Reloading M-14(m305) .308 cal

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CerealBlast

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Alright, I plan on reloading for the M-14. I'm looking for recipes and possible issues people are having. I'm thinking of using 168 grain bullet, not sure it this is the best bullet weight to use. Also I've never relaoded for a semi, what powder should i get. Also how many times can you re-use the brass?

I'm currently reloading for my 300 wsm bolt.

Thanks :)
 
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CerealBlast said:
Alright, I plan on reloading for the M-14. I'm looking for recipes and possible issues people are having. I'm thinking of using 168 grain bullet, not sure it this is the best bullet weight to use. Also I've never relaoded for a semi, what powder should i get. Also has many times can you re-use the brass?

I'm currently reloading for my 300 wsm bolt.

Thanks :)
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I think that 168 gr is a little too heavy for 308 win. I find that 155 gr are best for that caliber.

I don't have any centerfire rifles that are semiauto, but I do think that your brass has to be full length sized each time, thus this will shorten the brass life.

I reload for 300 WSM too. I used H-4350 for that using a 168 gr bullet. As for the 308 win, I use H-4895. Not sure if that is good for semiauto 308 win.
 
FL size every time

IMR 4895 or H4895

Toss cases In Garbage after the 4th time you fire them

Any bullet between 147gr and 168gr

Make sure they fit in the mag

There are several multi page threads in this section with more load options.
 
Lots of info out there already.
My current load is a 168gr hornaday amax sitting on 43.5 grains of IMR 4064
Will be trying out some 155's shortly as well.
 
CanuckR said:
Lots of info out there already.
My current load is a 168gr hornaday amax sitting on 43.5 grains of IMR 4064
Will be trying out some 155's shortly as well.
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Is this load for the m-14? I'm looking for a baseline to start.

I would like to use a 168gr bullet, so i can try it in my 300 as well. I have been using the nozler accubond 180 gr's.
 
Been shooting the Hornady amax 168 grs. as well, I think better accuracy than the ball ammo, not too heavy and 1" groups at 100m scoped. They are commercial loads so they get a bit expensive after a while. Ordered some 145 grs. Norinco Ball ammo at a good price and will see what they do for less than half the price. I think I will eventually settle on 155 grs. loads of good cheap ammo, somewhere in the middle of price to accuracy for target shooting. For hunting, I will stick to the 168 grs. to 180 grs. of commercial ammo because I dont reload and you usually dont need more than one shot anyway. :cool:
 
CerealBlast said:
Is this load for the m-14? I'm looking for a baseline to start.

I would like to use a 168gr bullet, so i can try it in my 300 as well. I have been using the nozler accubond 180 gr's.
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Spend more time researching pros and not asking inexperienced members "who think 168gr is too heavy"

There is LOTS of info and websites regarding the M14 and reloads. As with any semi they can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. I can tell you what I think you should use and how to do it but there will be a dozen guys that will say I'm wrong.

For brass you need to know its history (how many firings), how hot the load is and visible signs that things are getting ugly (damaged necks, loose primer pocket, case/head separation, extractor damage, etc) M14's kick the s**t out of the brass. If you have a factory chamber then you really need to pay attention to the sizing die when resizing fired brass from your rifle.

Bottom line I suggest you research like I did and talk to old school M14 shooters (they love helping newbies that love these rifles)
 
if he thinks that "168 grains is too heavy for the 308 winchester" then he ought to have a talk with some of the game that has met its end at the hands of my 308/180s- i consider it a pity that i can't use that load in my m14s- that's PLURAL, as in MORE THAN ONE- for the m14, i use 43-44 grains of ww748, magnum primer( it's a BALL POWDER, REMEMBER) a 165 grain bullet for hunting- if you want to go match, you just change the bullet (and i am thankful to glenn zediker and his PUBLISHED research) as i just varied the powder charge up and down to find each rifle's "sweet spot" - this is the m118 SPECIAL LONG RANGE loading developed for the m14 by the us army marksmanship team
 
t-star said:
if he thinks that "168 grains is too heavy for the 308 winchester" then he ought to have a talk with some of the game that has met its end at the hands of my 308/180s- i consider it a pity that i can't use that load in my m14s- that's PLURAL, as in MORE THAN ONE- for the m14, i use 43-44 grains of ww748, magnum primer( it's a BALL POWDER, REMEMBER) a 165 grain bullet for hunting- if you want to go match, you just change the bullet (and i am thankful to glenn zediker and his PUBLISHED research) as i just varied the powder charge up and down to find each rifle's "sweet spot" - this is the m118 SPECIAL LONG RANGE loading developed for the m14 by the us army marksmanship team
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t-star, I guess my pet load of 165 Hornady spirepoint flat base on top of 46.5 grs Olin 748 in front of a CCI250mp, is too hot for the M-14's oprod to handle?
Funny the BLR seemd to digest it quite well, and it was the most accurate

load at 100yds. It seemed to me with all my experimentation many years ago with 4895,4064,Olin748 and 165 gr bulllets for the .308Winchester, the 748 ruled, albeit with a little more flash:eek:!

