as invariably it gets asked at least once a month.

7.62 Precision ammo has evolved from M118 Match to M118 Special Ball to M118 Long Range. 168-grain XM852 and M852 is not the same ammo.

Mark 118 is type-classified under STD-MSR 07798001, drawing number 8597555, 172 grain bullets, loaded with 44 grains of WC846 or IMR 4895. It is designed to be shot from "Rifles, 7.62mm M14, M21, M24, and M40Al. The cartridge is intended and specifically prepared for use in high accuracy weapons."

M118LR is under a modified M118 drawing, originally loaded with 44 grains of WC750, then as Lake City Army Ammunition Plant operations changed from Olin to ATK the propellant changed to Reloader 15.

Mark 316 Mod 0 ammunition, while loaded with 175 Match Kings is a USSOCOM-specified cartridge and not a conventional or general purpose forces ammunition item. Mark 316 ammo is loaded with IMR4064.

 

[fmsniper]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

FYI I have gotten very good accuracy except a few flyers from the German battle packs out of my 18 inch scout

 

[9H_Cracka]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

If you want spec ammo for your spec gun then you need to run M852 or M118LR.

Not sure what chamber you plan to run in it but don't let anyone talk you into some esoteric tight neck/straight section "match" reamer. An M852 reamer is designed to give you good accuracy with the two Match variants mentioned above but still be safe with the less than match grade quality control you get in M80 Ball dimension cases and projectiles. It was created specifically for the accurate M-14 with these three ammo types in mind.

That said, having around some good M80 Ball (and a confirmed data card for it) is never a bad idea for the 308/762 field use rifle owner, regardless of configuration.

We've shot lots of DAG with nary a problem. Same for Radway Green. Both are Berdan primed though, so brass goes to the recycler.

Commercial match ammo from HSM, BH, and FGMM 168/175 variants will serve your needs as well. PRVI 175 is known to shoot bigger groups than the other brands of match ammo mentioned prior.

 

[MDStroup]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

Thanks again for all of the information, it's a big help to me.
•fmsniper- thats a very nice gun, but what stock is that? I thought it was a VLTOR a first but I looks different.
•_9H_Cracka- thanks for the information on the M852 chamber, I'll look into it more.

 

[hamstur]

Re: ammo question for a m14/m1a

My 18" scout doesn't shoot milsurp well. DAG and LC XM80 give 3-5" groups at best at 100 yards.

FWIW I know a lot of folks think it's junk, but for whatever reason, Remington UMC is an MOA round out of my rifle. The stuff is also cheap--can usually find it about 50c per round--and the brass is good. UMC is known to be a soft load, but I never had a single FTE/FTF from it.

This is my go-to plinking ammo if I'm too lazy to handload or only going 100-200 yards.