308 load for socom

[mocos]

Anybody out there developing 308 loads for 16" barrels using 147-150 gr bullets, specifically the SA socom.

[Jonathan Doe]

I have several cans of LC ammo, it works just fine in my SOCOM. I don't know if you need any special ammo forit.

[bfoosh006]

http://www.zediker.com/downloads/m14.html

[mocos]

I'm not trying to re-invent the wheel.....just about everything written out there for m14 and for that matter m1 / garands are for the "military length barrels" and the socom and mini-g's are 16" barrels...4" shorter. I suspect that with the shorter barrel length, powder burn rates that were efficient in the longer barrels are less than efficient in the shorter barrels. As noted in zediker.com....picking the wrong load can bend the op rod in an M1.

With the cost of ammo going up, milsurp or factory is making reloading a necessary option if I want to continue shooting and I might as well search out those loads that guys before me have worked up loads for the shorter barrels.

[dixieD]

I'm not trying to re-invent the wheel.....just about everything written out there for m14 and for that matter m1 / garands are for the "military length barrels" and the socom and mini-g's are 16" barrels...4" shorter. I suspect that with the shorter barrel length, powder burn rates that were efficient in the longer barrels are less than efficient in the shorter barrels.

I could be wrong but what works to cycle the action in the standard should work in the socom since the gas port is at the same distance down barrel in the two guns. Now the shorter barrel beyond the port will lead to lower velocity at the muzzle.

[mocos]

you have a point there...but wouldnt there still be pressure once the bullet has passed the port and in a shorter barrel the pressure would drop sooner as opposed to a longer barrel section after the port. This would be why the burnng rate of a powder would directly affect the efficiency of the load. My thinking is that a faster burning powder is more efficient than the ones that are listed as standard in full size m14s...ie 4198 varget 748... because the powder is completely or nearly completely burned by the time the bullet exits the muzzle...or something like that.

[bernieb90]

I have never loaded for a SOCOM, but all factory loads seem to work fine in that rifle so it should not be an issue. I would suggest you try a polymer tipped bullet if you are going to be shooting expanding bullets to reduce battering of the tips in the magazine, and lead buildup on the feedramps. If you want a good multipurpose bullet I would suggest the Nosler 150 gr ballistic tip or Hornady 155 gr A-Max. Both are suitable for everything from varmints to medium deer, as well as tactical applications.