M1A Precision Challenge 1.5 MOA

Hoping to do the challenge with my new M1A with the open sights, tested loads today and the "go to load" recommended everywhere on the net of 40.5 grains of H4895 with the 168 grain bullet is definately my best bet, can't beleive the difference from 40.5 to 41.5 grains, groups opened up from 1.027 and 1.231 to from 2 1/2 to 4 inches with the higher loads!
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Yah, I know I am obsessed with this challenge but man this is a fun way to spend the afternoon, and money and and and money and brain cells........
Rodney
 

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rodauto said:
Missed the challenge by .068 inches!!!
Man I thought I had it done, nice day light wind groups looked promising came home, measured groups..... crap!
Smallest group .860, largestgroup 1.568, (average 1.188)
The Norinco is showing promise with the IMR3031 it has been more consistant for me than the other powders, not the smallest group ever but the most consistent small groups. Picture of my latest attempt
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:( I knew that one group was going to be close but not that close. You're getting closer and I'm stalled. Time to load up some more and try again. Time for another keg of 3031?
 
Pr589 said:
:( I knew that one group was going to be close but not that close. You're getting closer and I'm stalled. Time to load up some more and try again. Time for another keg of 3031?
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Hey Paul,
Definately time for another powder order, almost finished my second pound and starting to get antsy... should never run out of the good stuff! Can you run your program on my target? Would like to see just how close I am to making it, almost broke my heart to do the calculation and say....missed it by "that much" !!!!


Rodney
 
Need to head back to the club next weekend with a clean target!!! Had to resight the M1A after playing with the sights last week, Wasn't expecting much so just patched the traget and started shooting goups. I made 5 groups of 5 shots under 2 inches with open sights!!! I can't count the target though cause I had it messed up with patches from sighting in :mad: Oh well just hope I can do it again and didn't just fluke it!

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Not sure what happened with the Norinco 14S...... last weekend I came within .068 inches of making the challenge. This weekend I couldn't keep them barely under 2 inches for the most part! Same load, same bullets , same, same, same everything except the results. Frustrating but fun at the same time....

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Rodney
 

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rodauto said:
Need to head back to the club next weekend with a clean target!!! Had to resight the M1A after playing with the sights last week, Wasn't expecting much so just patched the traget and started shooting goups. I made 5 groups of 5 shots under 2 inches with open sights!!! I can't count the target though cause I had it messed up with patches from sighting in :mad: Oh well just hope I can do it again and didn't just fluke it!

View attachment 12233
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Very impressive. It looks like M1A has good accuracy out of the box.

Cheese,


Kelvin
 
Hi Kelvin,
Yes that medium weight barrel sure seems to do the trick, especially considering the synthetic stock has absolutely NO tension on the barrel band!
Rodney
 
rodauto said:
Hi Kelvin,
Yes that medium weight barrel sure seems to do the trick, especially considering the synthetic stock has absolutely NO tension on the barrel band!
Rodney
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Right on. Those medium weight barrel give a decent accuracy. It is good to know that I don't have to spend extra money on krieger or other barrel.

Great shooting.


Kelvin
 
Well, I went out to the range and took enough ammo for the challenge but was not even going to attempt to try and make it as it was a WINDY prairie day. The only reason I even went out is a buddy had been asking about going to the range, and nothing had worked out until today. Besides he was just gonna blast away with the SKS, SVT, and the VZ58 so actual accuracy really didn't matter.
Weather snapshot for the day, not an ideal range day :)


Once there I figured I would throw 25 rounds down range and just see how bad it could actually be, despite the wind. I must apologize as my batteries in my calipers are dead so measurements were just approximate with a sewing tape as all my tools were left at the cabin this weekend for next weekend. But at least it gives me an idea that this is achievable, even with a Norinco Stinko.
MAYBE :)



There is two other holes under the tape in pic above.


Short one hole in this target, Must have only loaded 4 shots and not counted, how I did that not a clue!!!

Worst group, I think.......
Whole Target

Shot with Winchester 168 grain, Match ammo. Just bought full set of RCBS gear and about to start loading but working on building up some brass in the meantime :). Shot through a 2011 Norinco, Sadlak match spring and spring guid, M14.ca scope mount, and Bushnell 4.5x14x44 scope. Gone through Hungry Clinic, springs and pins in trigger group replaced with wolf and Hungry hockey game trigger job. In USGI fiberglass stock, will get bedded for better rigidity and better fit when time permits. All in all, I am happy all things considered, just wish I had time to finish the work on my Norc, and work up a load sooner rather than later. But alas, life and works calls. Hope to get out next week again, hopefully without the wind .
Ciao!
 
walleyed99 said:
Well, I went out to the range and took enough ammo for the challenge but was not even going to attempt to try and make it as it was a WINDY prairie day. The only reason I even went out is a buddy had been asking about going to the range, and nothing had worked out until today. Besides he was just gonna blast away with the SKS, SVT, and the VZ58 so actual accuracy really didn't matter.
Weather snapshot for the day, not an ideal range day :)


Once there I figured I would throw 25 rounds down range and just see how bad it could actually be, despite the wind. I must apologize as my batteries in my calipers are dead so measurements were just approximate with a sewing tape as all my tools were left at the cabin this weekend for next weekend. But at least it gives me an idea that this is achievable, even with a Norinco Stinko.
MAYBE :)



There is two other holes under the tape in pic above.


Short one hole in this target, Must have only loaded 4 shots and not counted, how I did that not a clue!!!

