Best ammo grain

[Denka]

I am was trying to locate anything here regarding best ammo grain for Norinco M305 shorty. Just to be safe with ammo, so far I saw 145gr. I hope to hear from cgnnuts here

 

[Pr589]

If you don't have an adjustable gas plug, anything lighter than 180 grain pills are good.

 

[chalkriver]

Federal powershock in 150 grain works well and you can get it at Canadiantire . The Norinco copper washed surplus ammo is a good price and shoots well too.
If you are reloading try some 168 gr Hornady HPBT

 

[Tengoo]

The closer your reloads are to standard 7.62x51 ball ammo, the happier your M14/M305 will be. If you want to go heavier than 165-168 gr. an adjustable gas plug is a must. Personally, I'd stick with 145-150gr. bullets and just make them work.

 

[Tomochan]

The 'classic' match load is 168g SMK over 41.5g H4895 in a LC case

The service 7.62x51 load is a 147 ( or 149 ) g bullet in a LC case - I don't know what USGI powder/weight is.

Federal XM80C will be real close to mil spec

My load replicates the classic match load and I also shoot American Eagle 150g without issue


PS - you DO NOT need an adjustable gas plug in a M14. You very much ought to in a M1 Garand if you use heavier bullets and want to keep it running though.

 

[J996]

Try a bunch of different ammo to find out what your particular barrel likes best. Anything from 147 to 175 grain is good to go. The US military's match load in the 70's for the M21 used a 173 grain bullet so don't worry.

 

[sunray]

Any sub-22" barrel is a marketing thing(no such thing as an M-14 carbine) with reduced velocities and increased muzzle blast and flash. The latter isn't a big deal unless you ever get to shoot in a night match. That'll be a rare thing though. If you hunt with it, the flash will be extremely noticeable at dawn and dusk. Neither is much of an issue.
Anyway, if you're not reloading, you'll have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best. I'd be thinking 150 to 180 grain bullets with a preference for 165 grain hunting bullets or 168 grain match bullets. A lot depends on what you're doing with your rifle.

 

[zuke]

The .308 is most efficient using bullet's in the 165gr range.