cal30_sniper
Member
I've been doing some thinking and reading on the forum, and I'm ready for some thoughts and input. Who all out there has tried reduced loads in an M1A, and how do you like them. Apparently they are moderately popular for NM shooting at the closer range.
I'd been wanting to get a Mini 30 for quite a while, but this buying scare has gotten in the way and has me thinking about alternatives. I figured since I already had an M1A Bush Rifle set up the way I want it, I could just as well turn it into a rifle in the same performance class with some creative reloading.
What I'd like to do, is create a load for .308 that gets as close to 7.62x39/.30-30 performance and still work reliably with reduced recoil. I would really like to get something very similar in performance to the 115grn, 2500fps 7.62x51 CETME load. As an added benefit, bullets would be cheaper, and I would use less powder. Win-Win. I'm looking to do this with no more modifications to the gun than sighting it in. I'd want to be able to switch back to my full power 150 grn loads in a heart beat.
I have a lot of H4895 and IMR4895 around, so that would likely be my powder of choice. I also have a lot of 'HC' stamped 7.62x51 brass. I think the smaller capacity of the military brass would be a benefit in this instance, as it should increase powder burn consistency with the reduced loads by keeping the charge density up.
I was looking at bullets in the 110-125grn range. There are Varmint offerings from both Sierra and Speer that look appealing. I've used the 85grn Varminters a lot in my 6.5x55 (that's actually what got me to thinking on this, I love the lack of recoil with those things). I'd like to try the Sierra 110 grn with minimum book starting load, or perhaps a few grains below that. Who here has actually tried that? Is there any way to make that light of a bullet cycle the operating system reliably?
Also, what are thoughts on feeding reliability with flat-nosed bullets made for .30-30? Those lighter flat nose bullets should be pretty devastating on game at short ranges, and they are a lot easier to find in today's market than spitzer bullets are.
Thoughts? Concerns? Ideas on something I'm leaving out here?
I'd been wanting to get a Mini 30 for quite a while, but this buying scare has gotten in the way and has me thinking about alternatives. I figured since I already had an M1A Bush Rifle set up the way I want it, I could just as well turn it into a rifle in the same performance class with some creative reloading.
What I'd like to do, is create a load for .308 that gets as close to 7.62x39/.30-30 performance and still work reliably with reduced recoil. I would really like to get something very similar in performance to the 115grn, 2500fps 7.62x51 CETME load. As an added benefit, bullets would be cheaper, and I would use less powder. Win-Win. I'm looking to do this with no more modifications to the gun than sighting it in. I'd want to be able to switch back to my full power 150 grn loads in a heart beat.
I have a lot of H4895 and IMR4895 around, so that would likely be my powder of choice. I also have a lot of 'HC' stamped 7.62x51 brass. I think the smaller capacity of the military brass would be a benefit in this instance, as it should increase powder burn consistency with the reduced loads by keeping the charge density up.
I was looking at bullets in the 110-125grn range. There are Varmint offerings from both Sierra and Speer that look appealing. I've used the 85grn Varminters a lot in my 6.5x55 (that's actually what got me to thinking on this, I love the lack of recoil with those things). I'd like to try the Sierra 110 grn with minimum book starting load, or perhaps a few grains below that. Who here has actually tried that? Is there any way to make that light of a bullet cycle the operating system reliably?
Also, what are thoughts on feeding reliability with flat-nosed bullets made for .30-30? Those lighter flat nose bullets should be pretty devastating on game at short ranges, and they are a lot easier to find in today's market than spitzer bullets are.
Thoughts? Concerns? Ideas on something I'm leaving out here?