special 7.62 NATO ball M118

[duggaboy]

just received the cases of this special ball that was available for two minutes on the CMP sales site. I checked it out and found that it contained 43 grains of a ball powder, , probably BLC-2 powder per weight and comparison of filling of the case. Also, found the bullet to be 175 grains in weight and a boattail with a nice long length overall. I can't wait to shoot this stuff as soon as the snow quits here in the mountains. It is packed in 50 Cal steel ammo boxes and stencilled on the side, looks original. The cost figures at 61 cents a round, packed and delivered. I guess this is alright, but I bet this is going to be the cheapest ammo sold for a long time by the CMP. The CMP forums suggest that the next supply of the Greek 30.06 , which is likely to go on sale soon, will be even more costly than probably anticipated and they urge everyone who shoots it in the Garand, to stock up a supply and not worry about the rising costs.

Information

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[Edward Horton]

You have the older version of the 118 special long range ball loaded with non-canister grade 748 Winchester powder. Winchester lost the contract to produce ammunition at the Lake City Arsenal

ATK Ammunition Systems Group now produces ammunition at the Lake City Arsenal and the 118 special long range ball loaded with Alliant Reloader 15.

ATK - Ammunition Systems Group

This is why they call it surplus ammunition, its outdated and no longer used.

Please note that the chamber pressure of the 118 special long range ball is the same as commercially loaded factory .308 ammunition or 2,000 higher in pressure than "standard 7.62 ball ammo". (52,000 CUP vs 50,000 CUP)

[duggaboy]

thanks for the update on the round. I will now shift over to 748 to load some rounds and will get out the RL15 too. thanks,

[TEDIJR]

For years the standard load was 42g of IMR4895,L.C brass,the 173g FMJBT bullet and
a Winchester LG rifle primer,2.8020" OAL.This is the M14 rifle load,it could not handle any more than that.The 173g M118 bullet always really weighted in at 175g.It varied a lot near the end of production,as the equipment wears out.Also in 1968,shooters stared pulling the USGI 173g bullet and replaced it with a Sierra 168g HPBT,they called it Mexican Match.The USGI M118 load also used
a NO 34 primer.The current M118LR load uses a Sierra 175g HPBT bullet.A advocate judge ruled that the Sierra bullet was not a true hollow point,but just a by product of the manufacturing process,so it did not violate the Geneva Convention on the use of hollow point ammo.And the military does not go by grains,but tests each batch for pressure to get the desired feet per second, the velocity, so it was not always 42g"s.That's why you cannot always go by what a USGI load measures in grains,when you are trying to copy it.The 42g,IMR 4895 load was known by shooters as the 'Camp Perry Load".And the 168g bullet drops below the speed of sound after 800 some yards,where the 175g bullet will go a 1000 yards at the speed of sound. The book value OAL for this is 2.800" but everyone I ever checked was 2.820".The magazine inside length determines the maximum length,and that is what a M14 rifle will take,no more.Of course a bolt rifle lets you play around with the OAL,but not on a semi auto rifle.They let the M16 service rifle shooters use a single round that is too long for the standard magazine.They have to use a heavy bullet to get out to 800-1000 yards.I never thought this is fair,I think the bullet should fit the magazine,in combat you do not use a super long bullet,that does not feed in your magazine.The M14 will not let you do this,as the M14 semi auto gas system will not handle this,the 175g bullet is maximum,any more will tear your gun up,or worse.Like the bolt going threw the back of your receiver into your head.My Stoner SR-25 Match rifle is really sensitive,it cannot handle the M14 load,it will rack the hell out of the gun,so I have to down load it.And the military is now using the SR-25 as their sniper rifle over the Remington 700 bolt rifle.That"s why the M14 remains a favorite,with the snipers over there.Its old,but it works.