Working up loads in a M1A

[ColWhitecakes]

I've worked up many loads in my bolt guns, and I know all the pressure signs to look for. However, how about when you are working with a M1A? All the published loads, and info that I have read, indicate that the rifle works at a maximum that is lower than I am accustomed to, as in,they wouldn'tseem to show over pressure signs in my bolt guns. How do you know when you are going too far in this rifle? Will the same signs start appearing at these lower load levels, or are there other indicaters I need to look for?

 

[jsn]

Possible extractor damage (bent rim) in addition to the usual signs. Do you have a match chamber? Is your gas system standard mil-spec? The same caveats regarding slower powders and heavy bullets possibly damaging your gas system/op rod may apply as with M1's.

Hornady has a special section of reloading data for M1A in their reloading manual.

There are specific American Eagle and Hornady M1A factory loads that you could use for reference ammo if you wish to/can find it.

Fulton Armory's web site may have some additional info regarding ammo in the M1A, the last time I was there they were dead set against handloading, but there still might be some tips, tricks, and potential hazards of reloading. They know many of their customers reload.

 

[bricktop]

You can get an adjustable gas plug to make things easy on the op-rod if you run a hotter load all the time. Just need to turn it back to ensure cycling with lesser loads.

The M1A bolt has a circular ejector, so you can still get ejector marks with high pressure. I found the best thing to work up loads while minding pressure is a chronograph. If you velocity is way high, then you're likely up there in pressure

 

[ColWhitecakes]

Possible extractor damage (bent rim) in addition to the usual signs. Do you have a match chamber? Is your gas system standard mil-spec? The same caveats regarding slower powders and heavy bullets possibly damaging your gas system/op rod may apply as with M1's.

Hornady has a special section of reloading data for M1A in their reloading manual.

There are specific American Eagle and Hornady M1A factory loads that you could use for reference ammo if you wish to/can find it.

Fulton Armory's web site may have some additional info regarding ammo in the M1A, the last time I was there they were dead set against handloading, but there still might be some tips, tricks, and potential hazards of reloading. They know many of their customers reload.

I am shooting a Springfild Armory National Match. I have the Hornady manual and have viewed the info. I suppose instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, i will just work within the published load data. I haven't found any data for the 155gr Scenars that i have on hand to load, so, my main concern is the possibility of them producing higher pressure than the published Hornady bullets. However, being that their data is kinda general as to bullet weight, and not design, should i suspect any real problems?

 

[SeabeeKen]

Just turn the gas port off using the valve just under the barrel if you are afraid of damaging the operating system during load development. It then becomes a single shot/bolt action. It also doesn't kick your emptys all over town.