M14 Forum

Mavarick

Hi All,

I recently have had built a HRA in .308 with a 1 in 12 twist Kreiger match barrel and adjustable gas plug.

There is alot info out there for the 1 in 10 barrels and the M1a which has a differnt length barrel.

I want to use either 168 or 175 SMK with ADI 2208 powder which I belive is the same as the Varget you have the US,
Looking for a good load to use over 300-600 yards , I am currently using an older Aussie Omark bolt action traget rifle with 1 in 13 twist with 43.5 gr of the 2208 and it is going well,I was going to start off with 42 gr and see how that goes any ideas

cheers

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Phil McGrath

Yes!! 42grs of Varget/ADI 2208 in a commercial case is a great load with the 168's for the 175's bump it .5gr load development done, you can put the std gas plung back in there is no need for it unless you start slinging the real heavy for weight bullets. I wouldn't load past 42.5 with a commercial case and the 168-175's.

M/V for the above loads is just over 2600fps and are a good velocity match/clone load of Federal GMM or L.C. Match. Don't get hung up on the twist rates, a 1/12 twist in a M1 will work well it has a extra 2.5 in barrel lenth that the M1a doesn't have, the rear sights are the same but the sight radius is longer for the M1 so thats a added plus.

Mavarick

Good to know I was on the right track.

Thanks

Mavarick

Iried the 42gr at 500 yards, hit the target o.k. but still lacked something.
Will up .5 grain for next time in a couple of weeks and see how that goes. Plus side was got a 50.9 and 49.7 with the bolt gun running 43.5gr 2208 with SMK168 at same distance, best scores so far

Phil McGrath

What brass are you using?

Mavarick

Brand new Lapua

Phil McGrath

What load did you use in your M1 Garand 168's or the 175's? and how much powder did you run? and did you use the vented plug or put the standard one back in?

Mavarick

Hi Phil,

In the Garand I had 42gr of ADI 2208 with the vented plug,
but reading more today wonder if I should use IMR4895 41.5gr with std gas plug to replicate the M852 7.62 mm MATCH (Sierra MK bullet) 168 2550±30 41.5 IMR4895 load.

The Lapua cases were surplus from our Military.

ALL LOADS USE MILITARY BRASS (except the 9 mm), AND
MILITARY BULLETS (OR THEIR COMMERCIAL EQUIVALENT).
REDUCE ALL LOADS BY 10% (EXCEPT THE LOAD MARK BY *) AND WORK UP

Military Ammunition Equivalents

Cartridge Bullet Weight
(gr) Velocity
f/s Suggested load(s)

M41 .38 130 950±45 6.3 gr PowerPistol, 5.2 gr Unique or Universal
M882 9 mm 124 1230±50 6.4 gr Accurate #5, 8 gr BlueDot
M1911 .45ACP 230 820±25 5.2 Bullseye
M193 5.56 mm 55 3250±40 26 gr. of H335, 26.5 gr TAC
M855 5.56 mm [for 5.56 NATO chambers ONLY] 62 3020±40 26 gr of TAC
MK262 5.56 mm [for 5.56 NATO chambers ONLY] 77 2750±30 24.5 gr TAC
M80 7.62 mm 149 2750±20 42.5 IMR4895, 46 grs. 748 or Ball C2
M118 7.62 mm Special Ball 173 2550±30 43 grs. of RL15 or 748
M118 7.62 mm Special Ball LR (Sierra MK bullet) 175 2580±30 42.5 grs. of Varget,
M852 7.62 mm MATCH (Sierra MK bullet) 168 2550±30 41.5 IMR4895
M2 Cal .30 152 2740±30 48 grs. IMR4895
M72 Cal .30 MATCH 173 2640±30 46 grs. of RL15
M1 Cal .30 carbine 110 1900±30 14 gr 2400 or 14 gr H-110*
* Do not reduce H110 more than 3%


Thanks

Phil McGrath

The velocities that you listed for the 7.62x51 were done with a 22in barrel minus the chamber, the rifled bore lenth is about 20in or 500mm for the M14/M1a. US military .30 cal ammo is measured @ 78ft. so there a little misleading for there true M/V. With the M14/M1a we are looking for a M/V of about 2600fps give or take a few FPS @ the muzzle too duplacate military ammo specs.

For the M1 in 7.62 the rifled bore lenth works out too 550mm or +2.0in. your velocity should pick up a smidge about 25fps per inch with the same loadings for a new M/V of 2650fps thats where I would reload my ammo's minimum velocity anything above that I would accept as a freebee, thu I wouldn't load past 2700fps. The M1 in 7.62 is a soft shooter, If your loading for a velocity of 2600fps in the same rifle its going too feel very soft, a bump too get them up too there happy zone might be whats needed.

For a 7.62 M1 Garand with 168's I would load for a M/V of 2650-2700fps and call it a day. For 175's I would keep them at 2650fps.

Lapua brass is commercial, they have more capacity than US Military brass. I wouldn't load more than 42.5grs Varget with Lapua and 168-175gr bullets, keep the brass lenth trimmed to 2.005 and the COAL at 2.82-2.83

Mavarick

I have changed the adjustable gas plug out and put the original one back in and loaded the lapua case with 41.5 gr of IMR4895 with the 168gr to replicate the M852 load and will try that next week,

many thanks