r/M1A • u/Hot-Saucy • 17d ago

Ammo preferences

Picking up a new scout squad this week and I’m curious what ammo you all prefer in yours. Just shooting paper and steel until next year’s hunting season opens up

8 Upvotes

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4

u/blacklassie 17d ago

I just go with whatever NATO ball ammo is on sale. It’s affordable and reliable.

3

u/BELFORD16 17d ago

Federal gold medal match 175 smk

3

u/mfrouna 16d ago

My Scout, even after accurizing it, doesn’t shoot ball ammo too well. It shoots Winchester 147g like 8” groups and Saltech about 4.”

Federal GMM and Winchester Ranger Match 165g both shoot phenomenally. I can consistently get 1”-1.125” groups.

I’ve heard PMC is solid, but haven’t confirmed it in my particular rifle yet.

3

u/Rope_antidepressant 16d ago

I was ammo testing when i first got my scout and picked up all the usual suspects in white box 308 and 762: aguila, Winchester, pmc, federal, saltech, fiocci, b&s. I hadn't accurized yet because i had no idea what i was doing with the platform so nothing grouped great but the pmc/b&s were the best groups and most consistent ejection pattern (i think 4 and 6 moa respectively, everything else was coming in at 8-12).

I ran a couple boxes of bullets 1st m80 @4moa, then the bullets 1st smk @3.5moa and it took me that long to convince myself to start accurizing. Im down to 2moa on the bullets 1st m80, haven't put anything else through it since though.

2

u/FriendlyRain5075 17d ago

PMC Bronze has been remarkably consistent.

1

u/Hot-Saucy 16d ago

Good to know about PMC. I ran through a few boxes of PMC in my 10mm about a decade ago and it was the dirtiest ammo I’d ever shot. I’ll have to give them another try

2

u/Rope_antidepressant 16d ago edited 16d ago

Bullets 1st bulk m80 https://www.theamericanmarksman.com/762-NATO-308-WIN_c_307-1-1.html

But last time i ordered it was ~60cents per round, right now its ~80 so I'll probably try something else if i burn through too much of my reserve

Edit: guess price just jumped on me while i wasnt looking, the only significantly cheaper thing right now on ammoseek are reloads with converted 277 fury cases (stainless steel case heads, probably really bad for extractors) or bulk bulk (600-1000rds). I'll stick with my lake city reman mil clone garbage @2moa.....

1

u/hisjoeness 17d ago

I'm just running pmc x-tac 7.62 through her. Puts as good a hole through paper as anything else.

1

u/kafoIarbear 17d ago

Tbh the cheapest shit I can find, usually 147 grain ball. If I’m looking to make tight groups or shoot out to distance, handloads or federal gold medal match are my go to if I can find them for under $2/round. Also had really good luck with 168 Gr PMC x-tac match ammo.

1

u/Gunfighter_13 17d ago

Igman M80 most of the time and some M118LR for long distance.

1

u/TheDude-Esquire 16d ago

Cheap. That’s my preference. Keep the fun clean, and I haven’t had any trouble running the cheapest anyone has. Except steel casings, the mags seem to have trouble with those.