Does this m14 load sound alright to you guys?

Rustle in the bushes · Dec 26, 2012

About to cook up my first batch ever for the m14. (norinco 18.5")

I hear the 4895's are good but I have a 4 lb of IMR-4064 and I want to finish that before I buy more.

Hodgdon's 4th edition has a load that Im thinking about- Ill start off loading 100 rounds of this and when my rifle gets back from the smith Ill try em out.

- 39.7 gr IMR 4064
- C.O.L- 2.777
- Hornady 150 gr FMJBT

-Winchester commercial brass(cant find LC in Canada)
-CCI #34 primers
-Hornady 150 gr FMJBT

Im a bit of a reloading newb(have reloaded for 1 bolt gun).

Safety- Size, trim, n put a bullet into 1 case. Put this into my lyman 308 headspace gauge. If the projectile fits it should be safe to shoot, yes?

rcmodel · Dec 26, 2012

Might be a little light to cycle.

Lyman #49 shows a Starting load of 43.0 with that bullet.
Hodgdon shows a Starting load of 43.0 with a Nosler 150.

At any rate, you should not load 100 rounds of anything without the rifle there to test it with before you load 100 rounds of it.

rc

grumpy66 · Dec 26, 2012

Try five rounds at a time and work up from your starting load.

39.7 is a relatively light load but should still function your rifle.

A lot of folks use 4064 in their M1a's with good results.

Check the M14 forums for quality info.

Kevin Rohrer · Dec 26, 2012

I hear the 4895's are good but I have a 4 lb of IMR-4064 and I want to finish that before I buy more.

M1As are powder sensitive. IMR4064 is an 'ok' powder for it, but you can't load the rifle light and expect it to function.

Some manuals to include Hornady have sections just for the M1A. They are worth purchasing.

Certaindeaf · Dec 26, 2012

Yea don't do that.

thump_rrr · Dec 26, 2012

The same info I posted on the Canadian forum.

8th edition Hornady manual
Test rifle Winchester model 70
Barrel 22", 1-12" twist
Case Hornady
Primer Federal 210
Bullet 150gr BT-FMJ #3037
Powder IMR 4064

2300fps 38.4 gr
2400fps 40.0gr
2500fps 41.7gr
2600fps 43.3gr
2700fps 44.9gr MAX LOAD USE WITH CAUTION

grumpy66 · Dec 26, 2012

Hey Thump, flip over a few more pages to the .308 Service Rifle pages.

Rifle: M1a
Barrel: 22", 1 in 10 twist

155 grain A-MAX

IMR4064

37.9 gr: 2200fps
39.0 gr: 2300fps
40.0 gr: 2400fps
41.1 gr: 2500fps
42.1 gr: 2600fps
43.2 gr: 2700fps*****MAX LOAD*****

thump_rrr · Dec 26, 2012

Thanks

Rustle in the bushes · Dec 27, 2012

thanks folks, thanks grumpy!

I need to find a modern hornady manual. Cant seem to find them around here. You have me worried posting the 155gr A-max....Thatll suck if I get the manual and they dont have data for the hornady brand 150 gr fmjbt of which I have 500. As a newb I like to follow book data to the tee.

As far as loading 150 bullets why not? If I start at the low end the worst that could happen is it doesnt cycle, right? then I just turn the gas off and straight-pull bolt my way through a ton of rounds. Or does the low pressure cause damage as well?

If I take m1a specific data from a book shouldnt I be fine?

The range is 1hr away and it gets dark at six. Weekends are for skiing

Fatelvis · Dec 27, 2012

If I take m1a specific data from a book shouldnt I be fine?

Use that data, and you can't go wrong.

grumpy66 · Dec 28, 2012

I use the same data for the 155 A-MAX with the 150 fmj's.

Light loads will cause your rifle to short-cycle.

When you find a good load, your spent brass will be in a nice, neat pile three feet away at 2:00, and your rounds will all be "in the black".

Does this m14 load sound alright to you guys?

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