re: Garand in 30.06

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jmurman

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2002
Messages
661
Location
MD
I am getting a Garand from CMP. I am VERY excited about this.

I will reload for the Garand and have read that there are some no-nos in regards to reloading for this rifle.

It is my plan to use the 168 match with Lake City brass. What would be the best powder to use for this round? From what I have read, you can have issues with bullet weight and powder type....

Any experience?
 
The Garand system was designed for IMR4895. Slow powders can cause problems such as bent op rods. I have heard that you shouldn't use anything slower than 4650, but I just stick to 4895. Also, no reason to "hotrod" loads in the M1, they run better with middle of the road loads.

I've been using Hornady 165 grain spitzers, just because I had a bunch.
 
Various powders have different graphs of pressure versus time. They peak rapidly, and decrease as the bullet travels down the barrel. For a semi-auto like the Garand, there is a design "package" which considers pressure at the gas port, the diameter of the port, the strength of the operating rod and the strength of the return spring.

The Garand was designed for a chamber pressure of 47,000 psi and a pressure curve for Dupont IMR 4895. You can use 3031 for nearly the same curve. If you load with a slower-burning powder such as 4064, you have to load to a bit lower pressure, say 44 or 45,000 psi.

An alternative is to change out the gas plug. There is an adjustable insert-dealie which I've not used, but folks here can explain it to you. It's mentioned in another thread that's been running recently in the Rifle Country forum.

Lotta folks here will probably chime in with some loads...

:), Art
 
I load .30/06 for the Garand. Mine is a SA/SG bought from the CMP earlier this year.

Currently I load 150gr Hornday FMJ-BT, with Remington cases, CCI 200 primers and 47.0gr of IMR-4895. Excellent load and shoots great.

I also load 168gr Hornady Match BTHP, same cases, primers and powder only I use 46.5gr.

My M1 seems to like the 150s a little better......and both bullets shot better with IMR-4895 than IMR-4064.
 
jmurman,

The two main rules for M1 rifle handloading are:

1) NEVER load bullets heavier than 180 grains
2) NEVER load with powder that is SLOWER than IMR-4320

Stay with these two rules and you'll keep the gas port pressure within the M1's design specs.

The basic M2 ball load is a 150 grain fmj flat base over 46-49 grains of military 4895 powder.

The "tried & true" Match target load for the M1 is the 168 or 175 grain HPBT over IMR-4064 (check manuals for the load). Comp shooters have been using this combo for 40+ years with excellent results.

Best of luck with your new M1.

Swampy

Garands forever
 
I am so looking forward to this Garand. I figure that I should have it by December.
 
The wait just sucks don't it? Mind you, if you've ordered it already you should have it sooner than December. IMR4064 works well in my Garand with the168 grain HPBT match bullet. Work up aload for your rifle. I've neverhad any trouble with my rifle. I've even shot some 220 grain Silvertips with no problem. Not a steady diet of them mind you.
 
I havent ordered it yet. I have to wait until I get my membership from The Garand Collectors Assoc....then I can order.

I am used to waiting for things that I really want. My wife and I have a Honda CRV on order, and should have it end of Oct/early Nov...I think I am more excited about the Garand than I am the CRV! It has also taken me about a year to have the monies set aside for a Dillon 550b.
 
Went to the range this afternoon, here's a couple of targets from the loads I mentioned.

This target is from my CMP USGI SA/SG M1 Garand with a 2,7xx,xxx receiver (early 1944) and a SA 11-43 barrel.

The load was Hornady 168gr BTHP Match bullet, Remington cases, CCI 200 primers and 46.5gr of IMR-4895 shot at 100 yards of a bench.

fb06bc49.jpg
 
The second target is shot with Hornady 150gr FMJBT, same case, primers, etc.....but with 47.0gr of IMR-4895.

This is a 16 shot group. The first target only has 7 holes, because I had a malfunction and dented the case.

fb06bc4b.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top