Danger of useing heavy grain bullets in M14 ???

Pietro Beretta

Pietro Beretta

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I generally use factory Win/Fed/Rem 150 gr. FMJ in my M14, but prices are high ($17.50/box), so I now use alot of South African 146 gr. ball ($11.50/box) which is great...but, is it safe to use heavier bullets like 165.gr?

I heard it's a big no-no to use heavy 180 gr. bullets cause the operating rod slams into the receiver, and could cause a crack/break over time of high volume use.

My M14 has an extra power recoil spring with a Badger Ordnance match guide-rod, and and recoil buffer (Buffer Technologies) which should releave some of the wear n tear of the action cycling.

Just wondering if it's safe to shoot Remington AccuTip 165.gr BT, or Federal GM Match 168. gr BTHP.

Thanks.
 
Sure it's fine... until it isn't anymore.

The problem with such usage is that it takes a long time for symptoms to show up, to the point where it may never show up on some specimens.

You'll get a lot of "it's fine", and some "better be safe than sorry".

I typically try to stay on the safe side of things.
 
your 165-168 grainers are safe, they've even been used in match loads- it's once you get over 170 grains that the "fun" begins- the 175 smks as used in the m118 are supposed to be right on the edge of where it begins to wear on the gas system/oprod etc- that's not to say you can't use the odd box of 180, just not as a steady diet
 
First thing I would do it get rid of that buffer!!!
An M-14 is designed to have the bolt contact the rear of the reciever at the same exact instant that the bolt roller touches the back of the slot in the op rod. By putting that buffer in, you have shortened the travel of the bolt so that all of that force that should be split 50/50 is now being obsorbed by the op rod alone. You can safely go as heavy as 168 or 170 grain bullets, try a moderate load of 41 grns of 4064 with a 168 grain bullet. The 168 grain BTHP match bullets has been loaded this way for 40 years or so and works quite well.
The load I listed is the M-14 accuracy load with the Sierra or Nosler bullet. Stay away from Varget, it is to slow and will hurt your gun!!

Scott
 
why is it that people insist of fixing something that ain't broke- buffers in the m1,m14 and anything else they can think of, the accuwedge in the m16/ar series, etc-
 
there's actually a couple of them, and again, it's a solution to a non-existant problem- it says in the info that the adjustable gas plug allows you to VARY THE TIMING- and the caveat of up to 180 grains still applies- when you start varying the timing with a semi, that scares the heck out of me, and i've been running m14s for over 30 years- it's not mentioned on any of the "builds" the big boys use, and they'd certainly use them if they were effective- nor is it mentioned in the NATIONAL MATCH versions- they build special ammo instead
besides, why do all the wear and tear of a 180 when a 165 will do the same job?
 
someone can correct me if they disagree but...... my literature from the u.s. armourers manual states the rifles operating system was designed for the 174 gr .308 FMJ loaded to Nato specs.
your #### will not fall off feeding your rifle a steady diet of 165/168 gr bullets with the occasional 180 mixed in.
I keep a full 5 rnd mag of 180 gr SP in my pocket while hunting.... in case i meet a big bear and have to dump it.
Otherwise i feed my rifle nothin but 165 gr hornady AMAX or 168gr Nosler ballistic tips or partitions.
My rifles , built to match .308 do not group anywhere near as tight with 150gr of any brand.
as stated above..... recoil buffers..... adjustable gas valves....... don't waste yer money
 
Using slow to very slow burning powders may damage some self loading rifles, because the pressure is rising while the bullet travels through the barrel.
A medium burning podwer is usually recommended over a slow bunring powder because the pressure peak happens earlier in the bullet movement.
The weight of the bullet have no real incidence on the rifle as long as burning rate / pressure peaks are kept at the same level than when using lighter bullet.
While reloading for self-loaders, always use your manual's recommended powders for such actions.
 
I should probably mention however...... that the manual i'm using for reference is for a rifle built with G.I. spec parts........ and ALL my rifles are nothin but g.i. parts other than that beauty of a receiver made by norinco ;)

with an all norinco parts rifle..... your mileage may vary..... but i'm guessin you'd still be o.k. with a steady diet of 165ish gr ammo.
 
45ACPKING said:
my literature from the u.s. armourers manual states the rifles operating system was designed for the 174 gr .308 FMJ loaded to Nato specs.
Click to expand...

Probably a carry over of the old 30-06 M1 Ball. As when experimenting with a new round and you have stock piles of old M1 Ball to pull why not. I am gonna bet the first 7.62mm was made similarly in small batches as to tool up for a small amount would be too costly. :)

Dimitri
 
interesting point
gotta admit, while i can build em...... and make em shoot the nuts off a squirrel at 100 yards or more....... i am ashamed to say.... my knowledge of reloading/load developement is pretty kindergarten :redface:
I cheat and have a buddy load up my noslers and amax's hehehe but i'm going to be learnin lots real quick thanx to Gothmog and my new (to me) loading press n goodies. It will be fun to build em and know exactly what load to cook up to make em sizzle into the Azone :D
 
I have been following the odd post about "whats the best bullet weight" The general concencus is to use 150 gr. bullets when hunting.
That being said, when I bought my first boxes of Milsurp ammo it was from Milarm here in Edmonton. But I can't figure out the bullet weight from whats on the boxes...can anyone decipher this?
Big white label says, "FAMAE Reengastada 1982" (Brazilian)
Printed on the bare cardboard it says, "(circled) CBC, then 7.62 COMUM,
LOTE 42-1.TRIM.-1977

I only have 3 boxes of 20 each so I doubt its going to hurt the gun. I'm just curious as to the bullet weight. When I bought them I assumed they'd be 180gr.
 
nato spec is 147/150 grain- that seems to be the spec for just about all 7.62x51 ammo, it's only commercial and handloads that do the 165-168 stuff- as far as hunting goes, the reason that the 150 is popular is that'll take deer, and it's roughly the same as the military ball in terms of trajectory and effectiveness- and it's relatively cheap and available- however, again, you have to do LOAD DEVELOPMENT to see what the rifle REALLY LIKES- my 4 likd the 165/168 stuff and this puts me into the BIG deer, elk and moose catagory- and it groups far better too
 
"...174 gr .308 FMJ..." 147 grains not 174. My keyboard does that too.
165 grain hunting bullets will kill any game you care to hunt with no fuss or damage to the rifle. 168 grain(or 175's) match bullets won't bother your rifle.
"...in case I meet a big bear..." If Yogi is PO'd and is coming for you, you won't have time to change mags.
 
sunray said:
"...174 gr .308 FMJ..." 147 grains not 174. My keyboard does that too.
165 grain hunting bullets will kill any game you care to hunt with no fuss or damage to the rifle. 168 grain(or 175's) match bullets won't bother your rifle.
"...in case I meet a big bear..." If Yogi is PO'd and is coming for you, you won't have time to change mags.
Click to expand...

that's about the only time i could envision moving the fun switch forward( or back, whichever the case may be - i can't recall)and letting the whole 20 round mag go- how i miss the good old days-
 
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