M72 match loads

[Mr White]

I have a bunch of M72 bullets that I want to use for match loads in my Garand. I made up some test loads and found that the loads using 45 and 47 grains of IMR 4895 seemed to be the best.

Which would you use and why?

 

[30Cal]

Lower charge--> less recoil-->easier on the rifle. Probably no difference in POI unless you're shooting at 600yds, and even then, it'll be very small.

 

[Sunray]

Unless you have an endless supply of those milsurp bullets, working up a load for them may be an excersize in futility.
Out of curiosity, what kind of groups are you getting with 46 grains? Or did you just pick 45 and 47? You have to work up the load beginning with the starting load.

 

[USSR]

Depending upon the year of manufacture, M72 Match used anywhere's from 46.0gr (1964) to 48.5gr (1961) of IMR4895. Personally, I load my M72 brass with M72 bullets and 47.0gr of surplus IMR4895.

Don

 

[Mr White]

Thanks Don. So I'm in the right ballpark. Maybe I'll jsut play with them some more. I bought 1000 of them.

At 100 yd from a sandbag, unsupported at the rear, 45 gr shot a 1.7" 5 shot group. 47 gr shot a 1.9" group. 46 gr shot a 3.3" Not sure why. It could have been me.

I started with 43 gr and worked up to 48 in 1 gr increments. 43 nd 44 were all over the place. 48 was 3.5. I figure the sweet spot is between 45 and 47. Just wondering what other people are shooting.

Unless you have an endless supply of those milsurp bullets, working up a load for them may be an excersize in futility.

Why do you say that Sunray? I thought the M72s were sposed to be pretty accurate bullets. Not SMKs, but for $80/1000 I'll give them a try.

 

[Khornet]

Mr White,

where did you find M72 bullets?

 

[Mr White]

A guy from MD who comes up to shoot high power matches at a range I shoot has them. I bought 2000 150 gr M2 bullets form him for $60 and 8# of IMR 4895 for $40. He's a good guy to know.

 

[USSR]

At 100 yd from a sandbag, unsupported at the rear, 45 gr shot a 1.7" 5 shot group. 47 gr shot a 1.9" group. 46 gr shot a 3.3" Not sure why. It could have been me.

You can get them down to nearly 1MOA if you want to spend some time with them. Sort them by weight and by base to ogive measurement. IMHO, they will never be sub-MOA bullets.

Don