Best round/reload for Norinco M14

captainamazing

captainamazing

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Sorry if this topic has been addressed already but I have searched the forums and have not found anything too helpful.

I'm looking for range tests on popular rounds or reloads. I have 5 days off and really want to know where to start in terms of testing.

Any info or recommendations welcome.
 
43.5g RL15 in 1965 DA 7.62x51nato casing and 165g hornady interlock soft points got me 1.5 inches at 100y in my 2007 norinco m14s.

I have also tried:

Ball C2
H4895
IMR4895
Varget
IMR4064

None of the above got me results as good as this. My next test will be with Winchester brass, 150g bullets, varget and H4895. I'm going to try and get 2700fps with less than 1.5inches at 100y, then that will be my load.

I also plan on shooting many deer with this rifle once I'm there.
 
Everything I've read tells me the M1A and clones should be using 4895 powder only. Others work but my understanding is 4895 is best for the pressure curve and gas system. These work best for my M305's.

147/150 gr. FMJ
Mil- Spec Case
43.5 grs. IMR-4895
CCI LR Primers
2745 FPS

168 gr. Hornady A-Max
Mil-Spec Case
40.5 grs IMR-4895
CCI LR Primers
2497 FPS

168 gr. Sierra BTHP (2200)**
Mil-Spec Case
40.0grs IMR-4895
CCI LR Primers
OAL 2.80”
 
How is the accuracy on that 150g 43.5g IMR4895 load? Do any of your rifles group under 2 inches with that?

I'm going to start some testing with 150g FBSP hornady's, and I think I'm going to start with H4895. In my opinion, anything under 1.5 inches out of an m305 is awesome, so that'll be my load if I can get there.
 
i use the m118 slr load- it was published on the net a while back, but has disappeared for some strange reason- m118slr means SPECIAL LONG RANGE - it was developed for the m14 by the us army , but i make 1 "concession"- i use the sierra gmk 165 or 168 smk instead of the 175 b/c i can't get 173( old) or 175 (new) ; and my op-rods don't come free or cheap- besides, i don't need 1000 yard carries- these are good to 600-800, and that's good enough
so what is the load-
168 grain smk,
43.9-44 grains of ww 748( the army uses 750, but i've never seen any- besides, it's only 2 steps faster)
cci 250 primer
lake city brass
 
150 gr Hornady FMJs (bulk) with 42.5 of either IMR4895 or H4895. For more accurate rounds that work really well at 500 meters is 41.5 gr of H4895 pushing a 168 gr. HPBT Match projectile from either Speer, Hornady, Nosler, or Sierra (whatever is affordable in the moment).

I use IVI brass, F.L. sized, with an OAL of 2.8", and CCI 200 primers.
 
I'm going to be starting a load development for my M305. I'm just wanting to do a cheap plinking round for now. Later one I might try to make a more accurate load development using match bullets. For now I'm using Hornady 150gr BTFMJs with Reloader 15, and CCI BR2 primers. I have a bunch of br2 primers from when I was reloading for my now sold rem700 SS 5R, so I'm using them. From my speer manual, Reloader 15 produces fast velocities. 45gr = 2683ft/s, 49gr = 2919ft/s. 49gr is the max load.

I'm trying to decide what powder load I should use. Right now I'm going to try loads from 46gr-48gr. I know that 150gr 2700ft/s seems to be that sweet spot for the m14. What happens if you go 2800fp/s or a little faster? Are there any major safety concerns I should be aware off?
 
Glen D. Zediker

Handloading for Competition

... and I quote ....

The staple M14 bullet was (still is, in a way) the Sierra # 2200. This 168gr bullet is the first to try: if this bullet doesn't shoot in your rifle, the weapon is cursed. More then I know anything else in life, stick 41.5gr H4895 in an IMI case with CCI BR2 primer and cap it with a #2200 to 2.800 inches oal. Done and done.
Click to expand...

I personally use the 168gr Sierra MK in a Winchester case with 41.5gr of IMR 4895 and CCI Large Rifle primers. I do need to get around to testing other loads though :)
 
Gobc said:
I'm going to be starting a load development for my M305. I'm just wanting to do a cheap plinking round for now. Later one I might try to make a more accurate load development using match bullets. For now I'm using Hornady 150gr BTFMJs with Reloader 15, and CCI BR2 primers. I have a bunch of br2 primers from when I was reloading for my now sold rem700 SS 5R, so I'm using them. From my speer manual, Reloader 15 produces fast velocities. 45gr = 2683ft/s, 49gr = 2919ft/s. 49gr is the max load.

I'm trying to decide what powder load I should use. Right now I'm going to try loads from 46gr-48gr. I know that 150gr 2700ft/s seems to be that sweet spot for the m14. What happens if you go 2800fp/s or a little faster? Are there any major safety concerns I should be aware off?
Click to expand...

when you switch ( and i do mean when) from 150 grain to 165-168, you might as well throw your accumulated data OUT THE WINDOW - there's WORLDS of difference in performance- 3 out of 4 of my m14s were showing 2 inch or worse groups with 150 "bargain " bullets- and NO DISCERNABLE difference between bargain and premium bullets- switching to 165/168 changed all that, and shrank the groups by a good inch- and i'm talking 5 round or better groups, not your "traditional" 3's - some of it may have been going to a 4x12 scope, not a 3x9, but i don't think so- as far as the speed goes, i've found that you don't get anywhere near the "published " velocity without running into pressure signs-and that's over a chorny- some loads in 308 are too "hot" for the 14- and i mean factory
 
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Around 46 grains of BL-C(2) or W748 with a 150 grain bullet will give you a close approximation of US military 7.62 NATO ammunition.
 
When I was working on my load development, I chose the Win 748 because of it's close properties to the designers. They used ball powder.

In terms of velocities, the design criteria I have seen all suggest the velocities to be about 2,700 fps. Some were 2,750 fps. I do not recall seeing one at 2,800 fps. Given the closeness of the powder, that was my starting point and it has worked out. Hornady also provides data for loading the Service rifle and the powder values are different (lower) for a standard bolt action to the M14.
 
I found the 165g bullets short stroked my rifle a lot, but 150g feed perfectly. I tried a whole assortment of powders, from min to max load outs and still had feed issues. Is that just my rifle?
 
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