The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old August 24, 2005, 01:28 PM   #1
Wildalaska
Junior member
 
Join Date: November 25, 2002
Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 14,172
Need M1A Load

What the heck, Im loading for the Garand, might as well do the M1A, any body got a MilSpec 147 grain 308 load (ill use commercial cases, CCI34s)...

WildammomasterAlaska
Wildalaska is offline  
Old August 24, 2005, 02:27 PM   #2
30Cal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 3, 2002
Posts: 1,264
My data say 42.0gr IMR4895, WLR, surplus brass to duplicate M80 ball. Pretty close to what I load for the 168HPBTM (41.5grs).

I hit the range this weekend with my SuperMatch (newly rebarreled w/ a 1:12" Kreiger) and got really good results with the Speer 125gr TNT (same powder, same charge as above, 2.7" OAL). 1-1.5MoA prone w/ irons. Looks like a nice, low recoil, match-worthy load for 200-300yds. Other match shooters I've talked to say it's a good bullet for a 1:12" barrel; pretty much doesn't care about powder, charge or seating depth.

Ty
30Cal is offline  
Old August 24, 2005, 02:32 PM   #3
Wildalaska
Junior member
 
Join Date: November 25, 2002
Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 14,172
Probably increase a grain or so for commercial brass then...??

Just need a fun load, as long as I can head shoot a sillouhette at 100 Im happy...if I want to shoot out eyeballs, out comes a swede

WildplinkerAlaska
Wildalaska is offline  
Old August 24, 2005, 02:47 PM   #4
30Cal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 3, 2002
Posts: 1,264
I'd probably leave the charge as is (I'm lazy), but 0.5-1.0grs more wouldn't hurt.

I was just tickled to find a 10 cent bullet that shot almost as well as a 20 cent one!
30Cal is offline  
Old August 24, 2005, 02:52 PM   #5
Wildalaska
Junior member
 
Join Date: November 25, 2002
Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 14,172
Just out of curiousness where did you get that load, My IMR book doesnt have it (then again its 20 years old)

WildcheapAlaska
Wildalaska is offline  
Old August 24, 2005, 04:08 PM   #6
30Cal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 3, 2002
Posts: 1,264
It came out of an old Amer. Rifleman article from the 70's--"Duplicating Service Loads" or something like that.
30Cal is offline  
Old August 24, 2005, 06:17 PM   #7
Peter M. Eick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 3, 1999
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,991
Don't forget that the c-34 is a magnum equivalent primer! I found that 42.0 grns of 4895 to be a bit much in the M1A's. My load with the c-34 and a 168 Seirra is 39.5 to 40.5 grns on imr 4895.

Work up slowly. No need to beat up a fine gun like the m1a.

Gratuitous picture time...


100 yards, 50 shots, M1A supermatch off the bench with the load listed above
__________________
10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!
Peter M. Eick is offline  
Old August 24, 2005, 06:23 PM   #8
Wildalaska
Junior member
 
Join Date: November 25, 2002
Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 14,172
whats the velocity of mil spec ball (147)

WildplugintoputerAlaska
Wildalaska is offline  
Old August 25, 2005, 10:57 AM   #9
30Cal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 3, 2002
Posts: 1,264
2750'ish fps
30Cal is offline  
Old August 25, 2005, 05:59 PM   #10
Dave R
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 7, 2000
Location: Idaho
Posts: 6,073
Wild--FYI Speer 13 has a bunch of .308 loads "starred" as being tested for the M1A.

Peter--WOW! 50 rounds? You have my respect.
__________________
I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).
Dave R is offline  
Old August 25, 2005, 06:25 PM   #11
Peter M. Eick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 3, 1999
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,991
I almost always shoot 50 shot groups. Just a habit from my statistics training and sampling theory.



Same gun, off the bench, same load as above 50 shots per target.


National Match, off the bench (open sights also) 50 shots per target and the same load.

All shooting was done at 100 yards.
__________________
10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!
Peter M. Eick is offline  
Old August 28, 2005, 07:54 PM   #12
impact
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 8, 2005
Location: the great state of Texas
Posts: 854
I went to the range and met Peter one day. He just puts those 20 round mags in and shoots away. With no time for the barrel to cool. I was impressed.

Here is a quick pic of my M1A loaded that I took that day to shoot. The group is with peep sights. I load 40.0 grs of IMR4895 with 168 Sierra MKHPs
Quote:
impact is offline  
Old August 28, 2005, 10:08 PM   #13
30Cal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 3, 2002
Posts: 1,264
Quote:
Wild--FYI Speer 13 has a bunch of .308 loads "starred" as being tested for the M1A.
Speaking of Speer, I've been getting great results (1MoA) with the 125gr Speer TNT with 40.5-41.5grs IMR4895, WLR, LC brass, 2.7" OAL. They're half the price of a Sierra Matchking.

Ty
30Cal is offline  
Old August 29, 2005, 06:07 PM   #14
Peter M. Eick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 3, 1999
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,991
Impact,

Thanks! You shoot very well in my opinion. When I get some more ammo made up we should do it again!
__________________
10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!
Peter M. Eick is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:38 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.04490 seconds with 10 queries