Load recommendation for 155gr Hybrids (308, M14 rifle)

[tonyben]

So I just traded some SMK's for some Berger Hybrid 155's. Does anyone have a good load recommendation for these bullets using 4064, Winchester commercial brass and CCI 200's?

Hoping to load these up today. Anyone know a good COL? I'm using a 1:12" twist barrel, 22" with an M852 chamber at 1.6315" headspace.

This will be used in my LRB M14 chambered in 308.

Tony.

 

[Jet]

Tony

I shot and loaded for a lot of match grade M1A/M14/M21 rifles in the past but never used the specific bullet/powder combination you want to use so I'll stay away from a specific recomendation. Have you factored in the level of jump you will have using the 155s? Recommend you seat them out as far as the magazine will allow. To stay within safe pressures you should not load more than 43 gr of 4064. The link to the article below may provide some answers.

http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf

Good luck and good shooting

Jet

 

[BaMaverick]

I have a old Navy M-14 and use almost the same exact same combo. The only upgrade I've done to it is a new barrel.
Primers: CCI 200
Powder: IMR 4064
Projectiles: 168 Grain Nosler Custom Competition
Brass: Lake City


AccuBrass.com

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I think youll need 168 or 175gr bullets in that gun. The 175smk seems to be made for 4064 the 155 not so much in that gun or with that powder

 

[riflewoman]

Sierra lists up to 45 grains with that powder BUT I think you'll find something decent between 42.5 and 44.0 grains.

That said my go-to load for M1A s was usually 42.5 of IMR 4895 with a Sierra 168.

 

[chkunz]

The standard load for competition for the M14 was 41 grains of IMR4895, 168 SMK and a Winchester, Remington or CCI primer and LC brass. The gas system is designed around the burn rate of the IMR 4895 powder, slower powders can damage the gas system. The Federal primers were also used but were considered to contribute to slam fires so folks stopped using them in the M14 and CCI started to make a "harder" primer for the military style gas systems. If you decide to shoot lighter bullets I would recommend that you stay with the IMR 4895 powder, I have shot 125 Sierra hunting bullets with this same load and it worked ok.

 

[gsg5pk]

This from Berger Manual

COAL 2.810" out of 24" barrel

155/155.5 Grain
IMR 4064
Start 40.0 2529 fps
Max 44.5 2800 fps (Fill Ratio 103.2%)

 

[rminut]

I don't know what the leade angle is on the M852 chamber but my Obermeyer chambered M1a wouldn't shoot the 168 Hybrid with any amount of jump. I didn't want to try a jammed load so I just back to SMK's. The Hybrid was all over the target with .020" jump, went back to 852 for the second 10 of the string and was right back in the center. I tried 155SMK's with IMR 4895 and it shot o.k. but nowhere near what M852 ammo does. Something about that 852 load that works really really well.

As far as 4064 vs. 4895 using 155's I found a big improvement using 4064 in my Palma rifle. Accuracy at 600 was much better. I didn't lay there and test load after load but 45gr of 4064/Lapua brass shot much better than 44.5 or 45gr of IMR4895 all other components being the same. I suppose more testing would find a good 4895 load but why bother? 4064 will work with 155's. I've tested Berger 155.5, 2155SMK, 2156SMK and even Nosler 155. all work at 600.

 

[chkunz]

I don't know what the leade angle is on the M852 chamber but my Obermeyer chambered M1a wouldn't shoot the 168 Hybrid with any amount of jump. I didn't want to try a jammed load so I just back to SMK's. The Hybrid was all over the target with .020" jump, went back to 852 for the second 10 of the string and was right back in the center. I tried 155SMK's with IMR 4895 and it shot o.k. but nowhere near what M852 ammo does. Something about that 852 load that works really really well.

As far as 4064 vs. 4895 using 155's I found a big improvement using 4064 in my Palma rifle. Accuracy at 600 was much better. I didn't lay there and test load after load but 45gr of 4064/Lapua brass shot much better than 44.5 or 45gr of IMR4895 all other components being the same. I suppose more testing would find a good 4895 load but why bother? 4064 will work with 155's. I've tested Berger 155.5, 2155SMK, 2156SMK and even Nosler 155. all work at 600.

It is important to note that we are talking about a semi auto military firearm with the corresponding chamber. This is not a bolt action and it is definitely not a tight chamber for this application; the cartridge needs to have clearance and be consistent with military specification that apply to the application. It shoots M852 or M118 well because that was what it was designed to shoot. Your Palma rile is not an M14 so you can not translate loads from a bolt action Palma rifle to a military semi auto M14. Jump for the M14 is what magazine length ammo determines that jump is with the M14 chamber, and that is a lot of jump. Talking about "jammed" with the M14 gets us back to talking about slam fires, do not go there.

 

[rminut]

I agree that is why I mentioned that is was a bolt rifle. I specifically said I didn't want to jam a round in my M1A.

 

[Baddog0302]

My suggestion, trade or sell the 155 SMK's and get some 168's or 175's. For 150 gn data go the the M 14 forum.com , OR call Hornady and ask for their service rifle loading pamphlet , it has M1A data using their 155, 168 & 178.

 

[chkunz]

I agree that is why I mentioned that is was a bolt rifle. I specifically said I didn't want to jam a round in my M1A.

Good, I misunderstood, I probably did not read close enough.

 

[barefooter56]

tonyben,
The 155 Hybrid is probably not the best choice because its length will result in a compressed load at max load or even a little before max load. With a compressed load the bullets can start moving out of the case neck resulting in a round that will be closed to the rifling and increasing pressure at worst and a round that wont fit or cycle through the magazine at best. The 175 OTM Tactical bullet or the 168 grain CLASSIC HUNTER BULLET would be better choices as both are designed with a SAMMI length nose that allows them to be used at standard magazine lengths. The 168 grain CLASSIC HUNTER is a HYBRID bullet that incorporates both the secant (VLD) and tangent ( standard) ogives into the SAMMI length nose. This makes the bullet very tolerant of jump. This bullet actually has a higher G1 and G7 BC than our 168 grain VLD . It requires a 1-13 twist minimum as does the 175 OTM. .

 

[Park ranger]

Psst... it will be fine. Load to 2.800" with 40 to 43 grains of standard m14 powders.

I'm putting 42 grains of varget behind a 185 juggernaut, seated longer than mag length for 600 and 1000.

 

[DonnyJ]

Tony..
Good advice from Jet.
http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf
If the link doesn't work, copy and paste it.
I have a new Super Match that I've just started to load for. I'm using BR2, LC Brass. So far it seems to like both the 168 and 175 SMK at 40.5 grains IMR 4895. That gives me about 2550 fps and .5 to 1 moa groups. 40.5 grains seems like a light charge but it is a gas gun.

 

[Dans40X]

Gents-
OP started the thread in Mar 2014.
If he hasn't shot out the barrel.....yet,he should have a load worked up to shoot in his LRB "non selector" M14 piston gun.

 

[danny]

I have a old Navy M-14 and use almost the same exact same combo. The only upgrade I've done to it is a new barrel.
Primers: CCI 200
Powder: IMR 4064
Projectiles: 168 Grain Nosler Custom Competition
Brass: Lake City


AccuBrass.com

How did you get an M14 from the Navy?
Not a lot of private M14s out there.

Danny