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Steal cased ammo & M1A

M

MRCrossno

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Is it ok to use steal cased 308 ammo in an M1A. Does Springfield have an official recommendation or not? I’ve heard of that steal cased ammo has blown apart bolts and ejection slides. Anyone have that happen to their M1A?
Which leads to my next question. What is the safest,most reliable, Springfield recommended, ammunition is for their M1A.
You guessed it, I’m a new user and have read so many different opinions I’d like to know what Springfield has to say, without calling and sounding like an idiot. I feel safer sounding like one here.
Lol. Thanks
 
Springfield won’t recommend any brand. Pretty sure your manual just says “quality ammunition that meets SAAMI specifications” or something similar.

Technically, the M1A is rated to run .308, but I’d look for domestic 7.62x51; American Eagle makes it, as does Winchester.

As far as steel? If it’s all you can get…never run it in mine, actually don’t have any in .308.
 
I just read the O&S manual that came with mine, there is no prohibition on steel cased ammo, although the manual has 5 full pages about choosing ammo. They recommend using SAAMI or NATO spec ammo as Hans indicated above, although they do no go as far as saying you void the warranty if you do not. Biggest problem about which I've heard is slam-firing, which is a regular issue with the M1 action. NATO rounds specify a harder primer than non-NATO spec rounds specify. The free-floating firing pin can (and has) fired a round during the chambering process when the free-float pin lightly hits the primer during chambering, and the primer is too thin-walled and fires. Rounds labeled M80 have the thicker primer face, .308 may or may not.

As Keystone said, it should run dry. Some steel .308 is covered in lacquer that should NOT be used, but not all steel .308 has a coating.

As with many guns today, SA specifically says if you use any reloaded, remanufactured, hand-loaded or non-standard ammo you void the warranty.
 
MRCrossno said:
Is it ok to use steal cased 308 ammo in an M1A. Does Springfield have an official recommendation or not? I’ve heard of that steal cased ammo has blown apart bolts and ejection slides. Anyone have that happen to their M1A?
Which leads to my next question. What is the safest,most reliable, Springfield recommended, ammunition is for their M1A.
You guessed it, I’m a new user and have read so many different opinions I’d like to know what Springfield has to say, without calling and sounding like an idiot. I feel safer sounding like one here.
Lol. Thanks
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Manaul does specifically say do NOT run soft point ammo, by the way. Such as Core-Lokt comes to mind as a soft tip.

I run normal commercial off the shelf .308 and had no issues .

I have had issue with M118 Federal Military rounds. The primers were to hard for the m1A and I was getting light primer strikes on every round tried.
 
Talyn said:
Commercial soft-point hunting ammo is often loaded to higher pressures than Mil-spec ammo.
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Talyn, is the soft-point ammo actually loaded hotter (more powder), or does more pressure occur from slight bullet expansion (or shape change in general) at firing? I'm just curious...I could see a softer bullet changing shape ever so slightly during firing, but frankly I have no idea...or maybe a combination of both things occurring simultaneously?
 
Jfal said:
Talyn, is the soft-point ammo actually loaded hotter (more powder), or does more pressure occur from slight bullet expansion (or shape change in general) at firing? I'm just curious...I could see a softer bullet changing shape ever so slightly during firing, but frankly I have no idea...or maybe a combination of both things occurring simultaneously?
Click to expand...
The bullet tip doesn’t expand at firing. The soft nose can get deformed in chambering, however, can cause failures to feed.
 
Jfal said:
Talyn, is the soft-point ammo actually loaded hotter (more powder), or does more pressure occur from slight bullet expansion (or shape change in general) at firing? I'm just curious...I could see a softer bullet changing shape ever so slightly during firing, but frankly I have no idea...or maybe a combination of both things occurring simultaneously?
Click to expand...
Firearms powder is produced in a variety of types (single or double-based/ball vs. flake or extruded) and burn rates - fast to slow.

Mil-Spec ammo is loaded with a specific type of powder that has a burn rate that meets the operating pressure specs for the rifle as it's designed, so it's not really related to extra powder in the case nor any change in the bullet when fired. However, the seating depth of the bullet in relationship to the beginning of the rifling can influence pressure at the time of firing.

The bullet only engraves the rifling when it enters that part of the barrel so that's the only deformation that occurs.

Old-style soft-point bullets are those with exposed lead at the tip, not covered by the bullets jacket. That could lead to feeding issues based on the steepness of the feed ramp that the cartridge has to go up when stripped off the magazine.

However, "newer" protected-point and polymer-tipped bullets should negate that issue since they feed much better up a steeper ramp/angle but are still constructed to open up as designed for hunting purposes.

Some ammo is loaded to lower pressures for vintage semi-auto firearms to be compatible with their operating pressures limitations. An example, is M1 Garand 30/06 commercial ammo that is labeled as such, as a substitute for the lack of mil-spec surplus ammo.

Semi-auto mil-type rifles with adjustable gas systems (ex. the FAL) can be adjusted to fire higher pressure ammo, whereas the M1A and M1 Garand are non-adjustable, but there are after-market adjustable gas plugs for both, that when fitted & adjusted, will allow for higher-pressure commercial ammo to be used.

