Loading for the SOCOM 16 M1A(Success)

[mattamuskeet]

I have been working up loads for my Springfield Armory SOCOM 16 M1a. My goal was to have a gun that I can deer hunt with out to a maximum of 250 yards. My concerns with this firearm have been accuracy and velocity. Many loads I have tried are simply not accurate or consistent. At first I wanted 150 grain hunting bullets at 2600+ fps; but I eventually gave up. I easily achieved the velocity, but I was never satisfied with the accuracy. I found out that the rifle likes 165s so I began to work up loads with Nosler BT 165 hunting bullets.

I finally got my load by using:
--new RP cases
--H4895 powder(43.2 grains)
--Nosler 165 BT Hunting bullets
--2.80 OAL

Today, I tested 3 primers: Winchester Large Rifle, CCI Large Rifle, and CCI BR2 benchrest

The load that was the best was with the CCI benchrest primers. The group was the same size as the regular CCI primers, but the velocity was higher and less variable.

The load seems good. At the muzzle, velocity was 2542 fps with 2358 fpe. Sighted in for 200 yards, the bullet should be 3.8 inches low at 250 yards with 2120 fps and 1650 fpe remaining. Group size at 100 yards today was 1.86".

It also shoots to nearly the same point of impact as my practice load which is a 150 grain bullet and 39.5 grains of H4895(2200-2300 fps). I really really like this practice load and I am glad that my hunting load shoots so close to it and that I can use the same powder.

I think I am ready to load up a bunch of these hunting loads. A huge relief; loading for this gun has been a big challenge, but now I am happy. I think I have fired about 400 rounds through this gun to get here.

I hope some of you are interested in this data. Let me know if you want more details or if you have your own loads you want to share!!!!



http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01876.jpg

[moxie]

Nice work!

[bfoosh006]

You might try IMR 3031 also.. seems to work better in a short M1A barrel.