I do see alot of experienced shooters and published data recommending the 4895 rate powders, so I would start there for mine as well. 748 is a hair faster.

Wasn't the Olin 748 powder developed with the 762NATO ball cartridge 0f 144-150gr weight in mind????
 
Andy said:
I keep it simple: most accurate load I can develop with Hornady 150 gr FMJ over H4895.
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Correct. The most accurate load you can do for a .308 win is using a 150 - 155 gr bullet.

Sure, you can put a 168 gr, 180 gr or even and 200 gr bullet in a .308 win case, but accuracy decreases. Someone referred to me as an "inexperienced shooter." How the hell do they know? You can't judge the experience of a shooter just by the number of posts they have on this forum. These people just don't understand that I'm the best shot ever and they wish to be like me. Furthermore, I'm the best reloader ever.
 
lol, alright guys...this isn't mean't to be a pissing match. I understand that everyone will have a different special load for their rifle. I've learn't in the past that all rifles are different even if they are the same make. Every rifle may have different max pressure load as well. From what i've read in the past the 168gr bullet has the best trajectory/speed/energy in the .308. Only testing will ensure thats true. For right now this rifle will be shooting iron sights....max 200yrds.
 
buy a book

Hornady reloading manual, last two editions have special sections for reloading 308 and 30'06 for M1A and M1. Maybe someone will photocopy one for you.Can't go wrong that way and lots of interesting reading. Be careful too, eh.
 
RememberTheSomme said:
t-star, I guess my pet load of 165 Hornady spirepoint flat base on top of 46.5 grs Olin 748 in front of a CCI250mp, is too hot for the M-14's oprod to handle?
Funny the BLR seemd to digest it quite well, and it was the most accurate

load at 100yds. It seemed to me with all my experimentation many years ago with 4895,4064,Olin748 and 165 gr bulllets for the .308Winchester, the 748 ruled, albeit with a little more flash:eek:!

I do see alot of experienced shooters and published data recommending the 4895 rate powders, so I would start there for mine as well. 748 is a hair faster.

Wasn't the Olin 748 powder developed with the 762NATO ball cartridge 0f 144-150gr weight in mind????
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i found it too hot IN MY RIFLES- i ran into pressure signs just at 44 grains- the savage 99, however, can take full factory loads as it's a 308 winchester chamber, not a 7.62x51- this is where the apples and oranges begin to separate- your blr may very well take 46.5 for a 165, same as my savage 99 can take 180's all day- loads that i wouldn't DARE try in an 51mm chamber- if you can, see if you can find glenn zediker's article on m14 match loads and look at all the different powders he tried, all the different weights, and draw your own conclusions- i did- the ONLY difference was that he used an m1a, not an m14-
as far as the powder goes, you have to remember that the military loads for SPECIFICATION, not performance- as long as you meet spec, ( which was m2 06 ball at the time- ie a 150 grain bullet at 2700 fps) they were happy- they NEVER see what ELSE a powder or a heavier charge will do, nor a heavier bullet weight- that's the job of the r&d boys, civilans like zediker, and the amu
 
CerealBlast said:
Alright, I plan on reloading for the M-14. I'm looking for recipes and possible issues people are having. I'm thinking of using 168 grain bullet, not sure it this is the best bullet weight to use. Also I've never relaoded for a semi, what powder should i get. Also how many times can you re-use the brass?

I'm currently reloading for my 300 wsm bolt.

Thanks :)
Click to expand...

168/7 HPBT
Had success with IMR 8208 (higher pressure powder)
You need enough pressure so it operates smoothly. Too much no good...too little no good.

Start from the mins on whatever powder and work up to the max's. Note them all and compare.

Any changes in setup and you will have to tinker again :mad:

If you need it I have a 308 brass that's about to go. Keep several for reference. Want one let me know.
 
150 or 155gr Bullet any one will do.
42-43gr of H4895 in Military cases
44-45gr in Commercial ones.
Very simple and very close to mil-spec Ball ammo, which the gas system was intended for.
Accurate with good bullets and reliable.
Nuff said.
 
I'm going to be loading up some Hornady 150gr. BTSP's...I figure they're a good cheap bullet for plinking and hunting with the stock USGI gas cyl.

Stuck on powder though. I buy VARGET in bulk for my .22-250, .243, .308 lever etc...love it. But I hear from a lot of guys that it's too slow burning and hard on the op-rod...aaaannnnnd I also hear of guys with 1000+ rounds (internet...I take it with a grain of salt) with no probs.

Experience? Thoughts?
 
The last few years i have been use hornady 165gr sst on top of 45.5 gr of varget in federal, and winchester match casings and i have had great results.

But i am also about to test a batch of lapua 155gr scenars soon, looking forward to see if they are gonna out preform my 165 grs sst's on the same amount of varget.
 
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