Need help with a 7.62 X 51 load

[DB2]

The only load that I have seemed to be able to find is from Hornady. It lists under .308 service rifle. I don't have my book right now for all the details, but I do know it's for 155 grn bullet.

I need to load for a M1A. It's chambered 7.62. The .308 loads seem to be a little hot for this gun. Any suggestions? I'm using IMR 4895 powder. Hornady 150 grn FMJ projectile. Primer is a Federal magnum LR, which I do know is not optimal for this. It's what I could find, and will compensate for the extra pressure. I basically need a good load I can use to work around.

Any suggestions? I went through the .308 load thread. With all the good info in there, it's still all for .308.

TIA.

[Beelzy]

Load to the lower end of the .308 load Spectrum, especially with the Mag
LR primers.

Or change to a lower "peaking" powder like H335.

[Spyduh]

It's chambered 7.62. The .308 loads seem to be a little hot for this gun. Any suggestions? I'm using IMR 4895 powder. Hornady 150 grn FMJ projectile. Primer is a Federal magnum LR, which I do know is not optimal for this.

You are not suppose to use .308 ammo in a 7.62x51 Chambered rifle. You are risking a big kaboom and possible injury to you and others shooting around you. Stick with a 7.62x51 load for a 7.62x51 chambered gun. Pull any .308 loads you already created and do not shoot any more.

Look at this chart for mil specs for 7.62x51 loads.

http://www.gun-shots.net/ballistics-chart.shtml

7.62mm Ammunition Ballistics Chart
Cartridge Weight Length Propellant
Type Propellant
Weight Bullet
Weight Chamber
Pressure Velocity
7.62mm Ball, M59 393gr 2.8" WC846 46gr 150.5gr 50,000psi 2750fps at 78' from muzzle
7.62mm Armor Piercing, M61 393gr 2.8" IMR4475 41gr 150.5gr 50,000psi 2750fps at 78' from muzzle
7.62mm Tracer, M62 383gr 2.8" WC846 46gr 142gr 50,000psi 2750fps at 78' from muzzle
7.62mm Grenade, M64 295gr 2" WC8:30 45gr 142gr 50,000psi 160fps at 5' from muzzle
7.62mm Ball, Special, M118 390gr 2.83" WC846 and IMR4895 44gr 172gr 50,000psi 2640fps at
7.62mm Dim Tracer, M276 381gr 2.8" WC846 46gr 140-150gr 50,000psi 2750fps (CMRS), 2680fps (GM) at 78' from muzzle
7.62mm Armor Piercing, M993 362.6gr 2.8" Bonfors NC1290 45gr 126.6gr 55,115psi 2985fps at 78' from muzzle

[Spyduh]

WC846 is surplus powder. Which is very hard to get as of late.
W748 or BLC2 is very close to WC846 ball powder. It differs by 1.0 grain

Also get a chrony so you know how fast these are flying and staying with in safe pressure/velocities.

Note: If you have a .308 chambered gun you can use 7.62x51 and .308 ammo. If it's 7.62x51 you can only use 7.62x51 ammo.
This is because 7.62x51 pressures are at 50k. .308 pressures are around 60-65k. 7.62x51 chambered gun is only designed to shoot 50k pressures.

[DB2]

You are not suppose to use .308 ammo in a 7.62x51 Chambered rifle. You are risking a big kaboom and possible injury to you and others shooting around you. Stick with a 7.62x51 load for a 7.62x51 chambered gun. Pull any .308 loads you already created and do not shoot any more.

Look at this chart for mil specs for 7.62x51 loads.

http://www.gun-shots.net/ballistics-chart.shtml

7.62mm Ammunition Ballistics Chart
Cartridge Weight Length Propellant
Type Propellant
Weight Bullet
Weight Chamber
Pressure Velocity
7.62mm Ball, M59 393gr 2.8" WC846 46gr 150.5gr 50,000psi 2750fps at 78' from muzzle
7.62mm Armor Piercing, M61 393gr 2.8" IMR4475 41gr 150.5gr 50,000psi 2750fps at 78' from muzzle
7.62mm Tracer, M62 383gr 2.8" WC846 46gr 142gr 50,000psi 2750fps at 78' from muzzle
7.62mm Grenade, M64 295gr 2" WC8:30 45gr 142gr 50,000psi 160fps at 5' from muzzle
7.62mm Ball, Special, M118 390gr 2.83" WC846 and IMR4895 44gr 172gr 50,000psi 2640fps at
7.62mm Dim Tracer, M276 381gr 2.8" WC846 46gr 140-150gr 50,000psi 2750fps (CMRS), 2680fps (GM) at 78' from muzzle
7.62mm Armor Piercing, M993 362.6gr 2.8" Bonfors NC1290 45gr 126.6gr 55,115psi 2985fps at 78' from muzzle

I have not shot ANY .308 through this rifle. It has all been surplus 7.62. I am figuring my info by looking at pressures in the manuals. This is why I posted the question, I don't want to kaboom. It's time to replenish the stock with all this empty brass.

Thanks for the load info.

And just for future info, I know the difference in .308 vs. 7.62x51. There is no way I would put commercial .308 through this M1a.

[popeye4]

If you haven't already done so, check out The Firing Line here: http://www.m14tfl.com/upload/index.php?

They have lots of good info on the M14. You'll have to sign up, which some on this site have complained bitterly about (I'm not sure why....).

