Reloading for a Ladder Test on an M1A - .308 Win

It's time to load up some ammo for an M1A!

00:00 Intro

It's time for a new M1A load, considering how our previous boxed ammo has been shooting. Previous ammo has had issues with extraction due to desert dust and the M1A's own extraction roughness, as well as substandard precision. To fix the first issue, we'll need to use a Small Base Sizing Die. To tie in with that, we'll just work up an entirely new load.

Step 1 is to get some brass - usually by shooting.

Components:
IMR 4064 Powder

02:45 Decap and Clean

With the rounds fired, it's time to pop out the primer. This has to happen before cleaning.

03:40 Full-Length Size

Before small-base sizing, it's a good idea to full-length size. This reduces the chance of sticking or folding that might happen if you go straight into small-base sizing.

06:04 Trim

Once the cartridge is sized with the press, you may want to trim and chamfer the neck. It's not strictly necessary to do this all the time, nor to the minimum size. The brass will stretch and thin over time, so removing as little as possible can extend the life of the brass.
Check your reloading manual for the appropriate dimensions.

07:45 Small-Base Size

We have an issue with dust in the desert, and rough extraction on the M1A otherwise. With those two combined, we need a special modification to the rounds chambered for the M1A. Enter, the small-base sizing die.

11:00 Prime

18:30 Powder

The powder today is IMR 4064. Starting at 41 grains and stepping up 0.3gr for each load.
Initially the plan had been to start at 41 and go up by 0.5gr per group, but 0.3 was used instead for the higher likelihood of landing on a node.

27:53 Projectile

Sierra 150 grain hollow point boat tail. The last step for this cartridge is to put the cork in the neck (the bullet) to seal the whole thing up.
Seating depth will stay constant here - an overall length of about 2.8" from the base to the nose. After dialing in the powder for the low SD, the next loading session will work on seating depth.

Hi-Lux On Social Media:
► Like on Facebook:   / leatherwoodhiluxoptics  
► Follow on Instagram:   / leatherwoodoptics  
► Subscribe on Youtube:    / hiluxinc  

https://www.hi-luxoptics.com