Deer hunting with an M1 Garand.

[ol' scratch]

I have decided to hunt next year with my Garand. The area I plan on hunting allows high power rifles, so that is not a problem. I am planning on developing a hunting load for my rifle. I have had very good accuracy with Hornady 168 grain BTHP's, but have heard they shouldn't be used for hunting. The bullet does some wicked damage to 5 gallon buckets full of water and olive oil cans, but I would like to get some real feed back. I am trying to be ethical. I have a Schuster adjustable gas plug, so I could probably go with a heavier bullet if I tune the plug.

Has anyone else used their Garand for deer hunting? What worked for you? Can I use the Hornady 168 grain BTHP for hunting?

 

[NG VI]

I have had very good accuracy with Hornady 168 grain BTHP's, but have heard they shouldn't be used for hunting.

Caliber is enough, accuracy is best, it isn't FMJ, sounds like a win for deer to me.

Why would an ordinary bullet in a deer-friendly caliber be unethical?

Of course it does serious damage to water buckets, the only thing that reacts more to being hit with a bullet is Tannerite.

 

[ol' scratch]

I have just always heard SP bullets should be used.

 

[essayons21]

BTHP shouldn't be used for hunting. While it will most likely dispatch east coast whitetail, the terminal performance of the bullet is erratic. It is not built like a pistol caliber hollowpoint, there is no controlled expansion. There is a very real chance of causing a nasty shallow wound that doesn't cause immediate death, even with proper shot placement.

Plus, even if it does kill the deer, you will be picking shards of copper jacket out of your gums while you are eating your shoulder roast.

I would go with the 168gr AMAX from Hornady. Make sure you use load data for the Garand, as it requires lower operation pressures than 30-06 bolt guns to reduce battering on the gun.

 

[Don357]

The military BTHP is not a real "hollow point" per say, it is actually a target round primarily used for match shooting and snipers in WW2 and Korea. It is actually a FMJ with a shallow hollow tip that is designed to create an air cavity in front of the bullet to provide a more stable flight. Expansion is minimal and is not legal for hunting use in most states. There are MANY suitable hunting rounds for the .30-06, including polymer tipped bullets which will give as good or better accuracy than the military BTHP. The only thing I can see wrong with using a M-1 is the weight, but then I use a CETME and a M48 Mauser.

 

[essayons21]

The HP on match BTHPs like Hornady's is a result of the manufacturing process, and has nothing to do with an "air cavity" Expansion is rapid and uncontrolled, with the jacket almost immediately stripping off, as the jacket is not bonded in anyway to the solid lead core. Where the core goes after that is anybody's guess.

http://www.hornady.com/store/Match-c-379

 

[saturno_v]

Carrying around a 10 pounds rifle (with no optics) is not my idea of fun in the woods...I hated the Garand when I was in service....

 

[jmr40]

As others have stated, that is a target bullet. It is not designed to expand in animals and make a quick kill. Any bullet may work under the right conditions, but I wouldn't use it.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Try a 150-grain Remington Core Lok over 45.0 grains of H4895 or a 165 grain Sierra boat tail over 44.0 grains of the same powder. These are standard M1 loads, tested in competition, but with hunting bullets substituted.

 

[ol' scratch]

Thank you for the information. I am using 4895 right now to load and the information in the Hornady handloading manual for the Garand. As far as the concern over the weight of the rifle mentioned in the earlier post, it isn't a real concern for me. I have been jump shooting with my SP 10 which weighs almost the same as the Garand. Thank you very much for your insight, however.

 

[essayons21]

I've done quite a bit of load development with the Garand, and noticed a significant improvement when switching from 4895 to 4064 with 168gr BTHPs. If you can get your hands on some it would be worth giving it a try. Managed to get 3/4 groups out of a late-40s service-grade CMP Garand.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

I am sure you know this, but it has not been mentioned yet - the pressure from modern 30-06 ammo/gunpowder can ruin the operating rod in an M1 Garand.

Try a 150-grain Remington Core Lok over 45.0 grains of H4895 or a 165 grain Sierra boat tail over 44.0 grains of the same powder. These are standard M1 loads, tested in competition, but with hunting bullets substituted.

Does anyone sell a commercial 150gr hunting load for the Garand? Seems like a no-brainer.

I am trying to get a job as "Innovation Manager" at ATK/Federal here in Minnesota. No response from HR yet.

