Surplus 4895 and load Questions

[mcooper]

Hello everyone,

I'm wanting to work up a M80 Spec load for my M1a, for target practice and storage. I'll probably use .308 Win 147gn FMJBT's or IMI 150gn FMJBT's, over CCI #34 primers and USGI brass. My only goals (other than sealing the rounds I store) is to obtain 2.0-2.5moa accuracy with the load I work up (the rifle is capable of 2.5moa accuracy with port surplus), my other goal, is to get the standard 2800fps at the muzzle.


For economy reasons, I'd like to use Surplus IMR4895, available from Wideners. I plan on loading 2k rounds, so I will be buying two kegs of powder.

Will this Surplus powder get me the velocity, and consistancy I want, and do so safely? ...in your best opinion.


thanks for your advice

 

[ocabj]

As far as I know, military surplus 4895 wasn't used for M80. All of the military surplus 4895 is sourced from M2 ball or other USGI .30-06 ammo.

But there's nothing stopping you from using it to load .308 for a M14 clone. You'll just need to find the right charge weight. It should work perfectly fine with the M14 gas system.

If you are buying military surplus powder, you should also check out gibrass.com and patsreloading.com.

 

[Jmurman]

I saw the same powder at Wideners and it looks pretty good. A couple of the guys over on the Garand forums suggest that there can be a difference between cans. They suggest that the two be mixed together to give a more uniform burn.

I would definately chrono any rounds with Mil-surp powder before loading up 2K rounds. Let us know how it works out.

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

4895 Powder

The Springfield GI rifle and the Garand in 30-06 were designed for 50 grains of canister shaped 4895 behind a 150 gr ball round for 2700fps.

The .308 round was designed for a sperical or ball powder which is a lot more compact and could achieve the same velocity with the same bullet.

It seems that the 4895 canister powder would take up too much space to be efficient in a .308 from my memory as a National Guard competitor.

 

[USSR]

mcooper,

M118 Match ammo used the military grade of IMR4895, so it is the perfect powder for quality loads in your M1A. Using USGI brass, 42.0-43.0gr of surplus IMR4895 should be where you want to be with 147-150gr bullets. Of course, start lower and work up, looking for pressure signs.

Don

 

[mcooper]

USSR, do you think I'll have trouble getting to 2800 FPS in a 22" M1A? or should I aim a little lower...like 2700?

 

[USSR]

mcooper,

I have no doubt that you can get 2800fps using IMR4895 and 147-150gr bullets. Let your chrony and the accuracy of the load tell you what velocity you want to be at. Using your USGI brass, somewhere between 42.0 and 43.0 should get you there, although start lower and work up to it. I load 170gr Lapua bullets at 2785fps using military IMR4895 and M118 Match brass, although it's in a bolt gun.

Don

 

[30Cal]

There can be a very large difference from one jug to the next.

i.e. from my last jug of surplus 4895:
155gr AMax, 43.0grs Surp4895, WLR, LC90, 2.84"-->2800fps

From the current jug:
155gr AMax, 42.0grs Surp4895, WLR, LC90, 2.84"-->2925fps

I wouldn't sweat pushing for 50-100fps. An extra 50fps earns you virtually nothing, even at 600yds.