PolyTech/Norc .308 loads?

Klondiker

Klondiker

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Just wondering what kinds of loads you guys are building using .308 brass for your Norinco or Poly Tech m14's.

While I've got loads for my .308 bolt, I have yet to make up some for the semi. And I'm going to assume they'll be different, with maybe some lower pressures in the semi.

I've got a bunch of Sierra 155 gr bullets and a good bit of IMR 4064 and Varget, so there must be a combination in there somewhere. But I'm willing to try out other stuff as well.

I look forward to any insight you might provide.

Thanks:)
 
That article of Jerry's is a good one. This is a popular and interesting question, you will find several other good ones out there too (I think Zediker has one also?).

If you already know how to make good 155 ammo for you bolt gun, you are well on your way to making good M14 ammo with what you are already using. If you are using extremely hot loads you might have to back that off a bit, but otherwise you might as well use your known-good ammo. Also there are the various mechanical factors relevant to ammunition for gas guns vs. bolt guns (sizing and feeding, overall length, durability and brass life, gas port pressures etc), but you'll get a good start on that in the various "ammo for M14" articles out there.

You are probably best served by just loading to magazine length (2.800") and not worrying about where the lands are (especially with factory barrels and military-size chambers).

Do be aware that target shooting with an M14 is a bigger challenge than target shooting with a bolt gun. Your scores won't be as high or your groups won't be as small, even when you are doing everything right (so don't let that frustrate you). They are such wonderful rifles, and so fun to shoot...
 
Working with what's available for bullets, I had started out with 150 fmj and soft load(well under max) of rel 15. Accuracy was nothing special, but to be fair I was plinking them pretty fast and just messing around.
I made more of an effort last couple of outings, and got better results with 165 gr interlocks(no fmj available) and about a grain under max(I don't want to pound this gun).
I had a scope mount, but the Ncstar scope did'nt hold zero. I did get about 8" group at 300 yds with the irons last time, which is awesome for my eyesight.
155 might be a little light, but you can't go wrong with varget.
 
Just recently picked up a Norinco M14 and have been really impressed with the accuracy. However I'm having feed problems specifically won't feed at all, have to rack it each time. Everthing is greased up. Tried shooting Federal 150 grain. Have been told it might be the type of ammo. Going to try some FMJ ammo to see what happens. Has anybody had similar problems.
 
The current US M118LR load is 43gn RL-15 under a 175 SMK, and I use 43gn RL15 under a 168 SMK (since I have a bunch handy) with great success presently.

With 4064, I've seen many postings on M1A forums where individuals are using 41.5gn under a 168 SMK with great success to duplicate this load at shorter ranges. Or, alternately, some like the way 42.5gn of IMR4895 (not H4895, they say - slight differences even though they're the same parent company apparently) performs under a 150 FMJ.

YMMV, but I love the RL-15 load I posted above for standard 'plinking'.

-M
 
Grizzlypeg said:
Anyone have a load for 155 Sierra Palmas using 4895? Try the same 41.5g as above?
Click to expand...

That's a very mild load (which is not necessarily a bad thing).

Check out the various "how-to-load-for-an-M14" articles to see what a "sensible max" load is for an M14. In a bolt gun, loads as hot as 45 grains of 4895 with a 155 will be used, but that might not necessarily work happily in an M14-type.
 
Yes! I went over it top to bottom. A fellow at my range has an M14 and suggested the same grease job Idea so I gave it a shot and to no avail, same prob. Do you think it's worth taking back to the gun shop I bought it from to have a gun smith go over it?
 
Mark.M said:
Just recently picked up a Norinco M14 and have been really impressed with the accuracy. However I'm having feed problems specifically won't feed at all, have to rack it each time. Everthing is greased up. Tried shooting Federal 150 grain. Have been told it might be the type of ammo. Going to try some FMJ ammo to see what happens. Has anybody had similar problems.
Click to expand...

I've had nothing but good results with Federal 150 blue box. This is a long shot on the bolt not closing, but I had a problem like that initially, and it went away. A cartridge would be half in the mag, half way out. I see a lot of brass rubbing on the magazine. I wonder if some mags need breaking in? After some shooting, it went away. Also some ammo has really rough cases, and under all that mag tension of a new mag, it might be hard to slide one rough case over another to get it out of the magazine.

Have you got grease in the receiver's groove for the bolt, and the groove for the op rod? Also grease in the op rod's area where the bolt roller moves about?

I'd also try blasting those areas clean again with some brake parts cleaner, and regreasing. It might take some shooting to break it in.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
I've had nothing but good results with Federal 150 blue box. This is a long shot on the bolt not closing, but I had a problem like that initially, and it went away. A cartridge would be half in the mag, half way out. I see a lot of brass rubbing on the magazine. I wonder if some mags need breaking in? After some shooting, it went away. Also some ammo has really rough cases, and under all that mag tension of a new mag, it might be hard to slide one rough case over another to get it out of the magazine.

Have you got grease in the receiver's groove for the bolt, and the groove for the op rod? Also grease in the op rod's area where the bolt roller moves about?

I'd also try blasting those areas clean again with some brake parts cleaner, and regreasing. It might take some shooting to break it in.
Click to expand...

The other thing is the oprod/oprod guide. Sometimes the rod is bent, or the guide sucks, or whatever, but the alignment leads to friction issues.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
I've had nothing but good results with Federal 150 blue box. This is a long shot on the bolt not closing, but I had a problem like that initially, and it went away. A cartridge would be half in the mag, half way out. I see a lot of brass rubbing on the magazine. I wonder if some mags need breaking in? After some shooting, it went away. Also some ammo has really rough cases, and under all that mag tension of a new mag, it might be hard to slide one rough case over another to get it out of the magazine.

Have you got grease in the receiver's groove for the bolt, and the groove for the op rod? Also grease in the op rod's area where the bolt roller moves about?

I'd also try blasting those areas clean again with some brake parts cleaner, and regreasing. It might take some shooting to break it in.
Click to expand...

Well I'll try a little more cleaning and grease as well as a few different loads and see what happens. Thanks for the imput ,hope I get it working it's a fun rifle to shoot.
 
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