Range Report M118LR velocities from M1As?
- Thread starter Grump
- Start date
Re: M118LR velocities from M1As?
That makes me wish I had a chronograph. I dont by any means consider myself an expert on the M1a but I know enough to know that there are huge differences between different guns. If one could beg George Gardner at GAP into building one they can be gotten down to about a half moa. Mine is about a 2 moa gun it's stock plus currently off to be refinished tan by Walter Birdsong a very corosion resistant finish it does have an aftermarket Smith Vortex flash suppressor. I find it shoots better at 600 more like 1 moa but at 200 it's not as tight or it could just be me. I shoot 42.5 gr Varget pushing a 168 gr AMAX. I am told that you do not want to shoot real heavy bullets or hot loads in the M1a unless you turn off the gas system to protect the op rod from being damaged That also has the advantage of allowing you to load the cartridges indvidually so they dont get the tip bent when loading, and I be willing to bet turning off the gas system increases the velocity a little. The rifle has an exceptionally fast action and is brutal on optics. I wish mine would get back from being refinished it is really a neat rifle to shoot probably my favorite of all guns. Badger Ordnance makes bolt roller greaser that is a must have accessory. Certainly one that I would like to learn more about so I look forward to hearing what the more knowledgable guys here have to say about it.
That makes me wish I had a chronograph. I dont by any means consider myself an expert on the M1a but I know enough to know that there are huge differences between different guns. If one could beg George Gardner at GAP into building one they can be gotten down to about a half moa. Mine is about a 2 moa gun it's stock plus currently off to be refinished tan by Walter Birdsong a very corosion resistant finish it does have an aftermarket Smith Vortex flash suppressor. I find it shoots better at 600 more like 1 moa but at 200 it's not as tight or it could just be me. I shoot 42.5 gr Varget pushing a 168 gr AMAX. I am told that you do not want to shoot real heavy bullets or hot loads in the M1a unless you turn off the gas system to protect the op rod from being damaged That also has the advantage of allowing you to load the cartridges indvidually so they dont get the tip bent when loading, and I be willing to bet turning off the gas system increases the velocity a little. The rifle has an exceptionally fast action and is brutal on optics. I wish mine would get back from being refinished it is really a neat rifle to shoot probably my favorite of all guns. Badger Ordnance makes bolt roller greaser that is a must have accessory. Certainly one that I would like to learn more about so I look forward to hearing what the more knowledgable guys here have to say about it.
Re: M118LR velocities from M1As?
I dont know about factoroy, fed and LC, M118lR stuff, but I have tons of M118 and M852. Both of which I mexican matched for 600 & 1000 yard matche using either the old 180 SMKs or the 175s.
To equal the above loads I load 41.5 grns of 4895 in LC cases with both 168s and 175s. They run a bit faster then the 2550 the army calls for, about 2600 fps. But I measure them at 10 ft not 78 ft.
I dont think 180 or the 175s will hurt the M1A, or at least it hasn't mine and I've been shooting it with them since about 1977. Wore out a couple barrels and stretched out some slings but the gun itself is still running great.
I dont know about factoroy, fed and LC, M118lR stuff, but I have tons of M118 and M852. Both of which I mexican matched for 600 & 1000 yard matche using either the old 180 SMKs or the 175s.
To equal the above loads I load 41.5 grns of 4895 in LC cases with both 168s and 175s. They run a bit faster then the 2550 the army calls for, about 2600 fps. But I measure them at 10 ft not 78 ft.
I dont think 180 or the 175s will hurt the M1A, or at least it hasn't mine and I've been shooting it with them since about 1977. Wore out a couple barrels and stretched out some slings but the gun itself is still running great.
Re: M118LR velocities from M1As?
SOooooo...does the newer M118LR go the *same* 2550 fps at 75 feet = about 2600 at 7-10 feet that then original M118 with a 175-gr bullet did?
The standard back then was +/- 30 fps at the reference testing temperature.
SOooooo...does the newer M118LR go the *same* 2550 fps at 75 feet = about 2600 at 7-10 feet that then original M118 with a 175-gr bullet did?
The standard back then was +/- 30 fps at the reference testing temperature.
Re: M118LR velocities from M1As?
