Reloading for the M14

I've just purchased an M1A again and will start reloading for it. I'm going to purchase a Redding full length type S die so I can interchange the neck bushing to control neck tension and not resize the neck down too much. As a bench rest shooter as well I believe in the importance of controlling neck tension for optimum accuracy regardless of your discipline. Might be a nice option for those of you who want to both neck size and full length.
 
I've read a lot about slam fires in M1/ M1A/ M14 rifles. I've reloaded in the past for my USGI M14. A number of different things may contribute to the phenomenon. High primers, soft primers, tight chambers, long cases, stuck firing pins. Nobody has ever really pinpointed the exact cause(s) as there is little left to look at. It may be just fine to neck size for your semi auto with a full floating firing pin. The reloading companies will tell you to full length resize for them with small base dies. A lot of the experts will also. Many insist that military brass be used as well in military chambers.

If you have seen the effects of a slam fire, cutting the reciever in half and maiming the shooter you'll think hard and long about neck sizing your brass for an M14. I sure wouldn't be the guy to recomend it to others in writing.
 
I understand the importance of full length resizing for semi out rifles but forgive me if this is a silly question. I don't understand the need for a small base die. Are military spec chambers or any other factory chamber for that matter in M14 rifles built to such tolerances that a small base die is necessary? Perhaps they are used as an extra measure of certainty against slam fires? Further opinions on this would be welcomed. Thanks.
 
Small base sizers are intended for military semi auto firearms. In the past I used regular full length. Small base are just a few more thousandth's under.
 
I understand that small base dies are a few thou under nominal sizing dies. But why are they needed for military chambers? The bench rest crowd uses small base dies to resize their brass so the effort to close the bolt is reduced thus reducing movement of the rifle in the bags. Mil spec chambers aren't nearly as close tolerance as bench rest chambers. Don't misinterpret my tone as argumentative. I'm just trying to understand.
 
When your rifle fires the brass expands to the size of the chamber and then returns part of the way back. I expect when you FL size the same thing happens. By going undersize you are making sure you get closer to original case dimensions.

In a lot of hobbies you meet the guys who don't have the funds (or won't spend them) to do things the way they probably should. Trying to get as many firings out of your cases from an M14 as you do your Rem 700 is a good example. You should except that it's not going to happen. Full length resize, trim twice and discard. Of course some will try to sell those cases to another shooter.

This is just my own opinion. Do what you are comfortable with. Please just don't stand next to me on the line.

I think most bench rest guys neck size and some even use the same case at a competition.
 
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The bench rest crowd uses full length with a small base and neck size at the same time. We use the same brass until cases gets work hardened. I use my brass for an entire season of shooting, sometimes more, but i don't compete that much so my cases don't get overworked quickly.

I guess to get an answer to my question I need to find out what the typical chamber dimensions are for an M14 and to what dimensions a nominal full length die will resize fired brass down to. Or just measure a fired case and compare that way. Thanks for your input.
 
I've been using small base dies and resizing my .308 loads to the minumum for the last three years; but that was because the reading I did told me to do so, and because I shoot the same reloads in five differernt .308's. However, it's hard on brass, particularly with maximum loads.

Once I fire my current batch of loaded ammo, I'll separate 50 brass for use in my M14 and try neck sizing only.
 
I reloaded rounds for an AR10 and found out that they wouldn't feed. I since discovered that even though I full length resized those cases, I needed to buy a small case resizing die. So that's my recommendation, go to a small case resizing die. They will more than pay for themselves.
 
I neck sized only for my M305 when I had it and had no issues. Same went for the XCR in .223 when I had it.

I'm not recommending you do this, but it wasn't a problem for me.
 
f55 said:
150gr Hornady SP interlock, 42gr IMR4985,CCI BR-2 primers,FL,2.775 OAL with crimp

Hope it works :)
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That's pretty much what I use. Full length sized with Lee dies.
I run 43 grains of H4895 and it's a great load for the M14, pretty much a classic.

