Reloading for FAL

[starjammir]

Hey guys,
I currently reload for my Garand and M1A, and was wondering what everyones starting load would be for the FAL.
I am using 150 Gr Hornady bullets, IMR4895 powder, and 7.62 CC "mil spec" primers along with LC brass.
I currently am at 37.5 gr for my M1A with this configuration.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Bill.

[HighRatMaster]

Do you have any cycling problems at 37.5 grs? That a very conservative load, nothing wrong with that as long as it cycles normally. I normally use 42grs IMR4895 with a 147-150gr bullet and that's 2 to 5.5grs under max depending on who's source you reference. It works well and is a mild load in all my 7.62x51s, semi and bolt.

[starjammir]

Nope, no cycling issues with the M1A. I was going by the Hornady Service manual book due to shooting CMP competition shoots with the Garand and my Carbine, I thought the book would be a nice place to start for the M1A. They said I could start at 37, and I found my best groupings with 37.5, but I do plan to mess around with some 40 and some 41 gr loads.
The FAL on the other hand, I am unsure where to start for a load.
Did you have to adjust your gas system for that load vs commercial loads? I find my reloads are a bunch more tame than commercial stuff.

[AndyC]

Originally posted by HighRatMaster
I normally use 42grs IMR4895 with a 147-150gr bullet

Exactly what I use, too - I've previously gone to 44gr without any issues (feels like full-power commercial loads), but have pretty much settled in on the 42gr mark.

[W.E.G.]

That's not just a light load.

Its a hella-light load.

[W.E.G.]

...by contrast:

[Tim Dreas]

1981 NRA American Rifleman magazine articles says it take 42.5 grains of IMR-4895 in a military case with a 150 grain bullet to reach 2750 fps. A 1984 NRA lab test says maximum pressure is reached at around 42.0 grains of IMR-4895 in a military case with a 150 grain bullet for 2784 fps from a 24 inch test barrel. 42.0 grains with a 146 grain FMJ went 2775 fps (48,200 CUP) in the same test. Note the Hornady 150 grain FMJ is very accurate for an FMJ bullet but loading to the cannelure results in a shorter cartridge length and reduced powder capacity.

40.0gr - 2667 fps - 24" barrel - 46,800 CUP

41.0gr - 2726 fps - 24" barrel - 49,100 CUP

42.0gr - 2784 fps - 24" barrel - 51,600 CUP

Some people get away with 43.0 grains in military case without problems but usually with very little velocity gain. The Hornady bullet loaded to the cannelure will load shorter than other 150 grain bullets. The Speer and Sierra FMJ's have the cannelure a bit farther from the tip but aren't always as accurate as the Hornady FMJ bullet.

IMR powder seems to have gone downhill or changed since Hodgdon bought IMR. The last lot I got seemed a bit slower than usual.

[starjammir]

That program is awesome! Where can I get a copy of that? So I take it 2200 fps is not really want I want? My fals barrel has been cut to 18",not sure that matters though.
So far this info is awesome!

[DYNOMIKE]

I shoot for 2700 w/no pressure signs..
Been able to get that with a few diff loads including IMR-4895..

Maybe a bit of useful info for you here, (I think Post #48):
http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...0&pagenumber=1

Check this thread as well, should keep ya busy for a couple minutes anyway..
http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...hreadid=287067

[starjammir]

Well I tried some of my 37.5's in the FAL, no problems, felt like a light load. I loaded up some 41's and they felt like a full on standard load. No difference in accuracy/groupings though. This was all at 100 yards, I'm sure at 200-400 there would be some though.
Thoughts?

[DYNOMIKE]

I run my loads using IMR-4895 & a 147-150 gr pill @ 42.5 gr., this netted me 2700-2750FPS dependent on which rifle I fired it in. Accuracy was pretty darn good as was function with no changes needed to the gas setting..

While testing this powder I tried 41gr and it only gave me 2500FPS (tested on my OHLER 35P) in my STG..

Did you have to adj the gas setting for proper function with the 37.5 gr load?

I would suggest trying 42gr-42.5gr..

[starjammir]

No adjustment was needed to the gas setting, which I was surprised about. Is 42gr really going to make it that much more accurate over the 37.5 at 100 or 200 yards? If not, I'd rather save a little powder for some more ammo

[AndyC]

Won't know till you try it.

2 different but otherwise exact same style rifles might have a differerent "sweet range" within which they are at their most accurate with a given bullet - for one, the range might be quite wide ie. within a half-grain or so it'll result in the same group-size and for another it might be very narrow eg. a tenth-grain would make all the difference.

Reloading is about constant tweaking if you're wanting accuracy - there ain't many shortcuts that will avoid the need to actually go out and shoot the loads, unfortunately.

[DYNOMIKE]

Originally posted by starjammir
No adjustment was needed to the gas setting, which I was surprised about. Is 42gr really going to make it that much more accurate over the 37.5 at 100 or 200 yards? If not, I'd rather save a little powder for some more ammo

Andy is exactly right, aint no shortcuts when your trying to find a load your rifle likes.. "SOMETIMES" ya get lucky and find that load early on, sometimes ya even find a load that someone else uses that seems to work great..

"Usually" however the only way to really know is to try it and see..
As far as will it really make a diff?? YUP, 3-1/2-4.0 gr of powder might be the diff from a crap load to a great one.. Bullets make a big diff as well..

I have these PICS posted in my MUTT thread but I think it illustrates pretty well what good ammo can do for a rifle (even an FAL).. The first PIC shows a respectable (for an FAL) 20 shot group fired at 100 yds with my hand loads.. Said load was assembled with MIXED cases, no special case prep, and bulk 146gr FMJ bullets.. Again the group aint nuthin really special but it is a decent representation of what the FAL will do..


This next PIC while the same rifle was used (of course) I used once fired Matching cases that received a bit more prep in that I removed the flash hole burrs from the INSIDE the cases.. That and a much better bullet yielded this 15 shot group (w/one called flyer) two weeks later.. Now this group aint gonna win a bench gun match it's pretty damn good for a battle rifle and easily comes in at 2-MOA..


Since these are BATTLE rifles and NOT bench guns personally I prefer to evaluate accuracy with a much larger round count.. Since most guns can throw a respectable 3-5 group down range IMHO a 15-20 shot group is a more realistic measuring stick.. Using the above example the group was cut by more then half by using better ammo..

[Tim Dreas]

Note that Hornady 150 grain FMJ bullets loaded to the cannelure will be shorter than cartridges loaded with other 147 - 150 FMJ bullets. This will result in less case capacity.