M1A

[sappnasty]

I recently posted a thread in reference to loading help for my M1A Socom II. I don't want to make this a dead issue and I received alot of good information from members here on the last post. In the last thread, I was given this link http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf by a member. While this information was very insightful, it mostly pertained to "Match" grade M1A rifles with standard or match operating rods and gas sytems. However, I am looking for any owners of a Socom 16 or Socom II that specifically reload for these rilfes. While they are M1A rifles, they have a shorter op rod and a different gas system that was redesigned by Springfield in response to the 16 inch barrel. I know that reloading for M1A rifles in general takes a little bit more care and precision (or so I'm told)....But I would have to make a shot in the dark that because my specific model of M1A is designed totally different from the standard 22" models, reloading would even be a little bit more different. Does anyone on this forum have this type of M1A rifle and if so, what precautions or special conditions exist to reload properly for this platform? Thank you for your help.

 

[hancjamk]

Yes, the gas system has been modified in order to properly operate with a shorter barrel, but the inherit issues regarding slam fires are the same. My slam fire actually happened with a Socom 16. And my rifle was damaged. I sent it back to Springfield for repair. They replaced the bolt, bolt roller, bolt roller clip, ejector and reamed and polished the chamber. It could have been worse. A shell igniting before it in full battery could cause injury to you, or the guy next to you. I was totally unaware of all this until after the fact. So, you got a heads-up on the matter and with the proper precautions you shouldn’t have any problems. I hope this is helpful. At the very least save you a good scare, because I nearly crapped my pants when it happened to me… lol.

 

[sappnasty]

Were you shooting factory ammo or reloads? The issue is that I simply don't want a reload to damage my rifle...as a Socom owner you are aware of the cost of our rifles. So if there is some special precautions I keep hearing about, then I want to know so I can ensure that every round I load is correct and the best thing for my rifle to shoot. I don't wanna reload hot dogger rounds or anything, I simply want to have a large ready supply of good hunting rounds between 150 and 168 grains handloaded by me! Oh and good thing S/A came through for you and that your okay

 

[Hendiadys]

Socom 16

I reload for a SOCOM 16 and an M1A Scout. I have of late been loading a low power round having acquired 2,000 Berry plated 150 gr. 30-30 bullets that Berry manufacturing recommends be limited to no more than 1,700 fps. I have settled on 29.0 grs. H4895. They chrono in the neighborhood of 1,650 fps. and actually shoot pretty well at 100 yds. I have not really found the two rifles to be all that particular as to load but do advise that CCI #34 primers be used for the 7.62 NATO loads. During load development, I was trying out some of the loads in a Kimber 84M .308 Win. bolt rifle and experienced a fail to fire. The primer was lightly struck but after several attempts to fire, gave up and popped it into the SOCOM. Fired right off. No surprise given that the firing pin in the Kimber is suggestive of a watch part and the firing pin in the M1A's are more like a spud bar.

 

[hancjamk]

I was using reloads. I believe my mistake was that I reloaded the brass way to many times and I was using a standard FL sizing die. I believe the case stretched so far, that the shoulder was slamming against the chamber causing a slam fire. I switched to a small base die, I discard the shells after 3-4 firings and I trim the cases to 2.005 every time I load. I don’t use Federal primers. As for loads, I use 42.5gr IMR 4895 168 gr Sierra HPBT and CCI BR-2 primers. I also like the new IMR XBR-8208.