Good Load for 308 MG42 Reloads

[easymoney]

I recently started loading some 308 to shoot in my MG42 with a conversion kit. I am using IMR 3031 powder. Anyone have any experience in reloading for a 42? As I am new to this project I would appreciate any help anyone might provide. Thanks.

[JBaum]

The load that works best in mine, may not work best in yours. You'll need to experiment.

Reloading manuals (online or books), have a range of powder load that you can use for each caliber and bullet weight/style. Let's say it's from 40 to 45 grains of powder for bullet X. Load a belt with 10 or 20 shots of 40 grain powder loads. Load another belt with 10 or 20 shots of 41 grains. etc. up to a near max load. Shoot the reloads and see what the gun likes best, then load that for the entire belt and you're set. If it runs perfectly with 43 grains, and there's no change with running 44 grains, use 43. There's no sense wasting powder and beating the gun with an unnecessarily heavy load.

After I got to the 43/44 line, I fine tuned it in 1/2 grain steps.
My full auto MG42 likes 43.5 grains of Hodgdon BLC-2 powder. With 43 grains it runs a tiny bit slower, with 44 grains it doesn't run any faster than with 43.5.

When it peaks, and using more powder doesn't do anything, that's the load to stay with.

[waffendude]

I use 44 grains of imr 4895---i shoot it through mg3 semi---fal,cetme, ect--- and jbaum is right--- once you get close to the right load --just fine tune it from there----i hope this helps

[easymoney]

I did not realize 1g or so would make much difference. The best thing I did was twist tie a piece of tubing to the front of the trigger guard to prevent the brass from being bent when ejected. Thanks.

[JBaum]

easymoney, you've seen this link, right?

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=13335

[easymoney]

Yes, I saw one and made one. Fired it with about 10 belts and all of a sudden it got caught somehow jammed the bolt. I suspect I did not take enough time to make it as described. Mine was a little lose. Just did the tubing thing to keep from having a part inside the receiver.

[JBaum]

I've shot thousands of rounds with my bumper in place without a problem.

[Waffentag]

I found my load for my FA MG42, 42.5 grains of IMR4064

Pat