By happenstance, there is a specific thread on loads for Hornady 150 gr bullets here: http://www.m14tfl.com/upload/showthread.php?t=70923

BTW, IMR 4895 is the powder that the M14 was designed for.

[Blademan21]

What Popeye4 said. Sign up,that forum has a wealth of information.

[DB2]

If you haven't already done so, check out The Firing Line here: http://www.m14tfl.com/upload/index.php?

They have lots of good info on the M14. You'll have to sign up, which some on this site have complained bitterly about (I'm not sure why....).

By happenstance, there is a specific thread on loads for Hornady 150 gr bullets here: http://www.m14tfl.com/upload/showthread.php?t=70923

BTW, IMR 4895 is the powder that the M14 was designed for.

Yeah, I found it this morning. It's basically the same question. I'm going to start at 40.5 gr. 1 grain less than the starting load, and try one. If it wasn't for the primer, I start where they said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start at 41.5 gr and go up to 43.5 gr IMR-4895. You want to be in the 2800 FPS range for M80 ball. I know that is a 147gr projectile, but it is close to 150 gr FMJ. The reduced barrel length may make this closer to 2725 or 2750 FPS.

Start low...look for accuracy and stop before pressure signs show up. I look at the primer to see over-pressure warning signs, like flattening of the primer or it backing out of the pocket. You will find an accurate load before this. Here is a link to the Sierra manual on 308 Win. My pet load was around 42.0 gr IMR-4895, but I was using LC brass which is heavier than your Win brass. So, you might be a bit higher on the powder load. You will have to develop a load, but this will get you started. Good luck.

[f4tweet]

I use 41.0 gr of IMR-4895 with 168 gr SMK at 2.280 OAL. Nice easy shooter at 2450-2500 fps. Good accuracy. I got LOTS of help from other Calgunners.

http://www.jarheadtop.com/

http://www.jarheadtop.com/

[FLIGHT762]

I've been shooting and handloading for an M-1 A I've owned since the 70's. It has a G.I. M-14 7.62 NATO barrel. You can handload for it using commercial 308 Winchester cases. Just use the 308 loading data on the lower end of the loading recommendations. When using 308 commercial cases, only load them no more than 4 times then toss the brass. I've shot a lot of commercial brass with no problems at all in my NATO chamber. You can also get a supply of 7.62 NATO brass and use it. I would stay away from some of the once fired brass shot in military machineguns. It can be stretched a bit and may not last long. If you can find some of the I.M.I (Israeli Military Industries) brass, it is very good to use.

Many M1-A's have chambers closer to the 308 Winchester headspace specs. The only time you may run into problems is if your gun has a G.I. 7.62 NATO chamber that is on the outer edge of the headspace tolerances. You can have your gun checked to see where the headspacing is at.

For many years, service rifle competitors used off the shelf
federal 168 GMM in their service rifles with no problems.

Here is a great PDF you should download and read for reloading for the match M-14 by Glenn Zedicker. It is worth the read and will explain how to load for the M-14(M-1A).

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

You will run into pressure issues if you use some commercial 308 Winchester ammo, especially the Hornady light magnum ammo. NEVER shoot that ammo in your M-1A. When you load, you have to stick to powders in the medium burn rate. Nothing slower than 4064/or Varget. 4895 works well in the gun, just don't load it too hot.

Federal loads American Eagle brand 150 GR. 308 ammo that safe for your M-1A. They also load 30/06 M2 ammo for the Garands.

[popeye4]

I'd add to the above that 175 gr. bullets are about the heaviest you want in the M14. Some folks use that Schuster gas plug, but I haven't had any experience with it.

[scr83jp]

I've been shooting and handloading for an M-1 A I've owned since the 70's. It has a G.I. M-14 7.62 NATO barrel. You can handload for it using commercial 308 Winchester cases. Just use the 308 loading data on the lower end of the loading recommendations. When using 308 commercial cases, only load them no more than 4 times then toss the brass. I've shot a lot of commercial brass with no problems at all in my NATO chamber. You can also get a supply of 7.62 NATO brass and use it. I would stay away from some of the once fired brass shot in military machineguns. It can be stretched a bit and may not last long. If you can find some of the I.M.I (Israeli Military Industries) brass, it is very good to use.

Many M1-A's have chambers closer to the 308 Winchester headspace specs. The only time you may run into problems is if your gun has a G.I. 7.62 NATO chamber that is on the outer edge of the headspace tolerances. You can have your gun checked to see where the headspacing is at.

For many years, service rifle competitors used off the shelf
federal 168 GMM in their service rifles with no problems.

Here is a great PDF you should download and read for reloading for the match M-14 by Glenn Zedicker. It is worth the read and will explain how to load for the M-14(M-1A).

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

You will run into pressure issues if you use some commercial 308 Winchester ammo, especially the Hornady light magnum ammo. NEVER shoot that ammo in your M-1A. When you load, you have to stick to powders in the medium burn rate. Nothing slower than 4064/or Varget. 4895 works well in the gun, just don't load it too hot.

Federal loads American Eagle brand 150 GR. 308 ammo that safe for your M-1A. They also load 30/06 M2 ammo for the Garands.

The 3/86 American Rifleman has an article Reloading For The M1 Rifle that has really accurate data,I've used for my M1 to go mule deer hunting in CO & for matches;I also used the data to load 06 ammo for my Sako Finnbear.I kept that issue of the american rifleman