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Must reading for GAS RIFLE (M1/M14/AR15) type rifles.
I kinda feel like this is required reading. It's the best article on M14 / M1 reloading
ever put down on paper. I would pay special attention to the SLAM FIRE stuff as well as powder choices. Mr. Zediker has written
several book with Mr. David Tubb on high power rifle reloading and comp. Bottom line is these guys knows their rifles and
how not to BLOW them up.
"You'll like this material, and, no fooling, if you have an M14 or M1 you best be paying
attention to what's in it befo you hurt yoseff."
http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf
Recommended .30 caliber M1 loadings from the NRA
147 - 155 grain FMJ or HPBT bullets
IMR
3031 - 48.0 grains
IMR 4895 - 49.0 grains
IMR 4064 - 50.0 grains
W748 - 48.0 grains
AA2460 - 49.0 grains
AA2520
- 51.0 grains
AA2495 - 50.5 grains
H4895 - 49.0 grains
BLC-2 - 49.0 grains
H335 - 49.0 grains
RL-12 -
48.0 grains
165/168 grain FMJ, HP or SP bullets
IMR 4895 - 47.0 grains
IMR 4094 - 48.0 grains
AA2520
- 47.5 grains
AA2495 - 47.0 grains
H4895 - 47.5 grains
BLC-2 - 49.0 grains
H335 - 47.0 grains
RL-12 -
44.5 grains
173/175 grain FMJ or HPBT bullets
IMR 4895 - 46.0 grains
IMR 4064 - 47.0 grains
AA2460
- 46.0 grains
AA2495 - 46.0 grains
H4895 - 47.0 grains
BLC-2 - 48.0 grains
180 grain FMJ, SP or HPBT bullets
IMR 4895 - 43.0 grains
AA2460 - 46.5 grains
AA2495 - 45.5 grains
H4895 - 44.0 grains
BLC-2 - 47.5 grains
RL-12 - 41.5 grains
Cases:
*The loads listed above use comerical cases* WW seems to be the best cases. If yhou
are using Millspec cases you should reduce the powder charge by 1.5 Gr and work up slowly.
Primers:
I also
recommend the use of WW large rifle primers due the fact that they are almost as hard as mil spec. The CCI #34 is a mil spec
primer but, it's a MAG primer as well and should be used with ball powder. Federal Gold Medal Match primers are very good
primers but, some say they are are very soft and should not be used in a "M" gun due to the fact of SLAM FIRES!
Powders:
As far as powders go IMR 4895,H4895 and IMR 4064 are great powders to use with the M1 in .30 cal. Some use Varget,RL 15 and
VV140 but, your results may vary. A word to the wise: The old rule of thumb on powder is nothing faster than 4895 and nothing
slower than 4064. Good words to load by.
Bullets: The 168 Sierra Match King and the 175 Sierra Match King are
the two bullets I would look to if I was looking to make "Match" ammo for a 1-10 twist GI rifle. The 168 is a 300 meter bullet
with a older designed boat tail. It still works great but, the 175 MK is the way to fly. The BC is something like 19% better
and that translates to less knob twisting at 600 yards or so. The 175 Mk is basically a redesigned 173 gr GI match bullet
built to stabilize in a 1-12 twist barrel. I would not shoot bullets any heavier than a 175gr in a GI gun that I really cared
about. People used to shoot the 180 gr MK but, thats before the 175mk came out.
Match Loads:
The old standard
"M72" LC match ammo shoots pretty good in GI rifles and Federal Gold Medal Match shoots really good in some rifles but, if
you want to come up with a load that shoots like a house a fire try these out for size. * I can not profess to be the guy
who came up with these super duty match loads. The M1 has been around a long time now and there really is nothing new as far
as loads go. Sure the VLD bullets and new designer powders have come out and made things better? Right?.......Right. For my
money these will work all day every day.*
175gr MK
WW large Pri
WW case
47gr 4064
3.340 OaL MAX
168
MK
WW Large Pri
WW case
48 4064
3.340 OAL MAX
4895 works just as well in these loads just adjust the
charge per the chart above. H4895 never hurt a thing either.
CCI #34 Mil Spec Primers
Hey Guys, Just a heads on Mil Spec Primers. I have been using the CCI#34 Mil
Spec (Large Rifle) in my N.M. Garand and I have found out something I think you should know. The Mil spec Primers are hard
MAGNUM PRIMER best used with ball powder or in any other load that you need a MAG primer. I have used them with IMR4895 and
IMR 4064 and they tend to burn HOT! CCI says about 25% hotter than a normal large rifle primer. They do work great as far
as preventing slam fires and I am sure they work well for their application just not so well with stick powder. Here it is
from CCI:
CCIŽ No. 34 and No. 41 MILITARY RIFLE PRIMERS
Military-style semi-auto rifles seldom have firing
pin retraction springs. If care is not used in assembling ammunition, a “slam-fire” can occur before the bolt
locks. The military arsenals accomplish this using different techniques and components—including different primer sensitivity
specifications—from their commercial counterparts. CCI makes rifle primers for commercial sale that matches military
sensitivity specs that reduce the chance of a slam-fire when other factors go out of control*. If you’re reloading for
a military semi-auto, look to CCI Military primers.
*Effective slam-fire prevention requires more than special primers.
Headspace, chamber condition, firing pin shape and protrusion, bolt velocity, cartridge case condition, and other factors
can affect slam-fire potential.
FEATURES & BENEFITS:
Mil-spec sensitivity
Initiator mix optimized
for ball/spherical propellants
Available in large (No.34) and small (No. 41) rifle
Use the same data as CCI Magnum
primers
USAGE:
Military-style semi-automatic rifles
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