Nice hard primers to prevent slamfires, about 2750fps (perfect). And 2-3" groups at 100yds with Iron sights. Whats not to like?
 
diananike said:
That's pretty much what I use. Full length sized with Lee dies.
I run 43 grains of H4895 and it's a great load for the M14, pretty much a classic.

Nice hard primers to prevent slamfires, about 2750fps (perfect). And 2-3" groups at 100yds with Iron sights. Whats not to like?
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I will be trying the bullets out in afew hours, only 50 meters to start, the only thing that worried me was the OAL, also going to try military brass, probably use 40gr instead of 42gr.

0.6" groups at 50meters with above load with light crimp, the factory ammo was 1.2" so very pleased with the results. :)
 
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hend238 said:
I understand the importance of full length resizing for semi out rifles but forgive me if this is a silly question. I don't understand the need for a small base die. Are military spec chambers or any other factory chamber for that matter in M14 rifles built to such tolerances that a small base die is necessary? Perhaps they are used as an extra measure of certainty against slam fires? Further opinions on this would be welcomed. Thanks.
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To be absolutely certain of adequate re-sizing the best check is to use the rifle itself as a gauge for the re-sized brass. Remove the oprod and strip the bolt, then trial fit the re-sized cases in the chamber. If the bolt closes fully w/o resistance, you are good to go. This is a no sh*t indication of whether or not the cases are sufficiently re-sized as a precaution against an out of battery detonation.

A lot of folks focus on shoulder length alone when re-sizing, but the radial diameter of the case body is equally important. This is where the small base dies can have a purpose. Having said that, I have reloaded for a few dozen Garands and three 7.62 rifles (Garands and original M14), and always found that ordinary re-sizing dies (RCBS and Redding) were just fine. I always FL re-size for these rifles using military brass and do not attempt to get any more than 4 firing cycles out of the brass.
 
purple said:
To be absolutely certain of adequate re-sizing the best check is to use the rifle itself as a gauge for the re-sized brass. Remove the oprod and strip the bolt, then trial fit the re-sized cases in the chamber. If the bolt closes fully w/o resistance, you are good to go. This is a no sh*t indication of whether or not the cases are sufficiently re-sized as a precaution against an out of battery detonation.

A lot of folks focus on shoulder length alone when re-sizing, but the radial diameter of the case body is equally important. This is where the small base dies can have a purpose. Having said that, I have reloaded for a few dozen Garands and three 7.62 rifles (Garands and original M14), and always found that ordinary re-sizing dies (RCBS and Redding) were just fine. I always FL re-size for these rifles using military brass and do not attempt to get any more than 4 firing cycles out of the brass.
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I agree Purple , but i'm speaking mainly from reloading for spoting autoloaders and some tight chambered,weak primary extraction lever guns in .308 Win, such as the Savage 99 etc. With full power loads the SB dies definitely were the trick and i sucked up the short case life as it seemed there was always alot of once fired .308 kicking around. You'd still get the amount of reloads you already stated. It's a trade off I guess of case life versus absolute reliablity/safety.I'm following all the handloading for the M-14 because it's the next target on my list. Does anyone use Olin 748 anymore for the 7.62NATO/150 class round?:canadaFlag:
 
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Nothing wrong with W748 in the 7.62. Same for BLC2 and H335. Other proven propellants are; IMR4895, IMR4064, IMR3031, and H4895. All of these generate the correct gas system pressure pulse in an M14 or Garand and are accurate to boot.
 
purple said:
Nothing wrong with W748 in the 7.62. Same for BLC2 and H335. Other proven propellants are; IMR4895, IMR4064, IMR3031, and H4895. All of these generate the correct gas system pressure pulse in an M14 or Garand and are accurate to boot.
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Thanks,

I still got 748, 4895, 4064 and 3031 left , but i'll have to check and see if there's any rusties inside, it's been along time and I'll have to beg to set my press up where i live now LOL.:)
 
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