Garand 150gr and OAL

[Alabama2010]

Hi Everyone,
So, I talked my Dad into getting me a special-grade Garand for accomlishing some career-related goals. He also has one, and I plan to reload for mine and talk him into doing the same for himself.
I loaded up a few dummy rounds and am questioning the COAL. I'm using new LC 54 from Jeff Bartlett (awesome service), Hornady .30 Cal (308 Diam) 150gr FMJ BT, and I'll probably use IMR4895 and CCI primers- but I haven't gotten to that point yet. My Speer #14 shows for this bullet a COAL of 3.295".
My dummies are measuring out between 3.192-3.200". I'm seating them with the case mouth in the middle of the cannelure. I can't test cycle them yet in the Garand b/c I haven't made the long drive home yet.

If any of you load for the Garand, can you give me your thoughts?

 

[loadedround]

As long as they cycle from the en bloc clip and through the action and don't excede the COAL you will be fine.

 

[rcmodel]

My Speer #14 shows for this bullet a COAL of 3.295".

When reloading, The devil is in the details.

See, you said you were using Hornady bullets, not Speer.
Speer doesn't list load data for Hornady bullets.

Hornady #6 says the OAL with your Hornady 150 grain FMJ-BT bullet should be 3.185" for the Garand.
So you are still a little long.

Seat to the forward edge of the cannelure and crimp if you crimp.
Whatever the OAL is then is the correct OAL for that Hornady bullet.

rc

 

[Alabama2010]

Ahh...I just figured since they were both .30 cal 150 gr FMJ BT's that the Speer data would be applicable- at least roughly. I didn't anticipate that much difference in COAL though. I like that the Hornady manual gives data specific to the Garand. I expected Speer's COAL to be longer because their test weapon was a Rem 700. I guess I'll know when I get a chance to see how these dummies feed. Thanks for the advice.

 

[rcmodel]

Just so you know, no two brands of bullets are going to be exactly the same.

Just the difference in nose ogive shape between the Speer & Hornady is enough to change the OAL significantly.

Speer's bullet is a true Spitzer shape.
Hornday's is a Secant Ogive which makes it shorter for any given weight bullet.

rc

 

[rg1]

I've used Hornady's 150 fmj bullets loading for Garands. No problems feeding by loading to Hornady's Garand section recommended overall length at 3.185. Only thing is Hornady didn't test IMR 4895 in their 7th edition manual, only H4895.
My loads with Hornady's 150 fmj with IMR 4895 using RP, LC, and Greek HXP brass with RP 9 1/2 primers 47-47.5 grains of IMR 4895 gets approx. 2725-2735 fps in my rifles. I wouldn't drop below 45 grains and not load higher than 48 grains of IMR 4895 using my components. The Hornady 150 fmj's shoot good in my rifles.

 

[P-32]

Since you plan on reloading for your M-1, I have found that IMR 4064 appears to give better groups.

If you plan on shooting your M-1 in High Power matches, I found a load which is under any starting load but will hit the 10 ring at 600 yards if I do my part. I have used a Service grade Springfield and a Correct grade H&R with simular results.

GI brass with primer pocket uniformed. 46.7 grs of IMR 4064 with a 155 gr. Palma SMK with a CCI primer.

As far as OAL goes load the bullets out as far as you can and still get the clip to go in the rifle with ease with all the rounds properly seated in the clip.