It seems like this kind of thing - Garand Hunting Ammo - marketed through the CMP, Garand competitions and websites like this, would be a great new product in one of the few growth markets for firearms.

 

[NCsmitty]

You just need to substitute a 165gr SST or any good softpoint and try them to check for accuracy. FMJ or match type bullets will certainly punch holes in deer and kill them, but too often the deer will run off and be lost due to lack of blood trail with pencil holes in them.

Ethical hunting dictates that expanding bullets be used to transfer energy to the animal's system and to open wound channels to create a good bleed out.

Yes, the Garand is a heavy old rifle, but the Heroes of WW2 carried them from one end of the European conflict to the other, so carrying it a few hundred yards will give you an appreciation of what they experienced. It will drop a 200lb deer as well as it dropped 200lb Germans during the war.
Enjoy!



NCsmitty

 

[dmazur]

+1 to SST's.

I've had good results (group size and reliable feeding) with 150gr SST's in a Garand.

 

[Deanimator]

Avoid heavy bullets and slow powders such as IMR4350. You will bend your op rod.

150-165gr. softpoints and IMR4895 or IMR4064 should be fine.

 

[ohgrady]

Your M1 is a military rifle........why you need a bolt action..............JUST KIDDING.

I ran into an old guy back in the 80's when I lived in Montana that told me of his days being stationed in Alaska in WWII. He told me they had used the M1 for some hunting when they ran short of food. I can't remember what he said they shot (something big and 4 legged though), but he had no complaints about his rifle, or having meat.

Are you in a state that allows over 5 rounds in the mag/clip?

 

[Deanimator]

Are you in a state that allows over 5 rounds in the mag/clip?

They make two round and I believe five round en bloc clips. I have several of the two round clips from when I shot service rifle competition.

 

[ol' scratch]

Where I am planning on hunting they only allow 5 rounds, but I can get an enbloc that will fit the bill.

As far as the op rod, I have an adjustable gas plug in my Garand. I have even shot commercial ammo through it with no ill effects. You just have to tune the plug. I NEVER shoot Federal because of the worry of a slam fire.

 

[gondorian]

I went deer hunting with my Garand (didn't get anything). I found the Garand to be kinda heavy but totally manageable, even when walking with it for hours. I think the best way to deal with its weight is to grow some bigger muscles.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Try deer hunting with almost any 19th Century rifle, from a Hawkins plains rifle to a '73 or '76 or '86 Winchester -- they weight more than a Garand.

 

[MCgunner]

Try deer hunting with almost any 19th Century rifle, from a Hawkins plains rifle to a '73 or '76 or '86 Winchester -- they weight more than a Garand.

Yes, but my M7 doesn't. Heck, even my Savage 110 doesn't! I'm 57 years old, my muscles are on the decline. I don't need more muscle anyway if I'm totin' the M7. AND, it's 3/4 moa and has a 2x10 scope on it. Thick brush, stand hunting (it's short and compact), still hunting or spot and stalk, this rifle can do it all.

 

[kanook]

I have been using the 168 BTHP for about 15 years coming out of a 308. I have shot well over 30 deer with this choice and have yet to track farther than 60yds for the deer. All have been one shot. On the average, it's feet not yards that I walk not track the deer.

I have yet to recover any part of the bullet so I cannot say as to how it stayed together or not, all I can say for sure is the freezer is full of meat from a bullet that isn't supposed to work well.

(please don't tell any of the animals that I've harvested that my choice of ammo is wrong and that they should be alive, It will make a mess in my freezer)

 

[Dolph92]

There are a butt ton (that means a lot) of commercially available bullets for the M1. I would go with a soft point 150 or 180 grainer like a remington core lokt or something along them lines. I shoot a .270 and the best grouping off the shell bullet at 100 yards for my gun was a plain Jane green box cheap as dirt 150 grain round nose soft point. It drops the whitetails and the blackbears as well and ya cant beat the price with a stick.

 

[Tim the student]

There are a butt ton (that means a lot) of commercially available bullets for the M1.

But there are not a butt ton of commercially loaded cartridges for the M1.

That changes if you don't care about damaging your M1, or have an adjustable gas plug. Then, you can shoot anything you want out of it.

 

[josh...just josh]

just look for deer that are goose stepping around the forest, you can usually call them in by calling "heil!" Your garand should work great against them