Why would one want to shoot 180gr hunting SP ammo in an M-14? Price, availability? Have alot at home already from hunting rifles?
99% of economy ammo for these rifles, both new and milsurp, is in the NATO spec range 144-150, and that's what the gas system was designed with, for optimum cyclic peformance and action life.
There is lot's of handload data with the heavier 165-168 range for match work and absolute accuracy potential, and combined with the appropriate powder type, it's burn rate and charge, the wear and tear can be minimised.
There are members here who have loads that can produce exceptional accuracy, but it won't be realized with iron sights by me, I'm well beyond the Bisley team. However if you never shot much, were never trained to shoot properly, then you may fall into my class with my weakening eyesight anyhow.a
I know alot of guy's scope these rifles, and therefore can see their accuracy limitations, but I like to shoot it over irons, the way it was meant to be when the US Army adopted it, and whatever group's it will do with NATO spec ammo is fine with me. Other than using normal accuracy tuning tips from the stickies, that's all I need for performance

. Why do I say this?
I'm testing my marksmanship skills with the rifle, not the rifles inherent accuracy abilities. This may sound funny to some, but once I determine the grouping potential from a bench rest, let's say it's 3MOA @ 200meters, I have the rifles ability base lined and anything wider than a 6" group at that particular distance is me, and not the rifle. This I will try to improve on with breathing, stance, trigger control, sight picture and all the other fine points of marksmanship.
To sum up my rambling, it gives me a beautiful set of iron sights on a nice semi-auto battle rifle, that I can improve
MYmarksmanship skills on, and not get caught up in the rifles accuracy potential, as though I were a dedicated match shooter.
Is there anyone else here who enjoys their M-14s or M1A exactly as I stated?