Has anyone tried Wolf 150 gr FMJ in M1A? Sportsman's Guide has it for $140 for 500. I want to stock up for the revolution but am not sure of what type of ammo is good. I actually have only used Winchester 180 grain power point so far. I sighted it in with scope at 200 yards for deer hunting in northern Wisconsin last season. That worked out pretty well, I had 6 doe walk in at single file around 150 yards and only 3 walked (ran) out. The 20 round clip and low recoil let you follow up with fast and accurate shots. I could not have done that with a bolt action. Well, enough of the deer slaughter. I want to start shooting it for fun with open sights and wonder what the best ammo is. Also, is there anything you are not supposed to shoot in it? Have a good one!

Don

Sorry, I just saw the already posted Wolf ammo question and that satisfies some of my curiosity.

Don

I think the Winchester 180 grain is too heavy a round for the gas system.

Thanks, good thing I only shot about 40 rounds of them then! I was actually going to switch to the 150 grain for next deer season, any thoughts on these http://winchester.com/products/catalog/cfrdetail.aspx?symbol=SXP308&bn=16&type=69 . I have the stainless barrel loaded version that I bought new last year. I love it for deer hunting but I sure don't want to ruin it with the wrong ammo! I would like to use a certain type of ammo for hunting with a scope and another type for plinking. Obviously, at $2 a round the Winchester XP3's would be way too expensive to shoot for fun!

Originally Posted By Don_E: Thanks, good thing I only shot about 40 rounds of them then! I was actually going to switch to the 150 grain for next deer season, any thoughts on these http://winchester.com/products/catalog/cfrdetail.aspx?symbol=SXP308&bn=16&type=69 . I have the stainless barrel loaded version that I bought new last year. I love it for deer hunting but I sure don't want to ruin it with the wrong ammo! I would like to use a certain type of ammo for hunting with a scope and another type for plinking. Obviously, at $2 a round the Winchester XP3's would be way too expensive to shoot for fun!

Someone with more experience in hunting will chime in about a good hunting round. The general rule for the M1A bullet weight is don't go over 150 gr.
You sure don't want to go plinking with $2 a round ammo.

Originally Posted By BSTOCK: The general rule for the M1A bullet weight is don't go over 150 gr.

The USGI M-118 and M-118SB have a 173 gr bullet, the M-852 has a 168 gr bullet, and the M-118LR (Long Range) has a 175 gr bullet. These work just fine in the M-14 Rifle. The M-118 has been in use for over thirty years.
180 gr is usually the practical maximum weight bullet that you will see used.

Reload.

Originally Posted By ArmyOrdGuy: Originally Posted By BSTOCK: The general rule for the M1A bullet weight is don't go over 150 gr. The USGI M-118 and M-118SB have a 173 gr bullet, the M-852 has a 168 gr bullet, and the M-118LR (Long Range) has a 175 gr bullet. These work just fine in the M-14 Rifle. The M-118 has been in use for over thirty years. 180 gr is usually the practical maximum weight bullet that you will see used.

Is the a ajustment to the powder in these heaver loads as to not damage the gas system?

Originally Posted By BSTOCK: Originally Posted By ArmyOrdGuy: Originally Posted By BSTOCK: The general rule for the M1A bullet weight is don't go over 150 gr. The USGI M-118 and M-118SB have a 173 gr bullet, the M-852 has a 168 gr bullet, and the M-118LR (Long Range) has a 175 gr bullet. These work just fine in the M-14 Rifle. The M-118 has been in use for over thirty years. 180 gr is usually the practical maximum weight bullet that you will see used. Is the a ajustment to the powder in these heaver loads as to not damage the gas system?

They move out at about 2650 fps which is about full power for a bullet that heavy. The M-80 Ball round (150 gr) does 2750. Chamber pressure is about 50K psi CUP (copper units of pressure) which is about 62K piezo (piezoelectreic pressure transducer).
The propellant is of a weight and quickness appropriate for the bullet used. No, you can't pull a 150 gr bullet and just replace it with the heavier ones over the same charge (this is just Reloading 101).

Originally Posted By BSTOCK: Originally Posted By ArmyOrdGuy: Originally Posted By BSTOCK: The general rule for the M1A bullet weight is don't go over 150 gr. The USGI M-118 and M-118SB have a 173 gr bullet, the M-852 has a 168 gr bullet, and the M-118LR (Long Range) has a 175 gr bullet. These work just fine in the M-14 Rifle. The M-118 has been in use for over thirty years. 180 gr is usually the practical maximum weight bullet that you will see used. Is the a ajustment to the powder in these heaver loads as to not damage the gas system?

There's gas system tweaks like vented gas plugs to help the rifle live a long, happy life shooting stout loads with heavier-than-designed bullets. The 168 or 175 isn't too big a deal though provided powders with the correct burn rates and pressure curves are used. Shooting a stout 180 SMK (when it was available) load or the 190s today takes some tweaking with the rifle.

308 federal premium 150 grain soft points. accurate, and i think i pay $11.50 for a box of twenty. the only deer i got a shot at this year was a medium sized button buck at @280-300 yards, fired once and saw him fall where he stood... left a 2" exit wound on the other side. if i hadnt put that scope on my M1A the week before i would have never made that shot

the year before with my 7mm. remington magnum 175 federal premium i took a ten pointer with one hit also... from about 40 yards

those are really good hunting rounds at a reasonable price.