Reloading 7.62

[gvanzeggelaar]

which marstar tips are people talking about? These: http://www.marstar.ca/ammo-etc/images/FMB-028-L.jpg

I haven't tried, but I doubt those will feed without tip damage.

Use pointy bullets. SMK work well.

I have used similar bullets and they don't feed worth ####.

 

[purple]

The Hornady 150gr FMJBT is a very good choice. It has proved out to be the best of the non-match FMJs for me and is available in bulk pricing. Try Higginson's Powders.

 

[tjhaile]

Any regular primers that are properly seated will be fine with an M14 in good working order.

I believe that Lee recommends avoiding Federal primers with their priming tool, but this has more to do with a pissing contest between Lee and Federal than with any real danger of a primer explosion.

 

[Dimitri]

Actually I apparently remembered CCI and Winchester but was abit confused, Lee only recommends CCI and Winchester to be used for their press primer and hand primer systems no other primer makers.

Looking online it seems Federal makes very sensitive primers and Remington is somewhere in the middle. And that there is a small risk for chain ignition if you pop a Federal primer in their priming tools. Plus a few mentions that Federal primers will go off with lighter springs. So I would be warry of using them on the M1A/M14 rifles due to risk of slam fire from the floating firing pin.

Dimitri

 

[Gas Can]

.

During the previous 7.62 Surplus ammo shortage 5 or so years ago (Before the last batch of FNM ammo landed) I decided to get a conv kit for my 650. A puchase of ####ty Indian ammo pushed me over the edge. I never thought I would load anything but straight case ammo, but decided to give it a try. Glad I did.

It is a hassel to load shouldered ammo but its worth it, esp if you have a scoped 305 and like to shoot a little further.

With the dollar doing so well I ordered a Dillon 1200 power trimming die to take care of one of my least favorite aspects of reloading...trimming. When it gets here I will write a review.

I still buy suplus if I can find it for a good price, since my time is worth somthing, but my 650 ammo is better than any surplus. I now buy Win or Fed soft point and save the brass. I keep track of the reloads and pitch them after 5 or so.

I use 150gn Bulk Win or Horn FMJ, over 42gns of 4895 or 6064. Lube the cases, run them through and wipe off the lube at the end with a damp rag. I have a Ti expanding ball but still have to put a touch of lube in the neck. A Lee factory crimp die takes care of any neck tension issues. Every other reload I single stage size separatly and trim them.

So in these days of ammo uncertainty its nice not having to rely on spotty surplus ammo supply.

Gas Can

 

[tjhaile]

Regardless of what primer you choose to use, the best way to avoid slamfires in a semiauto rifle is to ALWAYS load from the magazine. Do not feed a round directly into the chamber and let the bolt slam forward on it.

 

[ton45-II]

If you want the best accuracy from your M14, reloading is the route to go. In the end, it all cost but the result of good accuracy is priceless.

 

[milshooter]

There is a risk of slam fire, however the biggest cause of that that I have read about is not inserting the primers deep enough and using brands of primers that are known to be quite soft.

I've got over 500 rounds of reloads thru my M14s using CCI, Federal, Winchester, all went bang and have never had a slam fire.
But I do try to get them seated 5000ths at least. Also have never had any punctures either with "soft" made primers.
Have had plenty of complete punctures on some Chinese .308 surplus and then a bunch that were seated so deep all I could get was a pin strike with no bang.