M1A powder

[kestak]

Greetings,

I read about powders and M1A. I already reload for the M1. I have a simple question. Which powder works the best for your M1A rifle with a 150-168 grains bullet precision wise from 100 yards to 800 yards?

For all my other guns in 308, Varget works the best and in 30-06 it is I4064. BEfore I begin my 1000 miles long walk to determine which powder/weight/OAL works best (hehe, I do not switch primers and I use only 4-5 different bullets) in my new M1A, I would be curious to see what works the best for you.

Right now, I have on the table the following powders:
I4895
H4895
I4096
BL-C(2)
Varget
AA2230
WC846 from hi-tech ammo

Thank you

 

[USSR]

Personally, I use surplus IMR4895.

Don

 

[kestak]

Don,

Where did you buy that surplus I4895? I tried to find some and could not find any at reasonable price.

Thank you

 

[loadedround]

Either 4895 powder will work great with your M1A rifle. When I purchased mine I had an 8 lb keg of Varget powder and I started using it. I'm getting sub 1'' groups with it and my NM rifle and see no reason to change.

 

[wrangler5]

When I was shooting in high power matches, I got great results from AA2520, behind Sierra 168g Match Kings. Lake City brass.

 

[Curator]

H4895, IMR4895, BL-C(2) I have used WC846 from HiTech with good results. Best accuracy has been IMR4895. Varget seems to have more pressure at the asme velocity of the others judging by how far empty brass is thrown. I stopped using it.

 

[USSR]

Where did you buy that surplus I4895? I tried to find some and could not find any at reasonable price.

You're about 5 years too late. The last U.S. stock of .30-06 M2 ball ammo was broken down and components sold then. I realized that the end was coming, and stocked up at $78 per 8# cannister.

Don

 

[right winger]

What works in my Super Match is IMR 4895

I was given a load that is the supposed gold std in the M1A and that is 41.5gr of IMR 4895 in LC Match or IMI brass w/ a 168 SMK. I use WIN LR or CCI-34 and my gun is sub-moa regularly when I do my part.
I also got lucky with WW 748 but I try to stay away from ball powders if I can.

Hope that helps - NORMALLY DO NOT POST LOADS BUT THIS ONE HAS BEEN AROUND AND USED FOR A LONG TIME.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

kestak,
Any powder you are using for your M1 will work fine for your M1A.

As for surplus powder, like Don said the real stuff is gone but there is some British 4895 floating around that's very good powder.

Jeff Bartlett has some WC852(f) in stock right now for $100/8lbs which is good for loading 30-06 ammo. It's not dirt cheap but compared to the $150+ prices on commercial powders it's not all that bad.

 

[HankB]

The "traditional" target powder for the M1A is IMR4895, but I found that IMR4064 produces better accuracy in my rifle.

And I mean significantly better. In my other rifles powder type doesn't have as major an effect when loading to "standard" ballistics as things like bullet type, seating depth, etc., but my M1A seems to be an exception.