M1A ammo question

**Tony** · June 12th, 2009, 02:20 PM

Have a new Springfield M1A. Stocked up on some .308 ammo but then read in the manual that only mil-spec should be used to avoid danger of a "slam fire". Any recommendations on "safe" ammo?

Thanks,

Tony

**DPB** · June 12th, 2009, 04:08 PM

What did you buy?

If you bought a commercial equivalent of 147-150 grain NATO ball, you should be all right. The other problem is that, due to the pressure curve or some such thing, use of "hunting" ammo can lead to a bent operating rod.

AIM Surplus has South African .308 right now, I'm not sure of the price.

If you're worried about what you've got right now, take it to the range, POINT IT AT THE BERM, lock the bolt back, insert a mag loaded with one round, MAKE SURE IT'S POINTED AT THE BERM, and drop the bolt. Then drop the mag, eject the round, and check the primer. If there's much indent on the primer, you have potential for slam fire. Of course, if it slam fires, you also have the potential for slam fire.

**TJB63** · June 12th, 2009, 06:30 PM

I know for an M1 Garand that Midway offers an Adjustable Gas Plug for firing any type of ammo out of an M1 or so they say. I don't see why they wouldn't offer the same plug for an M1a

Just a thought.

TJB

**Fragger** · June 12th, 2009, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Tony

Have a new Springfield M1A. Stocked up on some .308 ammo but then read in the manual that only mil-spec should be used to avoid danger of a "slam fire". Any recommendations on "safe" ammo?
Thanks, Tony

Tony from the wording and use of the term "Slam Fire" it suggest to me their concern that one needs to use Mil-Spec primers above anything else.
Mil-spec primers are more 'hard' (term used loosely) and will need a heavier striker impact to detonate. Semi-autos (most of them) use a free floating FP.
When the bolt closes the inertia of the FP continues inside of the bolt usually denting the primer. If one was to use a off the shelf round of say .308
(not 7.62X51) there would be a better chance for that primer to detonate when the bolt closed = slamfire.

**WhackyPlague** · June 12th, 2009, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by DPB

If you're worried about what you've got right now, take it to the range, POINT IT AT THE BERM, lock the bolt back, insert a mag loaded with one round, MAKE SURE IT'S POINTED AT THE BERM, and drop the bolt. Then drop the mag, eject the round, and check the primer. If there's much indent on the primer, you have potential for slam fire. Of course, if it slam fires, you also have the potential for slam fire.

I'm curious.. How much of an indent is a problem? Anything noticeably more indented than what you see in military-spec ammo?

**brian** · June 12th, 2009, 09:35 PM

depends on the primer.
the m1a will put a noticable impression in primers.
all i fed mine is one form of russian stuff or another. no issues to date.

**brian** · June 12th, 2009, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by DPB

What did you buy?

If you bought a commercial equivalent of 147-150 grain NATO ball, you should be all right. The other problem is that, due to the pressure curve or some such thing, use of "hunting" ammo can lead to a bent operating rod.

.

different op rod set ups on the m14/m1a than on the m1.
not really an issue with bending rod on the newer rifle. shorter rod, has a seperate gas piston.
the m1 rod runs from the charging handle to the muzzle.

**emdarms** · June 13th, 2009, 11:02 PM

Why take the chance with ammo that you are not sure of? There is a lot of surplus out there. As long as it has the Nato head stamp, you should be good to go. With ammo becoming more difficult to find, factory ammo should be easy to get rid of. I would stick to good surplus ammo preferably Lake City Match 173 gr. your 14 will give you much pleasure.