LR load for M1a

[duggaboy]

just received LR brass from Lake city and now has anyone got the bullet and powder load to mimic the orginal LR load from the LC armory? Is this load too hot for the M1a? Don't want to bend anything in the rifle and just thought someone on the site could tell me. I understand that these once shot brass were used in the bolt type sniper guns and they look it, very smooth, no dings. thanks

Information

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[jmoore]

The old match M118 7.62x51 loads (MV~2550fps) that was used since the beginning of the M14 match shooting era used the same WEIGHT bullet (173gr) as the newer ammo. No problems w/ it as far as the weapons were concerned. The current ammo has about the same MV as the old as far as I know.

The 168gr M856(?) "super match" ammo replaced the original M118 mostly because the old govn't equipment could no longer hold the tolerances required to produce match winning accuracy.

Just use powders w/ the proper burn rates and you'll be fine.

[stripper clip]

To copy the M118LR load you can use 173gr. BT bullets, but the 175gr. Sierra MK is regarded as a much better bullet. I have worked up loads like you are interested in. The loads were chronographed too. I used IMR 4895, which is suitable for your rifle, along with Federal GMM brass and Winchester LR primers. At 41.5 grains of powder, the average muzzle velocity was @ 2619 FPS with a standard deviation of 10.81; group size on paper at 100 yards was equally good. There were no signs of excess pressure on the fired cases.

You are using LC brass, and should probably start out a bit lower, but a load in this range should give you the results you want.

Another difference was that I shot these out of a 7.62MM M-1, but they should do well out of your rifle too.

[jmoore]

Forgot about the two grain variance in nominal weight. No practical difference, though, I reckon.

And, yes, the current Sierras are far better bullets for accuracy work.

[duggaboy]

i have the Sierras and also a lot of bergers to try out, and i hope they will shoot well. thanks,

[duggaboy]

I got the load down now for the LC brass, LR brass, and used the 4895 from Radaway Green I got last year, and I would say at 40.5 grains loaded of the RG4895, this is the load. nice groups, clean burning.

[JBS]

I have had excellent results with LC72 cases fully match prepped. The appropriate amount of US 4895 surplus ( fine grain ) Sierra #2200 MK168gr HPBT a Federal GM215M primer. Loaded to a vel of 2550 and get a SD of 8 fps for ten rounds. The M1A loves this work up.

[Edward Horton]

The right way, the wrong way and the Army way (Aim High Air Force)









WC846
Original application is U.S. 7.62mm NATO Ball M80 and Tracer M62, typically loaded around 44-45 grains. This is a ball powder which can be loaded using Hodgdon BL-C(2) data.











duggaboy, the only reason I spent so much time and effort on this posting was to make Mr. jmoore look like a cheep tight bastard. Please let me know if I succeeded (I think we all should grease Mr. jmoores shoes and check for excess foot thrust)

[jmoore]

??? What's wrong w/ being cheap if it works? If the fellow doesn't own a half dozen or more loading manuals, then he's not serious anyway!


I will suggest a book that might not come immediately to mind for working up good long range loads-

"Modern Highpower Competition" by Randolph Constantine (I think that's the title.) He covers aspects not found in the loading manuals, including getting barrel harmonics to work FOR you at distance.

[USSR]

Note: In my experience, the 2200 - 2400fps loads with 155gr bullets don't work all that well. With the light bullets, not enough pressure is generated to seal the case in the chamber. Sooty necks and less than stellar accuracy. If you want to run them slow, you are much better served with the 168gr bullets. Just MHO.

Don