M1 Garand, Cast Bullets, & IMR SR4759

[scrone]

With the current situation of available reloading supplies, as in nothing seems to be out there for standard M1 loadings, this topic may be of intrest to others.
I wanting to load up some decent 100-200 yd loads that will also cycle in the M1. They should also work well with my M1903A3 and M1917.
I have a couple hundred cast bullets with gas checks of the Lyman 311413.
Powder? My IMR4895 is down to 1/2 a pound and want to save that for the 7.62x51, M14.
I do have a can of IMR SR4759 which I have read was developed for reduced loads in the .30-06. However very little published loading info can I find of this powder and with cast bullets.
I also have some IMR4350, wich of course is not recommended for the Garand, but that may be a different story with cast bullets.
Anyway the gist of the long post, I'm asking if anyone else has worked with these powders and cast bullets in the M1 Garand. Appreciate any comments or others shared expertise.

 

[Bwana John]

I dont think SR4759 will cycle the action on your M1 with the load data available.

I am guessing you "could" work up a full pressure load, but full pressure large case rifle loads are not what the powder is intended for, and it is a fast enough powder to get into trouble pretty fast.

I use 4759 for reduced loads all the time, but have never used it for full power loads.

I also would be very leery of pushing a lead bullet with enough pressure to work the action of a gas operated rifle, although i have seen many people using gas-checked lead in their Garands.

I have used 110gr M1 Carbine bullets and a low-moderate load (just enough to cycle the action) of 4895 with good results, shoots to "minute of milk-jug"@ 200yds.

 

[Slamfire]

I have used cast bullets in the 30-06 with AA5744. This is an outstanding cast bullet powder. I tried IMR 4895 and had horrible velocity extreme spreads.

Let me caution you about using cast bullets in a Garand. You absolutely do not want to have the bullet seated to the lands. No crush fit of bullet or case. The Garand has a free floating firing pin. If the mechanism has to stop, to crush fit a large/fat case, or seat the bullet, that free floating firing pin is rebounding off the back of the primer and the lugs won’t be engaged. Given a sensitive primer, you can have an out of battery incident.

A fellow gun club member blew the back of his receiver off using cast bullets and I am certain that was his problem.

Use the least sensitive primers in the mechanism, CCI #34’s or Tula7.62. Don’t use Federals as they are the most slamfiring primer in Garands.

 

[Bwana John]

I am guessing you "could" work up a full pressure load, but full pressure large case rifle loads are not what the powder is intended for, and it is a fast enough powder to get into trouble pretty fast.

I just found some full pressure load data for IMR SR4759, But I think it is for jacketed bullets, I will post it later today for you.

In retrospect SR4759 "might" be a good powder for moderate lead loads, but I have no experience or knowledge of it, I am kinda partial to jacketed and plated bullets.

 

[GooseGestapo]

H4895 will be your friend.
Use the Lee formula to get approximately 2,000fps (around 36-40gr).
(when it gets warmer, I plan a work-up with RL15...)
I've used the Lee .311 155gr PtGC. Seat and crimp as you would normally.

At ~50yds, it may even shoot to zero.

I doubt you'll get enough port-pressure from the SR4759 to cycle the action.

My older brother in the '80's used this same rifle and flat-nosed cast bullets and Unique to shoot some reduced range matches and did quite well.
However, the loads required the action to be manually operated as a
"straight-pull" bolt action....with spring forward assist, of course.

You WILL have to periodically pull the gas plug and clean the carbon/lead residue from the gas system...
I originally got my 155 PtGC mould for an SKS. It worked well in the SKS as well.

You probably won't save much on powder, but the bullets will be practically free (except for gas-check). I found some Hornady 150gr FMJ-BtTails for $23.99 Monday..... Only got 100 though... Not sure how well they'll shoot...

 

[Bwana John]

This is the only full pressure dope for a 30-06 and IMR SR4759 that I have found,
Source - IMR data free pamphlet (dated 10/90)
110 gr jacketed bullet - 35gr SR4759 - 2800fpf - 49,700 cup
150 gr jacketed bullet - 31gr SR4759 - 2360 fps - 49,700 cup
180 gr jacketed bullet - 29.5gr SR4759 - 2130 fps - 50,000 cup
200 gr jacketed bullet - 28.5gr SR 4759 - 2000 fps - 49,800 cup


Here is the lightest 30-06 SR4759 load I have ever found,
Source - Speer reloading manual #7 (dated 1966)
100 gr halve-jacket bullet -12gr SR4759 -1210 fps - no pressure data

 

[scrone]

Thanks for the replys and information.
I do realize that 4895 will best serve what I want with both cast and jacketed. However like I said, just can't find any available right now. And hoped to use up some powder I had on hand.
Did make out to range this afternoon. Tried SR4759 loads from 19.5 grs up thru 22 grs. and also some loads with 26.3 grs of IMR4895. So far on a 50yd target, accuracy looks good with this 311413 bullet. None of the loads developed enough pressure to cycle action. Also need to set up the chrono to see more what I am doing.
Will continue researching and testing this.
Still appreciate anyone's comments and information along this venture.