My .02
 
Wow, great information. I get the impression an M1A is not rifle for a new shooter. Where do I find out how to navigate this learning curve? Bullet expansion, NATO rounds, polymer tipped, chamber pressures, ramp angles, mil-spec, adjustable gas plugs, seating depth to match operating pressures, my heads spinning. Sounds like I can’t just go to Big 5, buy a box of 308 and go out to the desert. If I have to stick with shooting a Ruger 10-22 what am I going to do when the zombies come? 😳.
Okay I get it, download the manual and read it. Twice!
Thanks everybody for being nice about my ignorance.
 
Some rifles have more idiosyncrasies than others, and older designs had/have more than modern designs.

That being said IMO an AR-10-type .308 rifle is much simpler to use & more forgiving ammo-wise than the older designs, especially for folks new to the hobby.

My .02
 
I shot the M1A today. I bought a box of 7.62 x .51 ammo. It would not work. The firing pin never even made a slight dent in the primer. 308 fired every time. I never tried the 7.62 in my 10 round mag only the 20 round mag. The mags are not Springfield. I think I’ll bite the bullet and spend the money for a Springfield mag. Maybe it will make a difference.
 
MRCrossno said:
I shot the M1A today. I bought a box of 7.62 x .51 ammo. It would not work. The firing pin never even made a slight dent in the primer. 308 fired every time. I never tried the 7.62 in my 10 round mag only the 20 round mag. The mags are not Springfield. I think I’ll bite the bullet and spend the money for a Springfield mag. Maybe it will make a difference.
Click to expand...
Might have an ammo issue...try those rounds in another reliable rifle...I can't imagine how the magazine affects the firing pin...that spring is down in the trigger group...
 
Is it possible that rounds seat slightly deeper in the barrel? Or maybe the charging handle isn’t going all the way forward? There’s no way this M1A shouldn’t be able to shoot 7.62 x 51 only 308, right? That’s what it’s doing. So what could cause that? If it was bad ammo you wouldn’t think it would happen with every round. It’s Winchester ammo. I hate hearing that click and nothing happens. However, it did make me notice I’m flinching bad when I pull the trigger.
 
MRCrossno said:
Is it possible that rounds seat slightly deeper in the barrel? Or maybe the charging handle isn’t going all the way forward? There’s no way this M1A shouldn’t be able to shoot 7.62 x 51 only 308, right? That’s what it’s doing. So what could cause that? If it was bad ammo you wouldn’t think it would happen with every round. It’s Winchester ammo. I hate hearing that click and nothing happens. However, it did make me notice I’m flinching bad when I pull the trigger.
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I would try again the next time you go to the range and make sure your bolt is rotating over and closing completely on the 7.62 rounds. It should be if it shoots ok with .308 but you never know.
 
I have 1 box of Winchester M80 waiting to be fired (most current stock is Norma and Federal). I'll be sure to run that first next time out.
 
Keystone19250 said:
I would try again the next time you go to the range and make sure your bolt is rotating over and closing completely on the 7.62 rounds. It should be if it shoots ok with .308 but you never know.
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Thanks, I’ll do what you suggested. It is possible the bolt didn’t rotate all the way. It must not have. It’s the only explanation. Thanks again.
 
I’ve run M118 175gr thru my M1A and it wont fire. Light primer strikes.
Bother Federal Brand and Winchester Brand.
My rifle doesnt like that ammo/primer.

Commercial .308 from most top brands, no issues at all.
Load in M118. Light primer strike everytime.

My Saint .308 chews up the M118, so it gets used elsewhere

www.targetsportsusa.com

Winchester Service Grade 7.62x51mm NATO M118 Long Range Ammo 175 Grain HPBT MatchKing

Winchester Service Grade 7.62x51mm NATO M118 Long Range Ammo 175 Grain HPBT MatchKing at Target Sports USA. Enjoy free shipping on bulk NATO ammo for|^||^|
www.targetsportsusa.com www.targetsportsusa.com
 
KillerFord1977 said:
I’ve run M118 175gr thru my M1A and it wont fire. Light primer strikes.
Bother Federal Brand and Winchester Brand.
My rifle doesnt like that ammo/primer.

Commercial .308 from most top brands, no issues at all.
Load in M118. Light primer strike everytime.

My Saint .308 chews up the M118, so it gets used elsewhere

www.targetsportsusa.com

Winchester Service Grade 7.62x51mm NATO M118 Long Range Ammo 175 Grain HPBT MatchKing

Winchester Service Grade 7.62x51mm NATO M118 Long Range Ammo 175 Grain HPBT MatchKing at Target Sports USA. Enjoy free shipping on bulk NATO ammo for|^||^|
www.targetsportsusa.com www.targetsportsusa.com
Click to expand...
Well, what’d da ya know, I’m not the only one. I’m going to try again today and let ya know what happens. I’m ready to swap it for an AR or just use it as a wall hanger. It’s not practical for me anyway, unless I attach a bi-pod and hire a Sherpa to carry it for me. Lol. It’s so dang cool though.
 
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MRCrossno said:
Well, what’d da ya know, I’m not the only one. I’m going to try again today and let ya know what happens. I’m ready to swap it for an AR or just use it as a wall hanger. It’s not practical for me anyway, unless I attach a bi-pod and hire a Sherpa to carry it for me. Lol. It’s so dang cool though.
Click to expand...
Only ammo issue I had is that ammo.
There are plenty of other brands and ammo in 7.62x51 or .308 that will work.
147 grain 7.62x51 worked just fine for me.
Just not the M118 in 175 gr
 
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