LMT MWS issue

[MO_Boy]

Good evening all,

I have had this rifle for about a year now. It shoots pretty well and I have not had any function issues at all. Only thing to this point is the coating, which I think is suppose to be Teflon, is peeling in the receiver. I am new to reloading and that is where my troubles began. I have been shooting American Eagle M1A 168gr. I bought a decent amount of that with the plans on reloading it. My beginning load was Federal brass, Winchester primers, H4895 powder, and 155gr Palma Matchking bullets. I loaded 3 different charges. 44gr, 44.5gr, and 45gr,,,, which is still a full grain under max according to Hodgdon. The 44gr loads shot really well. The 44.5gr shot ok, but not as good. The 45gr load didn't shoot all that great and,,, I had 2 primers back out about halfway and 1 came out completely. Me being me, assumed I had done something wrong and went over the whole process again. I had deprimed the brass, tumbled it, sonic cleaned, chamfered the primer pocket, sized it, trimmed the OAL, blew the cases off with air, primed with a RCBS hand primer( all went in fairly snug), charged, and loaded. I have test weights for my scales. They scales and weights match so I am giving them the benefit of the doubt. I weighed the bullets, all the same. I loaded some more rounds to try again and still had some primers loose. I even had one pc of Black Hills brass that I think I could have pushed the primer in with my thumb and it was fine.
I read some stuff saying that the Federal brass is no good because of the primer pockets???? So,, I went through the process with some once fired Nato brass. I loaded 43gr,, 43.5gr, and 44gr. All of the primers stayed in but the brass is really tore up. I had a few pcs that the extractor damn near pulled through the rim. Has anyone else experienced these issues? A local gun shop said a tight chamber but I do not understand that. Sorry for the novel but I know there are a few that have a lot of experience with these bad boys and wanted to give all the info I could. I may have left something out though???


Thanks! You guys rock!
MO Boy

 

[Engine 22]

I suspect the brass is your issue and nothing wrong with your rifle. This all started after your reloading, correct? Your reloading process sounds good. I'd guess that you should re-visit the 44 grain load and stay away from anything hotter. Ironically, I'm currently in the process of finding a load for my 16" CL MWS .

 

[MO_Boy]

The rifle has always been pretty hard on brass. The bases usually get a sort of pulled look to them but yes, after I started reloading is when I had issues with primers and the rims being really tore up. The Federal M1A stuff is all that had been fired through it until my reloads.

Let me know what you find shoots best in your rig. Our rifles are the same.

I appreciate the reply!,
MO Boy

 

[Shooter0311]

I agree with engine22. Don't sweat the peeling, completely normal. I have LMT 5.56 rifles as well as MWS's and they all peel some but I have truly never had an issue with them.

The LMT's are dialed in for max reliability and produce a lil more excess gas than other brands so that Meyer explain being rough on your brass... Just IMO.

However; I don't reload so I really can't help there. All mine really like southwest (5.56) 70 grain/62 grain tsx as well as their 77 smk load. In the MWS's again they like southwest 175 either m118 LR load or run'n gun. In 168, they like fgmm.

 

[newguy2k3v2]

My 16" CL barrel can be kinda rough on brass. Running a can exaggerates the issue. My go to load for it right now is 40.5 TAC under 175 SMK pulls and a CCI #34 and LC brass. I'm getting light ejector marks with the can on. I may need to try a heavier buffer.

 

[elfster1234]

absolutely nothing wrong with your LMT... mine has worn down to a grey color ish look inside over a period of a year shooting the rifle.

The rifle has always been pretty hard on brass. The bases usually get a sort of pulled look to them but yes, after I started reloading is when I had issues with primers and the rims being really tore up. The Federal M1A stuff is all that had been fired through it until my reloads.

Let me know what you find shoots best in your rig. Our rifles are the same.

I appreciate the reply!,
MO Boy

 

[samnev]

My LMT MWS has not had a problem of the kind you described. But I shoot a much lighter load than you do. I tried 3031, 4895 and Varget. To my surprise my rifle shoot the best 5 shoot 100 yard groups with 39 grains of IMR 4895. Groups ran about 0.75". Some were closer to 0.6" with no evidence of brass damage.

 

[MO_Boy]

Thanks for all the info guys.

samnev: Do you have any idea about the fps of your ammo? I didn't see what grain of bullet you were throwing. It seems like the charge is below what is given in the Hodgdon site. I am a complete newbie so I was a little surprised about being "under" the low side.

I loaded some rounds to try but have not had a chance to shoot yet. I used Benchmark. 38gr , 39gr ,40gr , and 41gr. I bought this powder for .223 and thought I might as well try it to see. From what I see,, Benchmark is a little faster burning than H4895,, but the fps is slower.... so,, I don't know if it will be better, worse, or any different.

Thanks again guys,
MO Boy

 

[Engine 22]

All I can say is you should try some IMR8208XBR and 168 SMK or Varget and 178 A-max. quality brass is a must as well!

 

[gunfreak101]

Sounds to me like your load was a little hot I gave had that happen before so just stay away from that load.

 

[samnev]

samnev: Do you have any idea about the fps of your ammo? I didn't see what grain of bullet you were throwing. It seems like the charge is below what is given in the Hodgdon site.

Mo_Boy,
I shoot 168 grain Sierra Match Kings. IIRC the velocity from my 16" CL barrel was about 2400 fps. Since I don't shoot the LMT any further than 200 yards that velocity doesn't bother me. If I were to shoot it at longer distances I would use another load.