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April 30th, 2017, 12:22 PM #1
Looking for input from folks reloading for an M1A Scout rifle
A fellow in our club has a scout rifle with a Leupold pistol scope on it. He has been reloading for it and getting unbelievably scattered dispersions. He was at the bench this past week with a dial caliper and paper tracking his results. His loads were BLC2, 147 grain bullets, and he was trying to resolve the weird POIs via seating depths to the thousandths. Not working. Minute of man with unexplainable flyers at 100 yards.
The first time I saw him he was waiting a good three or four minutes between shots, in an effort to keep the barrel from getting too warm. (I think he is onto something there.)
Meanwhile I was shooting my .308 bolt rifle with my 168 SMK, RL-15 and IMR 4064 loads which tend to group clover-style or better at 100. I asked if I could try my loads in his rifle and he agreed.
One of my front rests is a scissors jack with a piece of metal I attached formed into a U with dense foam taped to it. A small bag supports the heel of the stock.
My rifle on this arrangement can wiggle a bit. That M1A did not. It was like it was sitting on rocks. Wow.
First shot. Oh, there it is. Second shot about an inch off of the first. Third shot several inches in the opposite direct. Fourth wider still, and in the other direction.
Damn! I kept firing and it continued to have a mind of its own.
The "group' was within a six-inch circle including the weird flyers. I had pretty much duplicated the dispersions he has been fighting.
So, I am posting looking for info from experienced M1A fans. I'd really like to help this gentleman. He is trying so hard to tame the beast. I have been perusing sites addressing the subject and it appears that some of these rifles just refuse to be more than a minute of man battle rifle. As a long-time reloader, I still think a right combination lurks.
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April 30th, 2017, 12:27 PM #2
Re: Looking for input from folks reloading for an M1A Scout rifle
Bedding.
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April 30th, 2017, 02:29 PM #3Grand Member
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Re: Looking for input from folks reloading for an M1A Scout rifle
Firearms News just did a lengthy 3-4 part series on accuritizing the M1A. They seem to be high maintenance, finicky, bitchy guns to me.
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April 30th, 2017, 03:00 PM #4
Re: Looking for input from folks reloading for an M1A Scout rifle
"A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself"
"He created the game, played the game, and lost the game.... All under his own terms, by his own doing." JW34
"Tolerance is the lube that helps slip the dildo of dysfunction into the ass of a civilized society." Plato
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April 30th, 2017, 04:30 PM #5Grand Member
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Re: Looking for input from folks reloading for an M1A Scout rifle
These rifles aren't bench rest competition quality. Most scouts fall into the 2-4 moa range. If his acuracy is worse than this check the compensator, look for bullet strikes.
If that is ok remove the barreled action and inspect the stock for signs of the op rod rubbing. If there ar obvious signs of this relieve the area that is rubning.
If this doesn't work post over at the m14 forum. There are master smiths on that site that will talk him threw it.
They are really good people over there and will be glad to help.
Also tell him to watch the Tony Ben videos on you tube. The man is a m14 genius.
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April 30th, 2017, 04:38 PM #6
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May 1st, 2017, 09:04 AM #7
Re: Looking for input from folks reloading for an M1A Scout rifle
Make sure the action is bolted down tightly. Check for locking pressure at the breech. Worn out springs may cause early unlock and throw groups. Remove the FH/Comp and check the crown for knicks/dings. How does throat and muzzle erosion look?
To me, my bet is on the action being very loose in the stock. Try cranking down the bolts (to spec) and see if that closes the group up. If not, I'd try bedding as suggested above. Lots to look for in M1A pattern rifles unfortunately. Wanneroo said it best, "They seem to be high maintenance, finicky, bitchy guns to me."
They will rarely, if ever, shoot cloverleafs. Most of the time, they're 2-3 MOA guns from the bench. Lots of money required to get down to 1 MOA most of the time. Anyone who tells you otherwise is fooling themselves.
However, they are very reliable and helluva lotta fun to shoot.I'm only here for the wood c-rings.
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May 1st, 2017, 09:38 AM #8
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May 1st, 2017, 09:49 AM #9Active Member
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Re: Looking for input from folks reloading for an M1A Scout rifle
Check the scope and mount. If possible, mount it on a rifle/ammo combination with known accuracy. I had a similar problem with a scope. Had some sort of internal malfunction and was doing the same thing as the guy in the OP. My brother figured it out. New scope, far better results.
Stuart
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May 2nd, 2017, 05:43 AM #10Grand Member
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