M305, LH shooter, & Reloading

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Hello all!

I am new to this part of the forum, I have done some searches, but have not turned up the info I am looking for.

On the advice of a good friend, I am taking the plunge and getting an M305. My hope is to shoot it stock for some time, become familiar with the rifle, and then modify as things progress.

However, I am a southpaw shooter (read Left Handed) and I was wondering if the ejecting brass will be an issue for me.

If so, are there any good fixes out there.

I have yet to take delivery of the rifle, so the old adage of "go out and try it" is not quite applicable yet.

Appreciate everyone’s time and look forward to the responses.

regards and all the best

R
 
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no, unless the regular right handed rifles bother you- i'm a lefty and unless the empty flying across your line of vision bothers you you'll have no issues- if you decide to scope it, you won't be concious of it at all- you may find the charging a little awkward, ( i tend to use my right , just like everyone else to retract the bolt), but the bolt trip is on the left , and once she's mounted to the shoulder , no worries-except for the stupid 5 shot magazine- i found them hard to change as you don't get enough of a grip to chage them efficently- as far as fixes, go, what's to fix?- there's an awful lot of information on here in the stickies -READ THEM FIRST and supplementary info on the net- if you want still more get SCOTT DUFF'S BOOK
 
T-Star:

Thanks a lot.

I have shot right handed pump action 12 gauge guns, and never had an issue with ejected rounds crossing my field of view.

I am simply allergic to having hot brass thrown in my face every time I pull the trigger that’s all.

I just wanted to make sure on this, as I have very few center-fire auto feeders.

Regards and all the best

R
 
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Shooting a semi left has never been a problem for me. The brass goes up and over your shoulder out of most of 'em. Doesn't go anywhere near your face. Some will eject to 2 or 3 o'clock. The brass gets flung a fair distance too. That being a nuisance if you're reloading.
 
Sunray:

Thx for the info, you have now, however, raised another issue.
I reload all my own ammo.

Am I to take from you comments above that its not worht while to reload for an M305??

regards

R
 
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reload for the m305 if you want too... I just shoot cheap surplus ammo :D

Most (99% I think) eject the brass at a 1-2 aclock from the rifle... you swhould be fine.
 
Big Mike:

Thx so much for your input!! The idea of not chassing brass sounds very good to me!!

If I may, where are you getting your Surplus from and for how much??

Greatfully yours

R
 
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Hi Richard,

Both Milarm and P&D in Edmonton seem to have surplus .308 in stock most of the time. It usually works out to abot 40 cents a round or a little less.

Jeff.
 
i've reloaded for the m14/305 ever since i got one- i don't think i've put more than 40 rounds of factory through any of my m14s to do anthing other than to prove /troubleshoot a problem- they will short stroke if you don't feed them a strong enough load to make enough gas to push the piston back all the way- that being said( the break point is around 40 grains of ww748- varies from rifle to rifle) my favorite load looks like this
ww or r/p commercial 308 case( typically the stuff generated out the white boxes will do- generic)
cci mag rifle primer.
43-44 grains of ww748- that's the reason for the magnum primer
165 grain bulk bullet( ww or rem)
i get about 95% of my stuff through wholesale sports or russels
in the old days i would have advised you to be sure and get a progressive
RIFLE press like a dillon 550( something that can do rifle rounds) and at least a half-dozen 20 round mags- now i'd settle for a decent single stage and 3 or 4 -20/5 rounders- but then we did carry and go through a lot more ammo before the stupid mag laws-
 
Mr. T-Star

Extremly helpful. I happen to have a goodly amount of ww748 and remington Large Rifle Magnum primers that I had no use for. looks like now I do.

Regards and all the best

R
 
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Richard:

My good instructor at w ww.Milcun.com , Keith Cunningham (Capt. Ret'd) carried an M14 in Vietnam while serving in a recce role with Golf Coy, 75th Ranger Bn. He shoots rifles as a lefty. He always thought that the M14 was designed for a lefty since the magazine release is smack in the middle when your right hand swaps the magazines. He also loved the safety since it's in the front of the trigger guard. And of course, he just adored how the op rod can be worked with your non firing/control hand... the right one!! :) So go ahead and buy ONE... ... Don't buy ONE.... buy TWO of them. I could not resist that plug.... my Mantra!!

That was his feedback during one of our conversations !! Way cool. I was enlightened. I do have to say that I'm privileged to know him. Oh yeah, he's building my 6.5 x 284 right now. yuk yuk yuk
 
if you decide that you're not going to scope it, e&l makes a brasscatcher for it- if you do scope it,there are ways to hang the catcher- i used a piece of velcro( the 4 inch wide stuff- not that cheap crap) -AND BE SURE AND DROP BACK HERE OFTEN- LIKE EVERY DAY - SOMEONE'S USUALLY GOT SOMETHING ABOUT THE M14 ET AL- you never know what knowledge you will pick up
 
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Hungry:

I was hoping you would pop up here, and what you have just told me is sweet music to my ears!!

Gentlemen, I have much to thank you for, and appriciate you helping a pilgrim along his way.

I will have many more questions, and will try a search again before I ask.

truly appreciate all your help.

regards and all the best

R
 
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M14 Lefty Fun

Richard:

My good instructor at w ww.Milcun.com, Keith Cunningham (Capt. Ret'd) carried an M14 while on a recce tasking with G Coy, 75th Ranger Bn in VietNam. He shoots as a lefty and he told me that he belived that the M14 was MADE for a lefty. You know that the mag catch/release can be worked with the non-firing hand, your right hand to swap the magazines. You likely have realized that the safety can be flicked off with the firing left finger. And finally , he liked how the op rod was worked with your right hand !!

So there you go.... buy an M14... Whooops ! Shameless plug coming..

Don't buy ONE !! :eek:

Buy TWO of them !

Welcome to the addiction. Now ensure that yer #### don't fall off, grab one of my CD sets of the 2004 Abbotsford Clinic for a pricely sum of $ 8.00 shipped to you. Now you can see how good looking Skullboy is! :rockOn:

Cheers,
Barney
 
Hungry

You truly are shamless my friend!! And my Wife would agree that it is very important that "My #### does not fall off"

As such PM incoming!!

regards and all the best

R
 
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"...Am I to take from your comments..." Not at all. I reload for every firearm I have except for the .22, of course. Factory ammo, especially milsurp, doesn't cut it for accuracy. Try some 165 grain hunting bullets or 168 grain match bullets and IMR4064 with regular large rifle primers.
 
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