M1A Loaded. Reloads

M

mforsyth

Private
Minuteman
Oct 31, 2010
7
0
60
California
#1
Hey,
I am working up some loads for an M1A. I am looking for some loads for some 147-155 and 168

I have loaded some
147g HPBT with 42.0g of IMR-4895 seated to 2.780
147g HPBT with 43.0g of IMR-4064 seated to 2.780
147g HPBT with 46.0g of Win-748 seated to 2.780
147g HPBT with 46.0g of BL-C seated to 2.780

168g HPBT with 41.0g of IMR-4895 seated to 2.780
168g HPBT with 42.0g of Win-748 seated to 2.780
168g HPBT with 42.0g of BL-C seated to 2.780

And a few others. Do you think I am on the right track. Basically what I have done is go to the MIN load and load a few, then increase 1 grain. Up to 2 Grains below the max

I have LC, Win, FC, CBC cases and have to my ability kept them in lots.

Thanks
Mike
 
#2
Re: M1A Loaded. Reloads

All should be workable.

But reduce the number of variables to start with, to make life easier. Use just one brand/headstamp of brass, probably the LC, as it should be the heaviest, have less case capacity, and hit max load with fewer grains of powder.

Then do a ladder or OCW test with some of the powders, but limiting yourself to maybe both bullets and 2 powders, or just one bullet and 3 or 3 powders, otherwise you are really getting a lot of data and may not be able to keep track of it all. Also, load more rounds, working up to book max, and then a bit over, if you are really looking to find the accuracy node and max velocity.

Hopefully, Greg will chime in with his 4064 load for the M-1A.

Some introductory reading, if you have not yet seen it: http://www.alabamaservicerifleteam.com/id17.html
 
#3
Re: M1A Loaded. Reloads

My M1A load is Rem .308 brass, 175SMK at 2.815" OAL, 42.2gr IMR-4064, Fed 210M primer. Not really my load, but one copied from <span style="font-style: italic">Precision Shooting</span> as a guaranteed supersonic M1A load at 1Kyd. My experience with my 'Loaded M1A'the S/A provided magazines makes 2.815" the max OAL that feeds reliably.

Win, Rem, and perhaps other commercial brass will generally have more internal volume than LC, FA, and other MilSpec cases.

Although this load should not be dangerous in military brass, it is probably unnecessarily peppy, and might run better in them with 1/2 to one grain less propellant. You'll probably want to experiment with between 41 and 42gr for such loads.

BTW, I haven't owned a .308 rifle in years now, having branched out to the .260, .30-'06, and lately, the .280Rem, which makes both of these look anemic beyond 1000yd.

Greg
 
#5
Re: M1A Loaded. Reloads

Hey,
Thanks, for all the info. I do usually start off a new load at the min recomendation and load about 20 rnds increasing 1 grain till I get to about 2 grains of max. I do want to use 150g bullets because I believe that is really what the M1A was designed for. I could be wrong. I don't want to go close to the max, sorry too chicken. Unfortunately, here in Kalifornia, I have to take what ever brass, bullet and powder I can get my hands on. This is my first time with an M1A, I have been loading for my M1 Garand for over 30 years in fact I have been reloading for almost 40 years, something my father passed down to me.
 
#6
Re: M1A Loaded. Reloads

Well, if none of those shoot satisfactorily for you pick one kind of bullet, brass, primer and powder and shoot them round robin @ 100 yards. 748 or 4895 and a 168 bullet would be my choices.

If you can get a 168 to shoot satisfactorily for you powdervalley has 1k 168 bulk nosler packs for 190$. 19 cents a bullet and they shoot like a 168 SMK.

Why does being in Cali limit you? I'm in Cali and I can order powders/primers/bullets off the internet just as easily as any other asshole. Are you in one of the counties that forbade ammo orders? Shouldn't limit you on reloading components.
 
#7
Re: M1A Loaded. Reloads

Hey,
Thanks, for all the info. I do usually start off a new load at the min recomendation and load about 20 rnds increasing 1 grain till I get to about 2 grains of max. I do want to use 150g bullets because I believe that is really what the M1A was designed for. I could be wrong. I don't want to go close to the max, sorry too chicken. Unfortunately, here in Kalifornia, I have to take what ever brass, bullet and powder I can get my hands on. This is my first time with an M1A, I have been loading for my M1 Garand for over 30 years in fact I have been reloading for almost 40 years, something my father passed down to me.
 
#8
Re: M1A Loaded. Reloads

Is anyone loading H4895 with LC Match brass and CCI #34 primers and Nosler 155's for an M1A? I'd would be interested in finding a good load to see how they do on the short line, 200-300 yards and use the 168's for 600 yards.
 
#10
Re: M1A Loaded. Reloads

It has been established through millions of rounds downrange when the M1A was the service rifle of choice that the "standard" match round was 168 SMK with 41.5-42 IMR/H 4895 in a LC case set to 2.80" COAL. Its a mid level load, not minimum, and not max. It won't damage a M1A in good condition. Works so well that if it doesn't shoot in your M1A, its not the ammo. Don't bother reinventing the wheel, unless you really want to. The NM M1A was built around this load. BTW, I have also used 42.0 RL15 with 168 or 175 smk at 2.80" and placed in top 10 at the M1A at Cmp Perry this summer shooting the 175's.
 
#13
Re: M1A Loaded. Reloads

To the proven loads, you may add 43.0 of WW 748 in military brass with any primer you choose. Any 168-grain HPBT bullet you want. Testing showed very little to no difference between bullets (SMK, Hornady, & can't remember who else (Nosler?). Primers in other testing were good for something like up to 40 fps velocity, 3-7KPSI pressure, and nothing was over spec.

NRA recommended from the 1980s. I used it for years with CCIs and reliable got MOA at 200 yards from a bedded gun, with irons, no silly stuff like lugs.

With 4064, I had one batch which needed all the way up to 43.0 grains to get the speed I wanted, but accuracy was pretty much the same from 41.0 to 43.0.

QuickLOAD and evidence of op rod speed both agree that port pressures on these two loads are just fine. They can be duplicated in NEW FC cases that weigh, like, 179 or so grains empty with the fired primer still in. More powder is needed if you have the older lighter FC cases that weigh 20 or so grains lighter.
 
#15
Re: M1A Loaded. Reloads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Emilio</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I run 42.1grs of IMR 4895 in LC brass with a 175gr on top. </div></div>
Emilio what kind of groups you getting and what model are you shooting?
 
#16
Re: M1A Loaded. Reloads

I would also suggest reducing the number of variables just to keep things simple. A good load to start with is 168SMK in LC brass loaded with 42gr of IMR4895. As mentioned earlier it is a tried and true load. Good luck.
 
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