.308 ammo
Hello experts. Just got some NATO 308 in sealed bags and wanted to know the difference between pkgs with a yellow circle and black circle, old man I got it from said the black was armour piercing. Any ideas? Thanks as always B.C..
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Hi, i have a springfield M1A national match and i dont always want to use match grade ammo. Its just too expensive. i tried using surplus ammo, like that austrailian stuff, and i tried wolf too... they are both pretty bad performers. does anyone know of some less expensive ammo that shoots decent? What i am looking for is just a day of fun, without spending a ton of money on ammo.
Thanks,
Martin Janczak0 -
Ever think of reloading?
You get what you pay for when it comes to ammo.0 -
yes i have thought of that and almost did go out and buy reloading equipment but there were more cons then pro's. Everyone i have talked to and every article i have read specifically states that reloading is not recomended for my rifle, which is a semi-automatic military spotter gun. from what i hear it is very easy to blow up your gun, and also brass doesnt last very long anyways in the M1a, the action is pretty rough on it. So after much thought i just said hell with it, and am currently trying to find what i have listed above. 0 -
The only way I know to shoot good ammo at lower prices is to reload and use match bullets. You can buy 100 168 gr match bullets for about the same price as 20 rounds of match ammo. 0 -
I don't know about your rifle, but I load for my Springfield M1A all the time. I have never found it to be very hard on brass and I would trust my reloads a lot more than Wolf ammo. 0 -
I don't know what the present policy is, but when the USMC used M-14s for qualification we fired standard spec ammo during the week, then for score we fired Match ammo. The Match was brand new, but the standard was reloaded several times and still worked reasonably well. I'd ask someone at the range if they're interested in doing some loading for you. Generally if you buy the components and possibly a small gratutity (six-pack,etc), there are several willing providers. Blowing up the gun is not usually a problem as long as proper loading procedures are followed. I reload 308s as well as 20,16 & 12 ga shells for my hunter education classes, for the live-fire portion, and this is certified and insured by the state, which says something about the lack of problems. As far as case life, you may need to use "small base" dies, which sizes the case to slightly smaller dimensions than regular full length, but in either situation, I'd expect you to get at least 5 reloadings- and probably closer to 10. It's easy to tell if there is a problem by feeling the inside of the case, near the web, with a straightened out paper clip. 0 -
Sir,
Every manufacture says DO NOT USE RELOADS for liability reasons. I am sure all the guys that shoot Camp Perry 1000 yard match reload for their M1As and how often do you hear about their guns blowing up?
Sure it is possible, but if you follow all the rules and guidelines of reloading it is very unlikely to happen.
And honestly if you want to shoot tight groups, its going to cost. There is no way around it. If you wanna go out and blast, who cares if it takes you 5 shots to hit your target with WOLF or surplus.0 -
well, since so many of you insist, i will once again reconsiter reloading my ammo, does anybody have some aditional info on reloading an m-14, or know a good reloading rig, with basically everything i need?, Thanks
Martin0 -
Like others that have replied to your question I also reload for the M14/M1A. The only caution that I would cite is to use powders of a medium burning rate, such as H-335, IMR-4895, WW-748, IMR-3031, H-414 or AA-2520. If you use slow burning powders in this type of rifle you risk bending the operating rod as the gas port pressure will be to high. For best results load a match quality 165-168 grain bullet. Get at least two reloading manuals to help you get started and try several different loads and makes of bullets to find what your rifle likes best. In a short time you will recover the cost of your reloading outfit and supplies. 0 -
One of the other things about reloading is the quality of your brass. If you can find Lake City brass it is very thick and I belive that Winchester is the comerical one that is thick too. The better the brass the longer it will last and the more consistant it will be.
Any good single stage press woud be a good one to start with (you will get hooked). I prefer the RCBS but Dillion makes good ones too. If you are starting out on a tight budget some guys really like the Lee press, but I havent used one so I dont know.
John0 -
quote:Originally posted by Sir Martin
well, since so many of you insist, i will once again reconsiter reloading my ammo, does anybody have some aditional info on reloading an m-14, or know a good reloading rig, with basically everything i need?, Thanks
Martin
Please do! My M1A has had a few thousand reloads through it. You are not going to hurt it one bit.
The key is to full size your brass and keep it in 7.62 NATO spec. when you are just starting out. Most load books will seperate that data from the .308 win just to keep it simple for the beginer.
NRA Life Endowment Member0 -
ok thanks, could anyone reccomend a book or pamphlet that i should buy for reloading the 308, or just reloading in general?, also, would i have to size the case each time?
Martin0 -
Start with the Lyman manual, it has step by step instructions on reloading. For a semi-auto you need to size the whole case.You will have to size your brass every time,but it's not that big a deal. Once you realize how easy reloading is you'll wonder why you didn't start sooner. Just make sure to stay within the loads and pressure levels in the manuals.Get at least two or three different books and check the load in each one to make sure one of them is not a misprint,it does happen. Most of the powder companies have loading manuals you can get for free.If your on a budget you can get a Lee Anniversary Kit for about $70.00. It has everything you need but a set of dies and the components. 0 -
Sir,..funny thing about a .308,....I have yet to see one shoot a factory load as well as a tuned handload. You have chosen wisely to start handloading,...especially considering your other threads and inquiries.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?0 -
Sometimes bargains can be found in reloading equipment. It has been my experience that used ones don't sell too well. You may find a press, powder scale, powder measure, bullet trimmer, etc. for the cost of a new press. Check at gun shows and watch the want adds. 0
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