M14 handloading

Chuck

CGN Regular
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Location
Deep River
I'm going to be handloading exclusively for my new M14 shorty. I've never loaded for an M14 before so I would appreciate some advice.

I'm planning to use 150 grain bullets. I have Varget and Reloder 15 on hand.

Any suggestions for loads that have worked for you?
 
The following powders work great in the M14:

-H-BLC2
-WW748
-IMR 4064
-IMR 4895
-Varget

I have used all of the above and had great results. My best results were with H-BLC2 and 168gr Sierra Matchkings..........

Keep your cases trimmed to length and full length size your cases........
 
748 and IMR 4895 is the best! Hodgdon 4895 is near identical. 150 or 168 debends on the twist. Make sure that the crown is well preped, concentric!

Regards,
Henry;)
 
44.5g RL15 and 165g hornady interlock soft points was my best load, but it threw off the gas system timing. One cartridge out of every 5 wouldn't close the bolt all the way.

150 grain bullets and varget worked perfectly, but I never checked for accuracy, I just unloaded 50 rounds into a tree. Then I proceeded to pump 12g slugs into it until all you could see was a bunch of bark that got owned by bullets. I think I was drunk.

IMR 4895 I found to be kind of crappy with 165's, so I'm going to try the H4895 with 150g hornady soft points.

I'm going to get back into reloading for the m305 once my gun works, which it really hasn't in about 2+ years. You know how it goes, you put the whole project on hold because you're replacing the chu wood with something else, then your rings are too high so you have to order new ones. Then you replace your flash suppressor with one that touches the bullets exiting the barrel, so you need to order some castlenut pliers to put the old one back on. I could go on forever, but I'd just make you sad. I think I need some m14 help

halp_cat.jpg
 
Chuck,

First thing to do is to Google "Glen Zediker M14 Handloading" and read carefully his article available for download.

Mr Zediker knows a thing or three about handloading for M14 type rifles.

Best regards,

Snowy Owl

This is an excellent read for those wanting to reload for the M14 type rifle..........

He is spot on regarding case life,full length sizing, and small base dies...... ;)
 
The following powders work great in the M14:

-H-BLC2
-WW748
-IMR 4064
-IMR 4895
-Varget

I have used all of the above and had great results. My best results were with H-BLC2 and 168gr Sierra Matchkings..........

Keep your cases trimmed to length and full length size your cases........

......and always check for properly seated primers..
 
748 does work well in a 308 case. BTSP Hornady is my best bullet. If you really want to make the smallest groups, there are a number of steps. BTW, Federal primer pockets are more uniformed than most!

Get a primer hole tool to uniform the "punched" primer hole. This way the primer wil always fire concentric to the powder column.You also need a primer pocket tool to uniform the depth and roundness of the primer pockets as they are punched. Next, you need a neck turning tool to uniform your neck thickness as bullet tension will vary with ununiformed necks. Now get a set of benchrest dies such as from RCBS. The sizing dies will resize all the way down! The bullet loading die will have a sleeve to properly align the bullet and a micrometer to have uniform lenghts. You must measure the freebore to get the maximum lenght within a few thou of the lands while still able to use the magazine. The dies comes in a wooden boxe. You cannot load match grade ammo using a multistage press such as a Dillon! Every little step, makes a little difference in the group size and improves consistency.

I prefer double based powders like the IMR4895 or Hodgdon H4895 over single based powders like the Winchester 748 etc as they are NOT temperature sensitive. But 76 gr of 760 with a 300 gr Partition in a 375HH will do a cloverleaf dime sized group at 100! My 7-08 BDL sniper with 4895 does three shot one hole groups. My XP100 also in 7-08 does less than 1.5 inches open sights at 150M, also with 4895. Proper case preparation is necessary as wel as a micrometer powder measure and benchrest dies!

The fun of handloading the perfect recipe and not realoading!

Regards,
Henry;)
 
The following powders work great in the M14:

-H-BLC2
-WW748
-IMR 4064
-IMR 4895
-Varget

I have used all of the above and had great results. My best results were with H-BLC2 and 168gr Sierra Matchkings..........

Keep your cases trimmed to length and full length size your cases........

These are all good, but IMR 3031 is worth a try too. It was the best performer in my HRA M14 with the 150gr Hornady FMJ. IMR 3031 was also the original propellant for US 7.62 match ammo.
 
Wichester brass, 44gr 748 with 150gr Hornady FMJ's COAL to SAAMI specs works well for me, and I turn the gas port off and cycle by hand. Makes your cases last longer
 
Get a primer hole tool to uniform the "punched" primer hole. This way the primer wil always fire concentric to the powder column.You also need a primer pocket tool to uniform the depth and roundness of the primer pockets as they are punched. Next, you need a neck turning tool to uniform your neck thickness as bullet tension will vary with ununiformed necks. Now get a set of benchrest dies such as from RCBS. The sizing dies will resize all the way down! The bullet loading die will have a sleeve to properly align the bullet and a micrometer to have uniform lenghts. You must measure the freebore to get the maximum lenght within a few thou of the lands while still able to use the magazine. The dies comes in a wooden boxe. You cannot load match grade ammo using a multistage press such as a Dillon! Every little step, makes a little difference in the group size and improves consistency.

I'd say this is a bit too anal for what he's shooting.
Full length resize your brass preferably with small base dies.
Measure and trim your cases.
Seat primers fully and be certain they are. The primer pocket uniforming tool helps with this.
Stick to recomended powders and work up your own load.
Choose a bullet 150- 175 gr and seat it off the lands.
Limit the number of firings.
All of this to keep your face in one piece.
 
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