Reloading for M14 / M305

Ryvax

Ryvax

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Who here reloads for their M14?

Do you reload with 308 cassings or NATO 762 casings?

Is it the same dies?

Can you mix and match?

Does any of this mater?

Any powder recommendations? (already bought a bounch of 168gr Speer bullets)

What should my headspace be for reloading 308 in my M14?
 
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I'm using H4895 powder, whatever cases I can find (usually commercial ammo), Remington rifle primers, and 165 gr Hornady Interlock bullets.

Seems to work just fine in my M305, as I'm getting 1.5 to 2 MOA groups.

.308 Winchester and 7.62x51 NATO are identical cartridges, the first is the commercial name and the second is the military designation, so the same dies will reload either one.
 
Try a 168 gr BTHP match bullet on top of 41 grains of IMR 4064. I tend to stay away from Federal cases and primers as the brass is softer in the case and the primers a little too soft for the M-14 action.

Use CCI primers if you can find them and I like Winchester brass when I can find it.
 
shredder said:
I'm using H4895 powder, whatever cases I can find (usually commercial ammo), Remington rifle primers, and 165 gr Hornady Interlock bullets.

Seems to work just fine in my M305, as I'm getting 1.5 to 2 MOA groups.

.308 Winchester and 7.62x51 NATO are identical cartridges, the first is the commercial name and the second is the military designation, so the same dies will reload either one.
Click to expand...


But don't load them the same, 7.62x51 cases are slightly thicker and it reduces the volume of the case internally, causing an increase of pressure. Drop your charge about a grain from .308 data when using 7.62x51 cases.
 
I'm not being sarcastic, I want you to put your thinking cap on.

The metric designation for the .303 British is 7.7x56r and you have never seen 7.7x56r reloading dies. You also will not find metric dies for the 30-06, .308 or .223 because they are one in the same cartridge.

You should not mix .308 cases with 7.62 military cases because the internal volume can be different which effects chamber pressure.

In the latest Hornady reloading manual 9th eddition it has a section behind the loading data for the .308 called
"308 Winchester Service Rifle". (notice it doesn't say 7.62 loading data)
Rifle M1A
Barrel 22" 1 in 10 Twist
Case Hornady/Frontier
Primer Winchester WLR

The real difference between the .308 and 7.62 is the military chamber is larger in diameter and length. (headspace)

What you have to worry about is using the correct powder and not bending the op rod using a powder that is to slow of a burning rate.

What you need is a current manual like the Hornady manual above or good loading data from the internet.

SAAMI308.jpg


m14chamber.jpg


Look at the last two data columns .308 Win std. and 7.62MM NATO, the 7.62 the chamber diameter is larger in diameter than the .308 and the 7.62 also has a longer freebore or throat.

183911.jpg
 
I couldn't get H4895 to work worth a damn in my M305. No matter what I did it wouldn't shoot under 3-4MOA and I figured the rifle was capable of better. A guy who works at the range said he uses IMR4895 and his shoots 1MOA. I switched to IMR4895, worked up some new loads using the same Hornady 150gr FMJ/BT bullets, and the first batch had one load which had all shots touching at 50yds. My initial test loads with IMR4895 where 41-44gr in 1gr steps and 43gr proved to be the best. Want to try 42.5gr and 43.5gr now as well as increasing the range to 100yds. I'm using data from the Hodgdon website.

Commercial Winchester and Remington .308 Win brass FL sized every time
CCI standard large rifle primers
Hornady 150gr FMJ/BT

I've seen pics online of destroyed M305's due to case head separations so am extra careful checking my brass. Once the shiny stretch ring goes all the way around the web of the case (usually 2-4 firings) I remove those cases from my M305 boxes and put them in the box for my Chilean Contract 308 Mauser. I know it's being extra paranoid but I have so much 308 brass it doesn't make much of a difference to me.
 
Thanks for all the great info so far. One more question (and I'll add it to the top post)

What should my headspace be for reloading 308 in my M14?
 
Janeau said:
Download this book. All you need to understand how to reload for the M14.
http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf
Click to expand...

Very good info for the OP and a very good link Janeau.

Something better than a paperclip for checking your brass, and making it last longer.

RCBSCMG.jpg


Measuring cartridge headspace for shoulder bump, I prefer the Hornady case gauge over buying a separate gauge for each caliber.

RCBSPM.jpg


Picture009.jpg


308fail-1.jpg


308fail2-1.jpg
 
It is generally recommended to load between 147-173gr bullets for the M1 Garand or 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).

Full Length size all brass every loading and trim when needed. Make sure primers are seated flush. CCI and Win are good primers to use for these rifles.

I use the manuals starting load data and work up the same as any for the powders/bullets noted above.
 
Hornady 150gr SST with 45.5gr of H4895 2.84 OAL is the sweet spot out of my m305. Makes gophers into red mist lol....cant wait for spring
 
Good timing on this thread, I'm just working up some loads with H 4895 as well. Also going to be doing some loads with IMR 4320 as well. Thanks for the OAL measurement as well, been debating that one, going to try spacing back from the lands in small increments and see how it does.
ma)(wrench, is yours a norc?
 
Yes it is. I must have got a good one it shoots so well. Get my income tax done going to add a rail and glass. See if we can't get the ones hiding way out there!
 
hk33ka1 said:
It is generally recommended to load between 147-173gr bullets for the M1 Garand or 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).
Click to expand...

According to http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf Page 11

I don’t know what port pressures are with all
available gunpowders, but that doesn’t matter as
long as I know this: the burning rate that defines
the upper limit is IMR® 4064. Use nothing slow-
er. Ever.
Click to expand...

Bl-C2 and WIN 748 from your list are slower burning than 4064.
 
charles u farley said:
According to http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf Page 11

Bl-C2 and WIN 748 from your list are slower burning than 4064.
Click to expand...

BL-C2 was the powder loaded by the military in the M14 under the number WC846. And both BL-C2 and Win 748 are listed in service rifle loads for the M1A in reloading manuals.

Don't take this the wrong way, but there is a difference between burning rate/chamber pressure and port pressure. And Zediker's reference powders were all single base powders and double base powders would have a different port pressure.

The standard NATO Spec for 145 to 150gr ball ammo (your typical surplus) calls for 46gr of ball powder which is the approximate equivalent of Win 748.
 
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