M1A .308 Loads ,Primers?

[USMCM16A2]

Guys,


I have 2 M1A rifles I am loading for, and I was told the CCI Benchrest primers would be ok. Anyway you guys know that one of my rifles was sent back to SAI for repairs. I sent a e-mail to WarBird (nice guys), about the problems I was having with the rifle, and in our conversation the topic of my reloads came up. He said I should not use the CCI Benchrest primers, only the military type. I thought that bencrest primers were sufficiently hard. Any help would be appreciated. Let me now your experiences. TIA, USMCM16A2

[30Cal]

I've shot WLR (probably 10K or so) and Rem 9 1/2 (maybe 4k). I uniform my primer pockets, clean them after each firing and check each one by hand.

I personally don't think the CCI #34 is the only suitable primer for the M1/M14.

My advice is to read up on the slamfire subject and understand the factors and risks and decide for yourself what you need to do to limit your risk.

[phbiggs]

The CCI #34 primers are harder. The problem is as with the garands is the firing pin can thump the primer causing a slam fire if you use a softer primer like the bench rest primer.

[f4tweet]

I use Federal 210's, 168gr SMK 41.0 gr of IMR-4895 with an OAL of 2.80. This is approx. 2500fps a nice soft shooter for 100 yard work. This has given me 1.3 inch groups consistantly. I'm older, so if I had those 18 year old eyes I had in Boot Camp in '66, it would probably be sub-MOA. Check out the link, I took a 2 day High Power class from him 15 years ago. Good luck.

http://www.jarheadtop.com/article_handloading.html

[odysseus]

You know if you read Fulton Arms go on about not reloading for the m1a, you would think that it was very tricky to reload for m1a. I am going to start working on a handload for a NM I have, but I am wondering if anyone echo's their concerns about brass fatigue and sizing that they go on about?

.

[f4tweet]

M1A .308 Loads ,Primers?

I have just started reloading rifle again. The last time I did was '64-'65 with my Dad, and I didn't understand it all. I took a reloading class, had some help from a friend, and followed the .308 recipes. One should definitely count the number of times a case has been fired. I think if you have good dies, tools, and known recipes and powders, It should be no problem. I always load a dummy round ( no primer or powder ) and see if my M1-A will chamber it at a minimum distance with the bolt held open and released. Maybe 1 or 2 inches.See my load posted above. It turns out the Jim said to start out with virtually the same recipe. His is 41.5 gr of IMR-4895, and my most accurate was 41.0 gr of IMR-4895. Check out this website. Good gouge.

http://www.jarheadtop.com/article_handloading.html

[30Cal]

You know if you read Fulton Arms go on about not reloading for the m1a, you would think that it was very tricky to reload for m1a. I am going to start working on a handload for a NM I have, but I am wondering if anyone echo's their concerns about brass fatigue and sizing that they go on about?

.

FL size your brass. Use a case gage to set your die. Toss brass after 4-5 firings and you should be fine.

If you own a FL die, you should have a case gage to set it. And at the risk of sounding redundant... CASE GAGE.

[Cypriss32]

Reloading for a M1A is A PAIN IN THE *****!!!!!! To say the least.....
You MUST have a Small base die and harder brass. I cant get win brass to fire more then one time. I have to use LC or Machine gun brass. Mine is a M1A standered.

Primers wise, I use CCI #34 military primers. Now im shooting BLC-2 and 150gr FMJs.

[Gunsrruss]

Brass, Load Data

I use mostly pull down comp. for my loads. They have been good enough to get me to NRA Master. The commercial brass like FA or RP that I have loaded started to come apart at 4 reloads. I full length all my .308 with SB dies. I give the die another half turn after it hits the shell plate. This works for me. I also check with case gages always. My auto load is 41.5 IMR 4895 for M1A. My new bolt load is 44gr of 4895 for a 173gr bullet. I only use the 173's. This is also my LR load. COL is 2.84. The military manual also says that WCC 846 ( BLC-2 ) at 44gr is also a good LR load. I have used it also. When I hit 5 reloads on .308 brass I turn it over into bolt gun use until it starts to fail.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

Reloading for the M1A a PITA??? hardly...... I'm on my 6th loading my LC brass.... I use only Varget and 168's for the 200 and 300yd stages and 175's for the 600yd sow fire stage... I go the same route 30Cal does.. FL size (bump the shoulder back .002) and I use only CCI200 primers....18K rounds through my last M1A(TRW barrel) for HP shooting and over 4K through my latest match(Kreiger barrel) M1A. I have gone back to shooting my M1A's these past few months from shooting the AR's and SpaceGuns... Forgot how much fun the M1A is! and I can still shoot within my class(Master Class) with one.

[Kiba]

Ditto what the above said...

I use a Redding FL die to size to .002 back of fired cases. Primer pockets are uniformed with a Sinclair carbide uniformer and I make sure the primers are seated below flush to avoid a slamfire. A small base die is not necessary. I use LC brass as well. WLR primers.

Powder burn rate needs to be chosen to provide the proper gas pressure at the gas cylinder so you don't beat up the gas system and oprod, and don't load too hot for the same reasons as above. Remember, the gas system was designed for the burn characteristics of 4895 so IMR-4895 or H-4895 are considered the ideals, you can go up or down a little on the chart from there but don't go too much. Both my M1A's like H-4895 just a smidge better than IMR-4895, and in my rifles with 168 Sierras it takes 41.5gr of IMR-4895 to make 2550 fps, and 40.0gr of H-4895 to make 2550 fps.

[Cypriss32]

A small base die is not necessary

I beg the differ. This rifle has NOT fired right unless its used.

[Kiba]

I beg the differ. This rifle has NOT fired right unless its used.

Depends on your chamber. Both my M1A's run like clockwork with a standard Redding FL Type-S bushing die, I bump the shoulder back .002" from fired cases. 1 barrel is a Krieger and the other barrel is a Criterion. I've never needed a small base die for any of my semi auto rifles that I reload for (2 M1A's, 3 AR's, 1 FAL.)

Now if you're using used range brass purchased off the internet that was ran through a M-60 with a loose chamber, that's another story. You might have to use the small base die the first time and then you should be able to use a standard FL die. All my LC .308 brass is never-fired pulldowns, so I haven't had to deal with that headache.

[tommyid1]

win brass w/ win large rifle primers h322 and 165 grain speer balistic tip boat tails. reloading using rcbs stuff

[f4tweet]

Is the Wilson case gauge a good gauge? I have an old one that my Dad had. No instructions, but it seems if the case drops in, and you put the gauge down on a flat surface, and it stays flat, you're good to go.