[anagram-sam]

Post a pic of what you bought, and don't buy any more commercial stuff. A lot of it is over-pressured for gas guns. Only buy surplus or NATO stuff.

Others will soon chime in with their .02.

Forgot... WELCOME to the forum. You've come to right place with your questions!

 

[RAMMAC]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that just the standard Winchester Power Point ammunition? Regardless, the lead isn't going to hurt the barrel but it wont help your precision.

Which bullet weight are you using? I know that they make a 150gr and a 180gr cartridge, the 180gr is a tad heavy for regular fodder for the M1A and it is pushing the chamber pressure up toward the max. In fact, depending on what barrel length they used for their velocity testing, the 180gr cartridge could be producing pressures right at 58000 PSI; 50000 - 54000 PSI is the norm for the M1A. Usually it is recommended that the M1A not use bullets heavier than 168gr for regular use. Some people will use heavier bullets, I like 175s when I shoot long range, but be advised that these heavier bullets pound the rifle a lot harder and the rifle was not originally designed for them, in fact, the original bullet weight was in the range of 147 - 155 grains.

The mangled lead tips could loose chunks while the cartridges are being chambered and those chunks could get in to places that they shouldn't and cause complications, possibly stoppages (like the trigger mechanism). The only other issue that I can think of is this lead could break off in the barrel and foul it quicker, or worse yet, unevenly. Suppose that a chunk of lead breaks free as the bullet travels down the barrel. That lead chunk could smear along one area of the barrel and make that section of the barrel more heavily fouled than any other area. That would tend to push harder on the bullet in one spot vs. another and that will make the bullet rattle and bounce within the barrel. That variation can't be helping accuracy.

Of all the things I mentioned, my first concern would be the bullet weight, I would recommend not using the cartridges if they use the 180gr bullets. If they are lighter than that then I would be willing to use them but I wouldn't expect that they would have optimum precision.

 

[XXIV Corps]

Welcome on board starbreaker, great site here with lots of info on our beloved M14. Post often and enjoy the site with your new rifle. Review the listing here on safe ammunition that has been manufactured for your rifle, unless your going to reload.DI5

 

[tslater11]

I'm fairly new to forum and the .308 as well. I am sticking with 165 for hunting and 168 for target practice. I have just purchased some federal fusion 165 (medium game), nosler custom partitions 165 (heavy game) and a box of the federal M1A 168. I am keeping the weights close to the same so I do not have to change my zero. I know bullet placement on target will be slightly different, but that should be minimal out from 300-400 yards. I'd rather change the punch of the bullet than my zero.

Any suggestions?

 

[Starbreaker]

Many thanks for the welcomes, and for the advice.

@RAMMAC:
I'm using 150gr shots right now. I bought this ammo just to go to the range with this weekend to familiarize shooting the weapon. I'll probably pick up some match grade rounds soon. Of course I'll give it a good cleaning before I do so.