Loading for an M1A .308 - 24hourcampfire

Hello All

I am going to be loading for a friends M1A in .308. Is they any precautions loading for it such as pressure consideration and powder choices like for the M1 Garand?

Thanks

Shooting Times, May 2021 has an article on just that: "Handloading tips for M1 Garand Shooters" I haven't read it yet.

Yes, stick to medium burn rates and lower pressures than a bolt gun.

Originally Posted by Hancock27

Shooting Times, May 2021 has an article on just that: "Handloading tips for M1 Garand Shooters" I haven't read it yet.

Does it mention the M1A in the article?

Originally Posted by Tyrone

Yes, stick to medium burn rates and lower pressures than a bolt gun.

Thanks. Do you have suggestions on what powders to use?

Yes, I like Varget, N140, Re15, AR Comp, 4895 and 4064. Basically, anything you'd use in a .223.

Ok Thanks

The Lake City Match M852 load was supposedly 41.5gr of 4895 behind a 168 SMK. By "supposedly", I don't question it, it's just that's what matched it and everyone used back in the old days.

Thanks

You'll want to use heavy duty brass like Lake City. IMR4895 is a very good powder for this application. With a 168 grain match bullet you'll probably hit a good spot in the range of 41.5 to 41.8 grains depending on the powder lot.

The spec for M852 match was 42.2 grains but 41.5 grains shot better in the M852 brass I reloaded.

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I am going to be loading for a friends M1A in .308. Is they any precautions loading for it such as pressure consideration and powder choices like for the M1 Garand?

They're a little more forgiving than the M1 Garand because the M14 design uses a gas piston that cuts off gas as it moves that isn't part of a long op rod. That said, the powder recommendations I grew up with were identical for both. 3031 on the faster end and 4064 on the slower end. Tyrone's advice of any powder you'd use for the 223 is good advice. I'd add a couple of cautions; I'd be careful using any VV high energy powders (N530, N540) and MR2000 not because I've heard anything negative, but part because they're often giving higher than normal velocities and the M14 has the baggage of a maximum port pressure 12kpsi +/i a couple thousand psi, and part because I'm a cautious guy.

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The spec for M852 match was 42.2 grains but 41.5 grains shot better in the M852 brass I reloaded.

I'm not a fan of advising off a spec from a TM because the arsenals loaded to a pressure spec. Each lot was tested for pressure and the charge adjusted depending...thus TM spec is a very fuzzy number. As always prudent, reduce and work your way up in your own rifle.

To the OP...with all that said, if you're looking for something that should just work, go with IMR 4895. IMR 4064 is a good choice as well, but in our experience resulted in more brass stretch and thus shorter brass life.

The first time I loaded for mine I used some Federal brass that I got from a game warden. I don’t recall the powder, but the bullets were Hornady 165 BTSP’s.

Anyway that brass was crap. Primers were falling out.

Originally Posted by ChrisF

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I am going to be loading for a friends M1A in .308. Is they any precautions loading for it such as pressure consideration and powder choices like for the M1 Garand?

They're a little more forgiving than the M1 Garand because the M14 design uses a gas piston that cuts off gas as it moves that isn't part of a long op rod. That said, the powder recommendations I grew up with were identical for both. 3031 on the faster end and 4064 on the slower end. Tyrone's advice of any powder you'd use for the 223 is good advice. I'd add a couple of cautions; I'd be careful using any VV high energy powders (N530, N540) and MR2000 not because I've heard anything negative, but part because they're often giving higher than normal velocities and the M14 has the baggage of a maximum port pressure 12kpsi +/i a couple thousand psi, and part because I'm a cautious guy.

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The spec for M852 match was 42.2 grains but 41.5 grains shot better in the M852 brass I reloaded.

I'm not a fan of advising off a spec from a TM because the arsenals loaded to a pressure spec. Each lot was tested for pressure and the charge adjusted depending...thus TM spec is a very fuzzy number. As always prudent, reduce and work your way up in your own rifle.

To the OP...with all that said, if you're looking for something that should just work, go with IMR 4895. IMR 4064 is a good choice as well, but in our experience resulted in more brass stretch and thus shorter brass life.

IMR 4895 is about as safe as it gets IMHO. We used that and then moved to surplus powder that worked just fine for years but IMR 4895 is the way to go unless you understand all the issues and are careful

Thanks all for the advice. I haven't seen IMR 4895 in months, but do have pound of 4064 and some Varget.

