New to reloading Norc m14 shorty- your suggestions

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Just picked up a Norc m14 shorty 308 and looking for some feed back on reloading for this rifle. I know it's a tough battle rifle and I know it's not going to be a tack driver, but can someone chime in with m14 experience regarding what these rifles like. For me it's all about reliability in a 1-100 yard battle rifle, accuracy is nice, but I want feed and function to be flawless.

Let me know what your feeding your m14 monsters

Thanks.
 
For accuracy I like 43.5g RL 15 in a hornady 165g BTSP. It does about 1.5 inches @ 100y.

I'm playing around with the 150g bullets as I find they're more reliable in my gun, so I'm going to try some h4895 and 4064 next.
 
If you can find # 34 primers get them. I have had no bad luck using standard rifle primers but there is that issue of the free floating firing pin and it's own inertia when the bolt comes forward.

I prefer IMR 4895; I read an online article about the M1 Garand and M14 gas systems and how this particular powder gives the required pressure curve to operate the GS without beating up the op rod etc. I can't find this site right now.
 
My M14 loves H4895 behind a 150gr pill.
I go 43gr in surplus cases and it feels just like mil-spec ball but waaaaaay more accurate.

I likewise have had no accidents with regular Large rifle primers, lately I've been using CCI BR primers and they're supposed to be a little harder.
 
My M-14 (non-shorty) likes 45.3 Grains of BL-C(2) in a Winchester .308 case, topped with a Hornady 150 Grain SPBT bullet, primed with a CCI 200 primer, and loaded to 2.78" I realise this is a relatively slow load, but my gun seems to shoot it pretty accurately.
 
I found the starting loads for .308 Win 150gr FMJ as well as 168gr HPBT cycled my friends short M14 well.

It is generally recommended to load between 147-173gr bullets for the M14 using standard jacketed bullet loads.

A powder in the suitable burn rate range for the action of this type of semi auto gas rifle such as IMR 4895, H4895, AA 2495, BL C2, H335, Win 748, IMR 4064 (and there are others).

Winchester or CCI primers of any type will be fine when seated properly. A primer pocket Uniformer from Sinclair or Redding is always handy to have to ensure this. Some say Federal are too soft a primer some say fine. I get lots of Winchester locally so I stick with those.
 
For accuracy I like 43.5g RL 15 in a hornady 165g BTSP. It does about 1.5 inches @ 100y.

I'm playing around with the 150g bullets as I find they're more reliable in my gun, so I'm going to try some h4895 and 4064 next.


I can vouch for 43.5g of RL 15 over a 168 gr nosler ballistic silver tip too. On my buddy's m305, I loaded this and get on a semi regular basis 1.5 inch groups with a 1.25" 3rd group twice.
 
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