Reloading for a Norinco M14s Questions

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RockyMountain

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I'm going to start reloading for my Norinco M14s

Does anyone know where I can double check the specs for OAL and min / max powder amounts online? I've got some 155 gr sierra laupas and some 150 gr hornady FMJs. I'm going to use BLC-2 for powder.

Also, what's the deal with neck crimping? I've got the Lee Deluxe Rifle Die Set. I know I should full length resize the brass, but should I also buy a crimp die?

Thanks in advance
 
I have loaded over 500,000 rounds of 308/7.62 and have yet to put a serious crimp on a case mouth. Most were loaded with no crimp and the rest with a taper crimper to remove the bell mouth put on the case so bullets could be inserted without scratching.

My own ammo is shot in a Garand, M14 and a Rem 740, and have never seen any indication that a neck crimp was required. You can try it later, if you like, but you don't need it now (or ever, so far as I can tell.)

A good OAL for a 308/7.62 is 2.800" To test OAL, make some longer ones, say 2.850" and load five in the mag and see if they will go in without binding. The round has to be short enough to go in the mag and short enough so as to not engage the rifling. 2.800" works in every factory chamber I have loaded for.

BLC2 is a good powder choice. It will meter perfectly. I load 46 gr of that under a 155 gr bullet. Same charge will work just fine for a 150 gr.

You might try loading from 45 to 48 in half grain increments, to see what groups the best. This will work with military and commercial cases.

When you go to decap and resize your cases, set your full length sizer so it does not quite hit the shell holder. This will size the neck properly and size the body and shoulder very lightly. Then chamber this case and make sure it fits ok.

The Norinco chambers I have measured are about 10 to 15 thou deep. The shoulder will move forward that much when you fire the round, No point in pushing it back the same amount when you resize. That will just fatigue the case.

Enjoy.
 
another way to customize your reloads to your exact chamber specs, is to use the shoulder smoking method.. I do this with my m14 reloads.. (and all my other rifles)

here's how to do it:

-fire a factory case out of your rifle
-when you get home, take a candle and hold the shoulder of the fired case over the flame until it turns black.

-back your resizing die out of your press a few turns
-put the smoked case in the shell holder and and run it into the die.
-when the case comes out of the die inspect the black shoulder,
if the shoulder is still black,
-turn the die down a quarter turn and run it thru again.
-repeat running the case in and out of the die and slowly lowering the die until the black shoulder is smudged..
-once you find the exact spot where the die touches the shoulder of the fired case.. lock your die with the locking ring.

using this process, your reloads will be sized exactly to your chamber specs.. (only for that particular rifle)

but like Ganderite said, your AOL is going to be limited to the length of the mag..

i also never crimp any of my reloads for my norc.. i tried it once, out of curiosity and it didnt really make a difference in accuracy.
 
I appreciate all the good info! Being a newb to reloading, I've heard many people say to always double check the manual to be safe. What I'm really looking for is a reference where I can look up the reloading specs for BLC-2 and the 155 gr sierra laupas and 150 gr hornady FMJs. I asked about getting a reloading manual at the local store for this purpose, and was told it would be easier to find the info for this combination online. The only thing is, I don't know where to find it.
 
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