M14 reloading

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kyrol60

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I am newbie reloading for my M-14 and was wondering if I followed Lyman reload data if there is anything else I should know. I resized my brass RCBS 308 die (not small base, told that I didn't need it when I bought the dies), I used the instruction that come with the die to set it up, you know, screw down the die til it touches the shell holder then tighten 1/4 turn. After that I trimed the casing to 2.005", deburred, cleaned out the primer pocket and seated a new primer(CCIBR2), fully, so that I don't have a high primer. Then loaded it with 41g of IMR4895 and seated the bullet (150FMJBT), but did not crimp (told not to for accuracy). I used a resized case, loosen the end so that the bullet sat loose in the case and found where my rifling started on my M14 (2.870" OAL) The bullets I just reloaded don't even come close to that and they are just a little longer then the suggested OAL of the manual. When I compared the trimmed resized case beside a factory loaded bullet the cases look same, an expereinced reloader help me reload, but I read alot before I started and there is alot of caution for loading a M14. So if I am missing something or you guys have any suggestions that will make this safer please let me know.

Kyrol
 
You should use CCI #34 primers instead of BR2 primers. The M14 has a floating firing pin rather than a spring loaded one so the thicker cap on the #34 primer will keep the rifle from potentially firing before the bolt has fully locked up. It's one of those things where it won't be the end of the world if you use regular primers, but you're a lot better off in the safety factor department if you use #34s.
 
Setting the dies the way you did, as described in the manual, should produce a case sized to standard .308 specs. How is the headspace in your rifle? Often, these rifles have fairly generous headspace. Before your next loading cycle, you might want to get the headspace on your rifle checked, and then size your cases to suit the rifle, rather than a theoretical standard. Having said that, it is important that ammunition for this sort of rifle chamber freely. If the cartridge hesitates as it is being chambered, an unlocked slamfire can occur, which is dangerous. Cartridges loaded for a semi should not be so long that the bullet can jam into the leade. OAL is often determined by the magazine. As Hitzy mentionned, crimping is often done for semi auto ammunition. The violence of the action can cause a bullet to jump foreward. If you don't crimp, be careful when unloading that a bullet is not left behind in the barrel.
 
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