Reloading | M1A Rifles | M1A Forum

I loaded up some 168 gr Barnes TSX bullets and fired them in my M1A over the weekend with a friend of mine…I was getting shotgun patterns at 100 yds.  Does anyone else handload for this rifle, and if so what is the best load to use in the rifle for hunting?

Muledeerhunter said:

….I Does anyone else handload for this rifle, and if so what is the best load to use in the rifle for hunting?

I'm a new M1A owner, but I've been handloading for a long time.  My initial handloads for my rifle (a 'Standard' M1A) were 40 rds. using Hornady's 150 gr. FMJ-BT and once fired PMC cases.  I loaded 20 cases with 41 gr. IMR 4064 and 20 with 41 gr. H4895, all with WLR primers. These loads were approximately 75 – 80 percent of maximum according to Hornady's Sixth edition reloading manual.  I used the manual's specified COAL.  As it was my rifle's 'debut,' I used five of the 4064 loads to sight the rifle, and then used up the remaining loads on two SR-1 targets (NRA 100 yd. military type) The accuracy was very good with both loads with a slight edge perhaps going to the 4895.  I didn't chronograph the loads, but the manual says they're both close to 2500 fps.  Pressure signs were moderate-high, with a small amount of radius on the edge of the primers.  The rifle ejected the cases neatly about four feet away.  Shooting off a rest, with about 60 seconds interval between shots I had no trouble keeping every round inside the 10-ring in both targets at 100 yds.  I was delighted with these results for my first session with this rifle.  I've loaded up some LC-07 cases with the same parameters and plan to shoot them tomorrow to see how they work out.  I might go up another half grain later just to see what happens but as far as I'm concerned I've already got an excellent utility load that won't beat the crap out of an expensive new rifle. I'll surely do some workups with 168 gr Match bullets, and I'm very optimistic if today's session is anything to go by. The 150 gr. Hornadys are inexpensive (relatively) purchased in bulk, and they'll provide fun at the range, and help keep the bugs off the porchlight.

I neglected to mention that I tried some of my 'standard' .308 loads with that 150 gr. bullet.  They are what I use in my two other .308's, both of which are bolt rifles.  The loads use 43 gr. of IMR 4064 in Federal and RP cases and WLR and CCI LR primers.  They were too hot for the M1A.  The groups opened up noticeably, and the rifle threw the fired cases all over the place. Good Luck.