M14 Forum

Sailormilan2 · December 29th, 2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunny33

Do a Google search for TM 43-0001-27, Army Ammunition Data sheets. Page 11-23 has the data for M118LR. 44gr of WC750, 175gr bullet, 52,000 PSI, 2640fps. Does not list the primer type.

HTH

Bill

What is WC750? Is that the special M118 powder? If so, what is it's Commercial equivilant?

John Coleman · December 29th, 2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailormilan2

What is WC750? Is that the special M118 powder? If so, what is it's Commercial equivilant?

WC750 is a low (lower) density ball powder with a burning rate similar to WC846. It was developed for better (more) case fill, for improved accuracy. It dates to 1995 but was found to be temperature sensitive. M118 Long Range was redesigned in 1997 with a new cartridge case, a new chamber shape and a new powder, Alliant RL-15. The case has a strengthened web area but also slightly increased powder capacity. The chamber shape is designed to ease extraction and prevent case head separation. The pressure limit is 308 Winchester SAAMI max not 7.62x51 M80 military max pressure but this pressure is measured in a M118 Long Range chamber. The M118 Long Range headspace specs are suppose to allow only half the variation of standard head space specs from the "Go" gauge to the "No-Go" gauge, also the chamber shape is unique.

John Coleman · December 29th, 2009, 06:07 PM

Attached are some cartridge drawings for the M118 and the M118 Long Range.

Citizen 64 · December 29th, 2009, 06:16 PM

175gr SMK, 42gr of IMR 4895, LC95 Match brass (full benchrest prep & sort) Federal GM primers. 2650fps from a 24inch barrel.

John Coleman · December 29th, 2009, 06:40 PM

M80

velocity @ 78 ft = 2750 f/s +/- 15 f/s - max S.D. = 20 f/s

max average chamber pressure = 48,000 CUP

max S.D. = 53,000 CUP

extreme temp max individual = 55,000 CUP

average port pressure = 12,500 CUP +/- 2000 CUP

M118 Long Range

velocity @ 78 ft = 2580 fps +/- 15 f/s - max S.D. = 20 f/s

max average chamber pressure = 52,000 CUP

max S.D. = 57,200 CUP

average port pressure = 12,500 CUP +/- 2000 CUP

M852

velocity @ 78 ft = 2550 f/s +/- 15 f/s - max S.D. = 20 f/s

max average chamber pressure = 48,000 CUP

max S.D. = 53,000 CUP

average port pressure = 12,500 CUP +/- 2000 CUP

USSR · December 29th, 2009, 07:21 PM

The LC M118LR cartridge was developed in 1997, when Olin (Winchester) had the Lake City concession. The original powder was WC750, a ball powder produced by Winchester. The original round was quite a "hot" load, but very accurate. It is my understanding that the new round did not track properly in the Marine Corp's Unertl scopes, and the charge was reduced. Sierra developed the 175gr MatchKing bullet specifically for this new round. The earliest headstamp I have seen is '98. When ATK (Alliant) took over the running of Lake City in 1999 or 2000, the switch was made to RL15 powder. I have shot '07 M118LR ammo as issued to the Marine Corp out of my 26" barreled FN SPR, and the ammo clocks at 2718fps.

Don

John Coleman · December 29th, 2009, 08:44 PM

The M118 Long Range started in 1995 using standard cases and the Sierra 175 grain Match King. The powder used was an WC750 which came from a project that also had another powder called WC749. The powders were developed to be less dense than previous ball powders. There were a lot of issues with the powder and cartridge. A redesign project started in 1997. This end in a redesign of the cae, chamber and pressure limit. It also tested many powders. This resulted in choosing RL-15. Alliant Techsystems (ATK) took over Lake City operations in April 2001.

Citizen 64 · December 29th, 2009, 10:10 PM

45gr of RL15 with a 175 SMK, LC95 brass, Fed GM primers, does 2730fps from a 24" bolt rifle. 2675fps from my M14 NM.
LC02 M118LR ammo does 2650fps from M14 NM.

John Coleman · December 30th, 2009, 06:19 AM

I might have been off by 2 years. The M118 Long Range looks to date to Oct 1997 but the powder change was at least as early as 1999 and ATK took over Lake City operations in 2001. The powder change was made before ATK ran Lake City.

John Coleman · December 30th, 2009, 06:23 AM

I measured 42.8 grains of RL-15 in LC-01 and 42.7 grains of RL-15 in LC-03.

Citizen 64 · December 30th, 2009, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Coleman

I measured 42.8 grains of RL-15 in LC-01 and 42.7 grains of RL-15 in LC-03.

I've found the same in 01 and 02 rounds that I've pulled bullets from but I only get 2450-2500fps when I use that wt (42.8grs) of RL-15 from my stock. 45gr of my RL-15 gets me to 2650fps with no signs of even warm pressures.

RePete · January 5th, 2010, 05:48 AM

The current M118LR load is 43.1gr RL15 under the 175gr Sierra MK.

The original load was higher but was changed after the start of Iraq when M14's were getting damaged - bent op-rods etc. This load is fine in bolt actions - I use it all of the time.

FWIW: Inspite of what Alliant says, RL15 is temperature sensitive.

coldshot · June 21st, 2010, 09:30 PM

Uploaded by someone else. Dated 4/09. Notice the powder is 4064.

RAMMAC · June 22nd, 2010, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldshot

Uploaded by someone else. Dated 4/09. Notice the powder is 4064.

Using the Net Qty of 149,040 cartridges and a total powder weight of 889 lbs it looks like the M118LR cartridge uses;
Case – Federal
Primer – Federal 210
Powder – IMR 4064 41.75 gr.
Bullet – Sierra 175 gr. MK

eodsix · December 2nd, 2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldshot

Uploaded by someone else. Dated 4/09. Notice the powder is 4064.

This is NOT, I say again, NOT the data sheet for M118 Long Range (AA11). This data sheet is for Mk316 Mod 0 (AB39). if someone could find the similar data sheet for AA11, I and I'm sure many others would be very appreciative.