"Other calibers" in an M1A

[elenius]

Does anyone here shoot an M1A in one of the downsized .308 calibers -- 243 Winchester, 260 Remington, or 7mm-08 Remington?

I'm just curious. Where do you get the barrel? That's the only thing that needs to be replaced, right? What's it like to shoot? Also, can the brass for these calibers be formed from .308 brass?

Pros and cons?

[phish]

It's somewhat of a waste to use a another caliber based off the .308 in an M1A. Getting the smith to chamber a barrel in another caliber will be very pricey, and loads will have to be started from ground zero.

The gas system was originally designed around the .308, and gas system mods are rather limited to larger voume plugs or venting holes.

It easier with the AR platform because you have more flexibility in modifying the gas system and cycling behaviour.

[30Cal]

Sa Inc did sell rifles in .243 for a while back in the early days. I've never seen/shot any but mine in .308. It should be pretty straight forward to get any barrel profiled, gas port drilled, etc.

Ty

[dfletcher]

I agree - some start up cost if you're going the convert route. DSA sells their FALs in 243 & 260 I believe, but of course those are complete guns and the FAL has an adjustable gas system.

Having used the 260 Remington (in an Encore) I think it would be a pretty good performer in the M1A. Less recoil, good ballistics. Overall I think it's one of those "good idea but not alot of need" items. But since when does need enter into the picture, right?

[elenius]

I agree - some start up cost if you're going the convert route. DSA sells their FALs in 243 & 260 I believe, but of course those are complete guns and the FAL has an adjustable gas system.

Having used the 260 Remington (in an Encore) I think it would be a pretty good performer in the M1A. Less recoil, good ballistics. Overall I think it's one of those "good idea but not alot of need" items. But since when does need enter into the picture, right?

Heh, right

Well, I can see several "needs". One sort-of neat idea would be a socom in 243 for reduced recoil and over-penetration, for HD duties.

A second "need" is, as was mentioned, just better ballistics.

A third is to use 260 to "make major" in IPSC rifle/3-gun, where a 308 is too powerful. Yes, you can download a 308, but things work better when a round is loaded as it's supposed to be. I know some people do this. The downside is that one cannot do this for the "Heavy Metal" division, which requires 30 cal minimum.

260 would be even more attractive if 6.5 Grendel takes off in a big way, and we start to get cheap 6.5 bulk bullets for reloading

So, anyone know who makes these barrels, and whether 308 brass can be formed into e.g. 260? I would guess it could.

Either way, I'm just speculating. I have thousands of 30 cal bullets to go through