M1A Ammo Question

rdinatal

rdinatal

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Like the tale of care and feeding of a Garand: Only Milspec ammo

Does the M1A have the same diet restrictions? Or, can it be fed any COTS ammo?
 
IIRC 7.62x51 is not loaded as hot as .308 win; check which your rifle is chambered for. In a practical sense I don't think there is enough difference to matter, but read your manual.
 
175's are about the highest you want to go.

The M21 was fed a diet of 173 M118 so you will be fine. BUT most M1A's crap the bed around 800 yards so I never did higher then 168grn.

The BDC is calibrated for 147grn, but the 168's are close enough for irons. 175grn add two clicks every 200 yards.

IF I was going to reload ammunition, go with the 155grn Nosler match on 43.5grns IMR 4064 with LC brass.
 
Car0linab0y said:
IIRC 7.62x51 is not loaded as hot as .308 win; check which your rifle is chambered for. In a practical sense I don't think there is enough difference to matter, but read your manual.
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Read???!!! How dare you!!

Novel idea though. đź‘Ť I'm venturing into unfamiliar territory.
 
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Do you re-load?
 
rdinatal said:
Yes, but not for 308 (yet).

That's a lot of time you spent posting those. Thank you.

Some great reading!
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Pour one out for the author. He passed in October 2020. He had a great writing style that continues to be helpful for beginner and experienced alike.
 
Nato marked, or Match as in LC Match marked
Back in the day we pulled the military LC match bullet
replaced them with Sierra 168gr HPBT aka "Mexican
Match ammo."
Reloading wise it's CCI-200 primers, IMR 4064 or
IMR-4895, mostly 4064, powder charges range 40.5 grs
to 42.7 depending on which bullet mostly Bergers 155-175,
The old standby Sierra 168 HPBT. All in LC Match brass
The match M1A's have Kreiger barrels. The ole Devine M1A
with an ole Leatherwood ART scope is a sweet shootin rifle
it likes the Sierra 168's. Of course the standard issue M1A'S
get 150 FMJ, 4895 powder.
To mention Lapua Scenars shoot great also, have a bunch of
moly coated ones I don't reload and shoot that often..backup,
special loads. Its a pain trying to keep track of the different load
data, also load for Bolt Actions using Palma Lapua brass.
Happy with the M1A'S, great shooters. Not hard to load for
honestly, same process as normal rounds, sometimes apply
a taper crimp. CH-Tool n Die Company (CH4D now)

-Snoopz
 
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While the Garand is very ammo picky, the M1A isn't. While there are certain loads that do perform best for M1A's, any commercial 7.62x51 or 308 win should function in them.

I usually buy whatever the cheapest 308 match ammo I can find for mine, and its shot well. If you can find it, Federal/American Eagle has made a M1A match round that mine really likes.
 
RedneckFur said:
While the Garand is very ammo picky, the M1A isn't. While there are certain loads that do perform best for M1A's, any commercial 7.62x51 or 308 win should function in them.

I usually buy whatever the cheapest 308 match ammo I can find for mine, and its shot well. If you can find it, Federal/American Eagle has made a M1A match round that mine really likes.
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Garands aren't that ammo picky at all however the internet will imply otherwise.
 
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