Charlie98
Member
I like PPU (Prvi white box, not the blue and white commercial stuff.) I have some LC, but I'm not happy with the quality... but that was from when Federal was running LC.
new to reloading M1a school me
- Thread starter JO JO
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Same here. PPU works nice as blasting ammo. Accuracy is respectable. I don't like LC M80 because it's a bi-metal jacket (magnetic). PPU is a copper jacket only.
I do like LC brass...
Charlie98
Member
I've had excellent service out of my Prvi brass... not so much with LC.
dc.fireman
Member
Those are two of the several 'cookbook' loads for the M14/M1A rifle. Another favorite of mine is:
39.5gr. of IMR-3031
FED 210M primer, *seated below flush*
Lake City case, trimmed to 2.005" COAL
Nosler or a Sierra 168 HPBT seated at 2.800"
In My NM M1A, that load has fired a standard deviation of 8.4, across 25 rounds. It is a nice comfortable 2550 fps - easy on the rifle and the shooter. It's a classic High Power 2-300 yard load. If you want to go to the 600 yard line, you need a tad bit more speed. Don't be afraid to try IMR 4064, in the 42.0 gr. range with the same components. Up or down .2 gr. will help tighten your load to your rifle.
My best accuracy in the M14 family has been with the 168/175 class of bullets, driven to just below 2600 fps.
7mmsavage
Member
I was going to mention a case gauge too. I started reloading for an M1a without one and had lots of trouble. Fired cases wouldn’t extract from the chamber. I got all kids of advice saying my load was too light until a gentleman on the M14 forum suggested I wasn’t sizing cases correctly. Sure enough I got a case gauge and my resized cases wouldn’t drop completely in.
Once I sorted that out I’ve had no issues at all. I only own 1 M1a now, but had another and both shot well with IMR4064 or IMR4895 using both 150 & 168 gr bullets. I’ve got a stash of LC brass but almost all of my shooting is 100 yard or less fun stuff, so I use plenty of other commercial brass too.
Once I sorted that out I’ve had no issues at all. I only own 1 M1a now, but had another and both shot well with IMR4064 or IMR4895 using both 150 & 168 gr bullets. I’ve got a stash of LC brass but almost all of my shooting is 100 yard or less fun stuff, so I use plenty of other commercial brass too.
Charlie98
Member
The poor man's case gauge on the M1a is to strip the bolt (no extractor) and using finger pressure see if you can chamber a case and have the bolt freely rotate in to full battery. If the bolt hangs up somewhere, or won't cam into full lockup, your case is too long. That's assuming a clean chamber, and no problems elsewhere.
7mmsavage
Member
Yep. When I was having issues this “plunk test” was my first indication of sizing issues. It doesn’t make up for a case gauge though, as you can’t tell if you’ve gone too far. Also gauges can be kept at your bench and used occasionally while sizing brass.
Charlie98
Member
Quite true... and gauges are a little easier to use than stripping a bolt! I will say that gauges can be misleading... my fired brass from my Socom will drop right into my Wilson gauge, before sizing.
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