Worst group, I think.......
Whole Target

Shot with Winchester 168 grain, Match ammo. Just bought full set of RCBS gear and about to start loading but working on building up some brass in the meantime :). Shot through a 2011 Norinco, Sadlak match spring and spring guid, M14.ca scope mount, and Bushnell 4.5x14x44 scope. Gone through Hungry Clinic, springs and pins in trigger group replaced with wolf and Hungry hockey game trigger job. In USGI fiberglass stock, will get bedded for better rigidity and better fit when time permits. All in all, I am happy all things considered, just wish I had time to finish the work on my Norc, and work up a load sooner rather than later. But alas, life and works calls. Hope to get out next week again, hopefully without the wind .
Ciao!
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I have had the same type of results with my 14S, amazing accuracy, amazing failures.....amazing ups and downs! These rifles are way too much fun for what they cost, the fact that you can change parts, adjust parts and see the results imediately is a great learning exercise also for not much money, unless you go gaga for the stocks, scope mounts, etc., etc. I am the wrong person to comment on the best options though since I got so excited I modified 2 rifles at the same time with different mods so I don't have a clue where I am with either!!!

The damn 1.5 inch challenge has driven me loopy and I can't help myself... too much fun for one person to endure!!!!
Rodney
 
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decided to scope my M1A loaded to see what kind of accuracy to expect before continuing my attempts with open sights. Was very happy with the results so now will have to go back next weekend with a bigger target so I can get all groups on 1 target.
groups are 1.096, 1.333, .951, .631, and 1.123. All 5 shot groups with 168 grain Hornady match bullets and 40.5 grains of H4895. Average 1.027 inches

Rodney
 

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rodauto said:
Hey Kelvin,
If I don't suceed in at least one of these challenges soon I will have to quit smoking just to afford the ammo!! Probably be easier to meet the challenge without the nicotine haze too......

Rodney
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HA! I quit smoking December 13 2013. haven't touched tobacco since. everyone who knows me knows I did nothing without a smoke in my mouth LOL
I tell ya though, walking out to the 500M targets is sure a lot easier :D
I quit with a e-smoke..... my wife quit December 24. we are both smoke free. we figured we would bank the money we spent on tobacco till next fall and spend the cash on a new quad..... but looks like it's gonna go to ATRS for a .338F modern hunter
 
45ACPKING said:
HA! I quit smoking December 13 2013. haven't touched tobacco since. everyone who knows me knows I did nothing without a smoke in my mouth LOL
I tell ya though, walking out to the 500M targets is sure a lot easier :D
I quit with a e-smoke..... my wife quit December 24. we are both smoke free. we figured we would bank the money we spent on tobacco till next fall and spend the cash on a new quad..... but looks like it's gonna go to ATRS for a .338F modern hunter
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Sounds like a good choice, quads and guns live forever if looked after. My quad only goes out 3 or 4 times a year now but I love it. My snowmobile became a 45-70, miss it sometimes but then I take out my Pedersoli to the range in the summer and don't feel so bad anymore!!

Rodney
 
rodauto said:
Sounds like a good choice, quads and guns live forever if looked after. My quad only goes out 3 or 4 times a year now but I love it. My snowmobile became a 45-70, miss it sometimes but then I take out my Pedersoli to the range in the summer and don't feel so bad anymore!!

Rodney
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don't even get me started on the snowmobile LOL that's on my list too.
last july I severed the tendon in my trigger finger at the middle knuckle and posted before that I was missing out on the challenge due to the trigger finger being bunged up. I'm getting there :D as it's killing me to not be able to join in on this. I've been rehabbing my finger with my shorty and a dry fire device (strip of 3mm neoprene glued in front of the hammer hehehe)
actually shot some pretty good groups today but can barely bend the finger half way now . it's progress, but man..... a 4.5# trigger pull is still hard to manage for 25 shots.
will try again in a couple days
 
45ACPKING said:
don't even get me started on the snowmobile LOL that's on my list too.
last july I severed the tendon in my trigger finger at the middle knuckle and posted before that I was missing out on the challenge due to the trigger finger being bunged up. I'm getting there :D as it's killing me to not be able to join in on this. I've been rehabbing my finger with my shorty and a dry fire device (strip of 3mm neoprene glued in front of the hammer hehehe)
actually shot some pretty good groups today but can barely bend the finger half way now . it's progress, but man..... a 4.5# trigger pull is still hard to manage for 25 shots.
will try again in a couple days
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What better physio than shooting a rifle! Sure beats a trip to the doctors office so they can bend your finger in ways it was never meant to bend!! Have heard stories from friends about what they have to go through, hope the rifle shooting loosens things up for you!

Rodney
 
What a journey! So I snuck out to shoot with my son today and it was gorgeous. Was only expecting to re-zero my rifle after my latest tweaks trying to get it shooting again and whadya know....I think I done the challenge.:dancingbanana:

Not great groups but acceptable I think. I will try again to improve these groups since I've been getting an awful lot of sub-MOA groups mixed in with...somewhat bigger than MOA groups.

Rifle is a standard Norinco M305, shimmed, M14.ca Op Rod Spring guide and in a Blackfeather stock. Rounds were Hornady 168 BTHP over 42.5 grains of Varget, seated to 2.82" COAL.

Groups were: 1.440", 1.410", 1.127", 1.209" and 1.317" for an average of 1.301"





 
WAY TO GO Pr.

Looks like I get to be the first of many to congratulate you, well done .

And a Norc too....whoda thought it LOL.
The Varget seems to work really well, and you don't seem to have met a sad end.
 
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