.308 primers & bullets, which ones.?

I was wondering if I could ask the high road inmates a question.? I am about to load a big batch of .308 match, strictly for target shooting. I have about 500 M852 empties that I want to reload.

I was wondering which CCI primers do I order. I am going to be shooting them in a Remington 700 target rifle and a Springfield M1A Super Match (M14) rifle. Can I use the M14 primers made by CCI and also fire them in my Remington.? Or should I just order standard large rifle primers. I prefer the harder M14 type primers for the M1A because I have had it go full auto on slam fires before. That was fun!

Next question.? I love Sierra Match Kings in either 168 or 175 gr. But, they are pricey. I was wondering if Hornady or another brand would be just as good or pretty close in accuracy.? Any recommendations.?

Thanks in advance. This forum is where I always go because the inmates rock...

Code Four--Re: Primers: I think you are right to use the harder primers (CCI #34's?) for the M 14. I too dislike slamfires. For accuracy purposes, in a bolt gun like a Rem M-700, I'd use CCI Benchrest primers.

Re: Match bullets: Sierra Matchkings are the gold standard by which all others are judged. If you wish to experiment with others, go ahead--it is possible that your particular rifles will "like" a cheaper brand better, but be sure to try the SMK's too. They are the most popular match bullets for a reason.

Bullet weights depend on (1) the preference of the rifle in question, and (2) the distance you are shooting. The longer distance guys (say, 1000 yds) usually want 190's rather than something lighter, in .308. At half that distance, try both 168's and 175's and use which works better.

If you're competing, even just with yourself, you want accuracy. And accuracy is expensive, especially at longer ranges, double especially for very high accuracy.

With firearms, it's cheap, sturdy, accurate; pick any 2, you can't have all 3. With ammunition, it's cheap or accurate, pick one.

I load and shoot a lot of .308 Win through 1 Rem700 SPSS and two M1As. I am pretty much indifferent between SMKs and Hornady A-Maxs in 168gr. I also have used only CCI BR2 primers and so far, no slam fires. Also, I've had my best groups with RL-15 with IMR 4895 and Varget close behind.

Good luck & good shooting.

FH

EDIT: When I'm developing hunting loads, I use the A-MAXs as a basic comparator with Ballistic tips and SMKs with Barnes TSX. Gives me some sense of variation due to bullet and either SMK or A-MAX gives me a sense of powder type/weight variation from their respective match or target loads.

I prefer the harder M14 type primers for the M1A because I have had it go full auto on slam fires before.

codefour,

I seriously doubt the reason your M1A went FA was due to the primers. I would have someone knowledgeable look at your fire control mechanism (trigger).

Don

I like Sierra's 168 grain MatchKings and Federal's 210 match grade primers.

You know I have "A Big Batch" of brass I intend to load one of these days If I ever figure out the exact answer to your question. Its turns out I load somewhere between 10 and 25 of a particular set and test them and the cycle never ends. I finally decided to keep 20 of the most accurate setup I loaded to date laying around if needed and just use that large amount of brass laying around as I finally have to junk brass from wearing it out. Right now my standing "keep around loading" is Remington Precision Brass with a CCI Large Rifle Primer, 37.5 Gr of Hogdgon Benchmark capped off with a 168 Sierra HPBT Matchking.

I have bought 168gr matchkings in bulk over the internet for a lot better price then the 100 to a box from the big sellers, they came in a plastic bag of 500. do a search and see what you find.

I too like the SMK 175s with RL-15 out of my Rem 700, but the price of 30 cents per projectile is a little steep. I met a fellow at a gun show in Nashville, TN who was selling mil surp powder and SMK 175s that had been disassembled by the US military because they had sat in storage too long...he said 6 months, and the US Army disassembles and resells the components to the public. So I bought 1000 of the mil surp SMK 175s at about 20 cents per projectile. Truthfully, I didn't expect a pulled bullet to be as accurate as a brand new one, but they are. At 300 yards, they shoot just like a brand new SMK 175. I also bought 5 pounds of the mil grade recaptured powder for $100, and sure enough, it shoots just like the RL-15 I get in the store. These prices included sales tax, but no HAZMAT fee was involved.

For primers, I use the CCI #34.

If you would like to contact this fellow and see if he can help you out, his name is David Mosley and his email is dlm37015@bellsouth.net.

Thanks for all the replies. I did have an armorer look at my M1A. He was an Army M14 armorer and he said the rifle was well within spec.

I am going to have to experitment. thank you for all the input and good ideas.

If you want some cheap 175 smk's for practice I sell pulled ones for $170 for 1000 shipped. I personally cant shoot them better than new ones, but if they were for competition I think I would move up to something a little more reliable.

http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/product.sc;jsessionid=64E38D1B10094E2269E186FEA8C8437B.qscstrfrnt03?productId=45&categoryId=1

I too like the SMK 175s with RL-15 out of my Rem 700, but the price of 30 cents per projectile is a little steep. I met a fellow at a gun show in Nashville, TN who was selling mil surp powder and SMK 175s that had been disassembled by the US military because they had sat in storage too long...he said 6 months, and the US Army disassembles and resells the components to the public. So I bought 1000 of the mil surp SMK 175s at about 20 cents per projectile. Truthfully, I didn't expect a pulled bullet to be as accurate as a brand new one, but they are. At 300 yards, they shoot just like a brand new SMK 175. I also bought 5 pounds of the mil grade recaptured powder for $100, and sure enough, it shoots just like the RL-15 I get in the store. These prices included sales tax, but no HAZMAT fee was involved.

For primers, I use the CCI #34.

If you would like to contact this fellow and see if he can help you out, his name is David Mosley and his email is dlm37015@bellsouth.net.
Thanks for the info Jasper. I just dropped David and Email on those 175 SMK and R-15 components. Well see if he still has any available. Sounds like what I've been looking for. I been checking RMR and right now they only have 180 grain soft points with flat base. Which are nice but I am looking for boat tail designs. Missed out on the pulled 180 grain Noslers.... I know this is an old thread but I thoughtI might say thanks anyway.... Take care all....

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