Powder for M1A, M305

[Redmaple]

What type of powder and load do you use for your M1A, M305?

 

[plmnkoqaz]

Imr or H 4895

 

[Redmaple]

That's pretty much the standard. I wonder if anyone uses anything else??

Imr or H 4895

 

[Redmaple]

Has anyone tried the powder from the NORINCO 7.62x51 available from Canada AMMO? I bought a case but it does not function well in my M305 - way too hot..

 

[Melnibonean]

W748 mostly, as I shoot quite a lot and like the lower flame temp it produces (supposed to prolong barrel longevity). Also meters fantastic.
H4895 and IMR 8208 XBR whenever I have new primers or projectiles to re-work a load up for. Have used both and really like them.

 

[Jaytwo]

Imr 4895.

 

[Fender57]

Imr 4064

 

[sunray]

Any powder for .308 will do, but IMR4064 gives better consistency than IMR4895 in both .308 and .30-06. Especially with match bullets. Wouldn't bother with those with a stock M305 though. An M1A isn't an M305.

 

[woodlotowner]

H-380 or BL-C(2).

 

[Old Ranger]

I've tried most of the medium burners in both my Norinco M14 and M1 Garand. Settled on IMR 4064 in both years ago. Best accuracy in both rifles compared to other powders. That was about 30 lbs ago and I have no plans on switching in the future . The only down side to 4064 is long grain structure which may not meter as well as short grained and ball powders. Doesn't do badly in my old Lyman 55

 

[theDuck]

4064, aa2520

 

[beltfed]

Google "zediker M14 handloading" for an article Glen Zediker did years ago on handloading for an M14.
The article is sussinct and easy to read. Probably the best bit of reloading info on the M14 anywhere; it should be in every hand loader's binder. The author brings to the article decades of US high power shooting not only under his belt, but many famous shooters and gunsmiths as well.

In it he summarizes the '14's issue with port pressures and covers the range of powders one should be using.
"Anything that is good for .308" is most definately not applicable...

 

[Boomer686]

Any powder for .308 will do, but IMR4064 gives better consistency than IMR4895 in both .308 and .30-06. Especially with match bullets....

x2! I have tried a few different powders as well and have found IMR4064 to be consistently better.

 

[ivor]

I use TAC, It does all the things that I want it to do, plus, oddly enough no copper fouling. No copper fouling is a huge thing in this rifle.
Ivor

 

[TACTICAL111]

Imr 8208 xbr

 

[Jmiverson]

Google "zediker M14 handloading" for an article Glen Zediker did years ago on handloading for an M14.
The article is sussinct and easy to read. Probably the best bit of reloading info on the M14 anywhere; it should be in every hand loader's binder. The author brings to the article decades of US high power shooting not only under his belt, but many famous shooters and gunsmiths as well.

In it he summarizes the '14's issue with port pressures and covers the range of powders one should be using.
"Anything that is good for .308" is most definately not applicable...

This is a very important point as I have read. There is a balance to be achieved when loading for an m14 / garand. Slower burning powders create too much port pressure even though chamber pressure is low. Imr 4064 I believe is the slowest to be used. Faster powders such as 8208 are good but watch chamber pressures.

That said, 4895 was designed for the pressures m14s should operate at.

 

[ton45-II]

IMR or Hogdon 4895 or any other powder brand with similar burn rate as these two.

 

[grizzly416]

bl-c2 is my go to powder

 

[r_taylor]

I have had great success with 4895 for 150 gr and RL15 for SMK 168. The 168 SMK's hit the gong every time at 650 meters with very gentle recoil from my M1A NM.