I have two M1A's. Have been loading for them 4-5 yrs. now. The literature that comes with the rifles says the M1A is cleared for all factory .308 ammo except the "high energy" style stuff. And one should not use bullet weights over 180 grs. either. That said, I've found the best accuracy to be on the light side. With military weight brass, my Squad Scout, will put four Sierra 125 gr. PH bullets into just under an inch at 100 yds. That's with 46.1 grains of TAC, and a CCI 34 primer.
Much lighter than normal loads cycle just fine. Like 39 grs. of TAC with a 150 gr. FMJ. That's because the rifles are "over gassed" to make sure they function reliably with crappy ammo. E

Originally Posted by Oheremicus

I have two M1A's. Have been loading for them 4-5 yrs. now. The literature that comes with the rifles says the M1A is cleared for all factory .308 ammo except the "high energy" style stuff. And one should not use bullet weights over 180 grs. either. That said, I've found the best accuracy to be on the light side. With military weight brass, my Squad Scout, will put four Sierra 125 gr. PH bullets into just under an inch at 100 yds. That's with 46.1 grains of TAC, and a CCI 34 primer.
Much lighter than normal loads cycle just fine. Like 39 grs. of TAC with a 150 gr. FMJ. That's because the rifles are "over gassed" to make sure they function reliably with crappy ammo. E

I use the same bullet, they really shoot nice.
I use 44.8 H-4895 or same amount IMR 4895. H measures a lot better.
The Pro Hunters have worked great on whitetails for me.

Zediker's website appears down or defunct. He used to offer a free pdf download of "Reloading for the Match M14". It was a section from one of his books, and informative.

Glen Zediker died last October. Midsouth Shooters still has his Shot Report articles available, you might look there for his articles.

Sorry to hear of Glen's demise. Midsouth does have his blog up. Thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by Sam_H

Zediker's website appears down or defunct. He used to offer a free pdf download of "Reloading for the Match M14". It was a section from one of his books, and informative.

I have a copy if anyone wants it.

Thanks for reminding me of it.

This is the gold standard for reloading the M1A.

Glen Zediker was the man.

This link works.

Reloading M1A

Originally Posted by Mike70560

This is the gold standard for reloading the M1A.

Glen Zediker was the man.

This link works.

Reloading M1A

It doesn't for me.

I chuckle whenever I read that article because there's a couple of my fingerprints on there. That section about case stretch was from me playing with a Mo's case headspace gauge as I was playing with loads. ...and he found a way to throw in a mention about Holliger's throat gauge (for 223 AR's...go figure) because he felt guilty about missing out on an up and coming AR smith that I had been telling him about.

Sorry to hear about Glen. He was a horrible writer but a man with lots of info.

I don't know that I ever finished any of his books. But I keep em in case I"m looking for specific info.

I would much rather read Feamster any day.

Wonder what happened to him. May have to search

Originally Posted by Mike70560

Mike thanks for going the extra mile with these valuable references. I just bought my 1st M-14, which I have wanted for many decades. I will be reloading for it, and these tips will certainly help.

Thanks again guys. Would you say is it a good idea to crimp rounds for the M1A or not necessary?

I never did.

I crimp on the light side. Very lightly if the bullet has no cannalure. E

tag

Originally Posted by Just a Hunter

Originally Posted by Tyrone

Yes, stick to medium burn rates and lower pressures than a bolt gun.

Thanks. Do you have suggestions on what powders to use?

Varget, H4895

Thanks

Originally Posted by rost495

Sorry to hear about Glen. He was a horrible writer but a man with lots of info.

I don't know that I ever finished any of his books. But I keep em in case I"m looking for specific info.

I would much rather read Feamster any day.

Wonder what happened to him. May have to search

I just read Clint Mckee, founder of Fulton Armory passed away in March. I am glad I have one of his National Match M1As from the 90s with a low round count.

For what its worth I will not shoot Varget in mine, IMR or H 4895 is great.

Just wanted to ask, do you have to use mil-spec primers to avoid slam fires ? I ask because I have never reloaded for my M1A. I did pick up some #34 primers recently because they were available.

Zediker said the CCI 200 is fine.

Originally Posted by asheepdog

Just wanted to ask, do you have to use mil-spec primers to avoid slam fires ? I ask because I have never reloaded for my M1A. I did pick up some #34 primers recently because they were available.

All the service rifle shooters used Federal 210M match primers. I don't recall there ever being problems.

Originally Posted by mathman

Zediker said the CCI 200 is fine.

I have used thousands of those in a Garand w/o issue.