Well, I decided to use my Google-fu and look for info from, ahem, perhaps less reliable sources on the ErrorNet.
I found this on the CMP discussion boards from August of last year: According to my notes this bullet is traveling at 2,580 FPS from the muzzle of an M1A/M14/M21 gas gun. http://www.odcmp.org/new_forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=54982. The ammo was '01 and thereabouts.
5 pages of search results and the only other reliable-looking reference says 2680 fps, which I'm thinking might be a 100fps typo.
There's a 2005 Tactical Response article which quotes 2580 right next to the 2550 of M852, so I'm going with 2580 at 78 feet and going backwards to the MV.
Well, I decided to use my Google-fu and look for info from, ahem, perhaps less reliable sources on the ErrorNet.
I found this on the CMP discussion boards from August of last year: According to my notes this bullet is traveling at 2,580 FPS from the muzzle of an M1A/M14/M21 gas gun. http://www.odcmp.org/new_forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=54982. The ammo was '01 and thereabouts.
5 pages of search results and the only other reliable-looking reference says 2680 fps, which I'm thinking might be a 100fps typo.
There's a 2005 Tactical Response article which quotes 2580 right next to the 2550 of M852, so I'm going with 2580 at 78 feet and going backwards to the MV.
Re: M118LR velocities from M1As?
If you load, definitely give the 185 Berger BT a try for your 600 yards and beyond load. Anything over 2500 is good to go, mine, as I mentioned in your other thread, are going at 2550 in the 10 twist M1A. They will shoot inside the 80s out of the little black guns.
If you load, definitely give the 185 Berger BT a try for your 600 yards and beyond load. Anything over 2500 is good to go, mine, as I mentioned in your other thread, are going at 2550 in the 10 twist M1A. They will shoot inside the 80s out of the little black guns.
Re: M118LR velocities from M1As?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fredo</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">M118 with a 175-gr </div></div>
M118 = 173gr
M118LR = 175gr </div></div>
Typo. Sorry.
Now could you do something useful and answer the question?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fredo</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">M118 with a 175-gr </div></div>
M118 = 173gr
M118LR = 175gr </div></div>
Typo. Sorry.
Now could you do something useful and answer the question?
Re: M118LR velocities from M1As?
The newer M118LR is rated at 2650fps but only averaged at 2585fps on the 21 May 08.
My replication of that load (43.1gr/RL15) travels at 2655fps. This is using Norma brass.
The newer M118LR is rated at 2650fps but only averaged at 2585fps on the 21 May 08.
My replication of that load (43.1gr/RL15) travels at 2655fps. This is using Norma brass.
Re: M118LR velocities from M1As?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BHP9</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The newer M118LR is rated at 2650fps but only averaged at 2585fps on the 21 May 08.
My replication of that load (43.1gr/RL15) travels at 2655fps. This is using Norma brass. </div></div>
Thank you very much. What rifle and barrel length were you using, and the ambient temp, on 20080521?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BHP9</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The newer M118LR is rated at 2650fps but only averaged at 2585fps on the 21 May 08.
My replication of that load (43.1gr/RL15) travels at 2655fps. This is using Norma brass. </div></div>
Thank you very much. What rifle and barrel length were you using, and the ambient temp, on 20080521?
Re: M118LR velocities from M1As?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Grump</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BHP9</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The newer M118LR is rated at 2650fps but only averaged at 2585fps on the 21 May 08.
My replication of that load (43.1gr/RL15) travels at 2655fps. This is using Norma brass. </div></div>
Thank you very much. What rifle and barrel length were you using, and the ambient temp, on 20080521? </div></div>
PGWDTI Coyote
26" Krieger barrel - 1:10" twist.
Temp was - about 20 Celcius - 68F.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Grump</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BHP9</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The newer M118LR is rated at 2650fps but only averaged at 2585fps on the 21 May 08.
My replication of that load (43.1gr/RL15) travels at 2655fps. This is using Norma brass. </div></div>
Thank you very much. What rifle and barrel length were you using, and the ambient temp, on 20080521? </div></div>
PGWDTI Coyote
26" Krieger barrel - 1:10" twist.
Temp was - about 20 Celcius - 68F.
