XM118 in M1A your thoughts

[buffalowinter]

I just bought a small quantity of new production Lake City XM118. I did an internet search and came up with so many conflicting theories, opinions, histories, and absolute facts that I have no idea if this stuff is any good. I stated the nomenclature accurately in the first sentence...it is NOT M118, XM118LR, nor M118LR. Has anyone used this? Have you used it in an M1A? Is it safe to use in an M1A (i.e. will it bend the op rod?) How accurate have you found it to be...say compared to Federal Gold Medal Match? I have shot plenty of issue M118 Match...the 20 round white box stuff you used to get at Camp Perry...and of course it was fantastic. I have been load testing a Springfield NM M1A with a troy industries stock and been getting groups of all sizes...most disappointingly...large. I did shoot Federal Gold Medal Match this morning just to see how the gun would do and thankfully was getting about 1 MOA. 1 MOA is about the minimum I can accept in an "accurate" rifle and have a Remington 700 in an AI chassis that shoots in the .4 MOA range..so I know what accuracy is. I have a Grunig 300 meter gun that I used when I was shooting for the Army that would shoot better than 1 MOA from the prone position with iron sights. Your thoughts appreciated.

 

[lennyo3034]

I can shoot about 1 MOA prone with sling and irons with my NM M1a. At 100 yards I can usually clean a MR-31 target at any setting that's not a match =(. This is using FGMM, AE 168 gr OTM, and especially M852. However, the rifle turns into a 5 MOA rifle with M118. This is the original 173grain M118 in a white box. I hear some people's rifles like it, but not mine.

 

[BCP]

If it's new production then it's either Federal Match 175 or M118 LR. I've shot both in my M1A and it did well with them.

 

[Nik H]

If it's new production then it's either Federal Match 175 or M118 LR. I've shot both in my M1A and it did well with them.

I have shot Federal 168gr, 175gr gold medal and M118LR in my M1A Super Match with absolutely no issues from a feeding perspective. I think the best accuracy I have had is using the Federal Gold Medal 175.

Best regards,

BR,

 

[Smcarroll]

I roll my own m118lr using fed gold match primers, rl-15, 175 gr SMK's and federal brass. My repr and my m1a both love it.

 

[Charlie Mike]

I shoot it in mine and it loves em. Should be 175 SMK on top of those rounds with Lake City brass.

From what I understand is that the XM118 is production over runs or rejects of the M118LR. Great brass for reloading in the M1A.

 

[BCP]

I roll my own m118lr using fed gold match primers, rl-15, 175 gr SMK's and federal brass. My repr and my m1a both love it.

Me too. I read online that the charge was 43 and I had the LC LR brass, 175smks, etc so I made a dozen and they shot great. So I went home and made 600 more.

 

[pmclaine]

I just bought a small quantity of new production Lake City XM118. I did an internet search and came up with so many conflicting theories, opinions, histories, and absolute facts that I have no idea if this stuff is any good. I stated the nomenclature accurately in the first sentence...it is NOT M118, XM118LR, nor M118LR. Has anyone used this? Have you used it in an M1A? Is it safe to use in an M1A (i.e. will it bend the op rod?) How accurate have you found it to be...say compared to Federal Gold Medal Match? I have shot plenty of issue M118 Match...the 20 round white box stuff you used to get at Camp Perry...and of course it was fantastic. I have been load testing a Springfield NM M1A with a troy industries stock and been getting groups of all sizes...most disappointingly...large. I did shoot Federal Gold Medal Match this morning just to see how the gun would do and thankfully was getting about 1 MOA. 1 MOA is about the minimum I can accept in an "accurate" rifle and have a Remington 700 in an AI chassis that shoots in the .4 MOA range..so I know what accuracy is. I have a Grunig 300 meter gun that I used when I was shooting for the Army that would shoot better than 1 MOA from the prone position with iron sights. Your thoughts appreciated.

Should you encounter smaller game. Issue 5.56 will do a good job on tiny Phillipino pigs

 

[Smcarroll]

Should you encounter smaller game. Issue 5.56 will do a good job on tiny Phillipino pigs

Around here the pigs are 200+ lbs, heavily armed, armored and power hungry. Its why I stick to my 7.62 in 51 & 63 lengths.

 

[Smcarroll]

Me too. I read online that the charge was 43 and I had the LC LR brass, 175smks, etc so I made a dozen and they shot great. So I went home and made 600 more.

I am looking at trying one of the 175 gr Berger's since they are designed for shooting living things and not paper.

 

[BravoSierra]

Around here the pigs are 200+ lbs, heavily armed, armored and power hungry. Its why I stick to my 7.62 in 51 & 63 lengths.

75 grain tap works just fine on piggy's and what i load in my truck gun. Ive seen 30.06 deflect off shoulders so shot placement is completely key with hogs, just as it is with everything else.

 

[pmclaine]

75 grain tap works just fine on piggy's and what i load in my truck gun. Ive seen 30.06 deflect off shoulders so shot placement is completely key with hogs, just as it is with everything else.

Not sure but I think the other party may be referencing a two legged concern.

 

[BCP]

I'm digging the old overseas pics.

Around here the pigs are 200+ lbs, heavily armed, armored and power hungry. Its why I stick to my 7.62 in 51 & 63 lengths.

lol leave politics out of it.