m14 again

[nambujim]

I have a very strong opinion about this based on a long history of shooting and repairing the Model 14, you may not like what I have to say and others may not agree but here it is. I will add that while everyone is entitled to their personal opinion, mine is experienced based and when your lead bullet reloads have jammed up your rifle so many times that you start screaming please remember I told you so.

First and foremost ONLY round nose ammunition will feed properly in these guns and OACL is absolutely critical.

I actually do use some lead bullets for my .35 Cal Rifles utilizing a "Keith" style 158 grain SWC that I cast using printers or line-o-type alloy. I ONLY fire them single shot and they quite accurate, they of course would never feed but it is cheap shooting and afterward I clean the heck out of the workings to make sure it is void of lead shavings.

You must understand that these old rifles (we are dealing with the latest in 1909 technology) have a complex feed/loading system that can be easily made to jam if you don't provide it with a proper round. It isn't just the bullet you are working with here and while you may get some to feed the mechinism will deform it, shave off little pieces, and this will add to jamming & feed problems. I can't tell you how many rifles I have stripped only to find lead or brass shavings and the like the cause of jamming or feed problems.

While I may not have explained the situation as well as I could have, let me be more to the point. Use Remington brass, the proper round nose jacketed bullet, and powder charge recommendations from responsible loading manuals.
TO DO OTHERWISE WILL INSURE YOU OF DIFFICULTIES.

For the .25 Remington use powder recommendations for the Win. .25-35
For the .30 Remington use powder recommendations for the Win. .30-30
For the .32 Remington use powder recommendations for the .32 Win.Special

There have been several articles over the past few years on reloading for these calibers, one of the best was written by Charlie Petty who by the way brings his Model 14 & 14-1/2's to me for whatever service they might require.
Charlie also came up with a battery of "squib loads" that work like a champ, that you can shoot all day, and yet go home without a bruised shoulder.

So do yourself a favor and stay away from lead bullets!

OH YEAH, my very strong preference for these rounds is to use Redding dies.

Jim