Useful Range Session with my M1A

[Flatbush Harry]

So I went to the range to sight in and get a bit of practice with my new M1A Loaded. I have been a long time M1 Garand and M1A shooter with a 1978 vintage M1A SuperMatch. I recently acquired a M1A Loaded in an ArchAngel stock and decided to try it with some Prvi Partizan 168gr Match ammo. I had previously sighted my rifle in for a 200 yard zero (1.75" high at 100 yards) using my match hand loads using 42.0gr of Reloder 15 over a CCI BR2 primer and under a 168gr SMK bullet. I was using a Zeiss 3-9x40 scope attached with a Bassett Low Picatinny mount and Weaver rings.

The target below shows my 10 round group at 100 yards today form a bench...alt. 5,450 AGL, 74* F, 30.10 ml Hg, wind 355* @<5 kts , 13:30 hrs. 9 of ten shots were within 1.25" at 100 yards with one flyer (operator error).

I believe that this group is about as good as I might hope with this rifle; I expect 2-3 MOA with an M1A, 3.5-4 MOA with an M1 Garand. I'm pretty pleased and will next run the rifle with my Magnetospeed V3 chrony to develop dope for this bad boy and then final sight in for my scope.

8LCOTPC.jpg

Cheers,

 

[Gordon]

that will work to 600 yards in the real world

 

[Nature Boy]

Good shooting!

I also spent some time at the range with my M1A this weekend. Vertical stringing seems to be the norm with the M1A.

 

[hps1]

The older you get, the more vertical stringing becomes the norm with post front sights. Ability to determine where top of post meets bullseye deteriorates with age. Put a front aperture sight on the rifle and watch that vertical stringing decrease. The aperture front will extend shooters' ability to use irons effectively for several years.....8-9 in my case.

Another thing that can help with deteriorating eyesight at longer range target shooting is use of a "frame hold". It is easier to see black (front sight) on white target than to see where black front sight meets black aiming point (6'oclock hold on bull). Covering the bull completely w/front sight and forming an equal white "halo" around and on top of post works surprisingly well.

Regards,
hps

 

[Nature Boy]

My M1A is scoped. Even corrected my eyes just aren’t good enough for irons any more

 

[Flatbush Harry]

The scope I have on this rifle is a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 with a RapidZ600 reticle, which is why I've chosen a 200 yard zero. I will probably change scopes to a Mil/Mil scope like the ones I use on my precision rifles. I sight those in for a 100-yard zero. This box of factory ammo seems to have a POI 1/2" higher than my usual handloads. I'll be going back to them and load development for this specific rifle for final decisions. In all, I'm very pleased with this set-up. This rifle does as well as my 1978 vintage M1A SuperMatch.

I usually shoot the M1As and my M1s with irons but at 71 I am experiencing exactly what hps1 noted above. I usually use a 6 o'clock hold and use 6" red circle paste -up targets for my iron sight rifles at 100 yards...the black NRA bulls are too difficult for my to see any more. I'm going to try switching to a center hold for future sessions as hps1 suggests. I think this stringing is due to the rifle barrel heating even with slow fire, however.

Cheers,

Harry

 

[hps1]

The scope I have on this rifle is a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 with a RapidZ600 reticle, which is why I've chosen a 200 yard zero.

Ooops, sorry, missed the scope in your original post.

I usually shoot the M1As and my M1s with irons but at 71 I am experiencing exactly what hps1 noted above. I usually use a 6 o'clock hold and use 6" red circle paste -up targets for my iron sight rifles at 100 yards...the black NRA bulls are too difficult for my to see any more. I'm going to try switching to a center hold for future sessions as hps1 suggests. I think this stringing is due to the rifle barrel heating even with slow fire, however.

Just wait, Harry, it gets better! The red bull should help a lot, but as you stated, black doesn't cut it at some point in time. When I was young, I shot with a fine white line between front sight and bull. When I could no longer see that, progressed to true 6 o'clock hold, then frame hold on to aperture front. Sadly, @ 81 even that no longer works, either.

Had an M1a but not the match grade so let it go. Scope not a satisfactory option for my Garand (don't think I'd like a scout mount) so came up with this solution to keep from parking the Garand permanently:

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7811043/m/4781009961?r=4721094171#4721094171

Not as accurate as your scoped M1a due to the larger dot, but still fun to shoot.

I've heard it said that the gas guns are not accurate off the bench, but since I was a match shooter, & never shot mine off the bench, IDK, but there is nothing wrong with 1.5" groups w/factory ammo IMO!

Regards,
hps

 

[bfoosh006]

Good shooting ! Enjoy that firearm !