M1A Load

[offgrid]

Going to a shoot in a few weeks. I'll be shooting someone else M1A. Considering getting one. Want to load up some safe rounds for it. Suggestions? 41.5 IMR4895, 168 SMK?

[jerrymrc]

Going to a shoot in a few weeks. I'll be shooting someone else M1A. Considering getting one. Want to load up some safe rounds for it. Suggestions? 41.5 IMR4895, 168 SMK?

My generic .308 load that works well in anything gas is 42Gr 4895, WLR or CCI 200 primer, any case (a little faster in LC slower in FC/WCC) any 147-150 Gr FMJBT bullet (M80 pulls work) 2.8 OAL and a Lee FCD. 41.5 and 168's should be just fine. The load above croned at 2500-2560.

Mine are used for the newbies that want to shoot a FAL. The brass was free, the bullets were free and I found a happy middle on the POI. I loaded 500 a few years ago on $60 in components.

[10x]

I use 41 grains of 4064 behind a 168 gran match bullet.
I could tell that 42 grains was too much in USGI match cases based on the extraction and cycling of the action.

IMR 4895 functions the same. I find 4064 is slightly more accurate than 4895 although it generates more heat than 4895.

[offgrid]

Thanks for the replies.
I already have some 4895. I'll go 41.5 in Win brass, WLR primer. This will be my first loading for a gas gun. Don't have a crimp die, is it necessary?, planned bumping up the neck tension to .003-.004.

[10x]

A crimp die isn't needed. In fact there is no ring in a 168 SMK to use a crimp. The neck tension should be fine.

[Birddog1911]

You always want to watch what powders you're using for the M1A. You have the right powder in the 4895. IMR 4064 is another very popular one, and I've found out that Ramshot TAC is acceptable as well. Have to test a new load using TAC; from what I've seen it isn't the greatest for accuracy, but it is inexpensive and meters beautifully.

[jmg8550]

From the M14 forum I'm on, pretty much everyone prefers to start with 41-41.5 grains of h4895 or IMR4895. That usually gives the most accurate load. If it is standard M1A, don't expect better than 2-3 moa. I personally prefer cci#34 primers in mine. And it shoots Sierra smk's or Hornady A-Max bullets very well.