Good bullets for M1 Garand?

I recently purchased a M1 Garand and would like to reload for it. I have reloaded pistol for a couple years now but this would be my first go at rifle. I am just wondering if this would be a good bullet for a stock Garand. Not looking for match quality ammo but I would like it to be relatively accurate. I've never purchased pulled bullets before so I am curious if there's anything to be on the look out for. With their discount code this seems pretty darned cheap.

https://americanreloading.com/en/30-caliber-308/1937-308-145gr-fmj-500ct-445567.html

 

You can shoot pulled bullets just fine. Just don't judge your rifles accuracy/consistency based on how it shoots pulled bullets. My Garand loves bullets from 165-180gr. Remember, if you're shooting warm to hot loads in a Garand, you need an adjustable gas block.

You didn't ask, but I'm going to offer a suggestion, you should definitely look at H-4895 for powder.

 

150 to 165 grain FMJ bullets are good plinking bullets. Better accuracy can be gained from a bullet whose jacket covers the base of the bullet but they do get a bit more pricey.

Generally, 180 grain bullets are considered a recommended maximum weight for a Garand. There are folks who load bullets as light as 125 grains and get good accuracy out to several hundred yards with a bit lower recoil.

There is a range of powders whose burn rates are around Varget, H4895 and IMR4895 that are appropriate for the Garand. I use H4895 primarily so I forget the upper and lower limit of the suitable powder.

Current commercial 30-06 hunting ammunition uses slower powder than suitable powders for the Garand and these need the adjustable gas plug. The problem is the port pressure remains too high with these slow powders and you run the risk of bending the op-rod. (Note, the op-rod is designed with bends in it, high port pressure bends it out of spec).

Master Po's Temple from the NRA (http://masterpostemple.bravepages.com/M1load.htm) has good information on Garand loads.

Hornady's reloading manual has a section on Garand safe loads.

There are some other good sources for loads, frequently listed as loads for gas guns. If I remember, Sierra bullet has a section in their manual. Accurate powders used to have a gas gun loading section before they were bought by Western Powders. I have not seen gas gun loads for Western powders, but I have not looked either.

The CMP forum is an excellent source for all information on Garands.

http://forums.thecmp.org/index.php

Enjoy your Garand.

 

The bullets you are looking at would be better for 308 NATO ammo than the 30-06. 145/147gr bullets are usually pulled for .308 Win/NATO ammo. I usually try to find a 150gr M2 bullet for plinking and a 168gr match bullet for accuracy for the Garand.

I usually buy from Jeff Bartlett but right now they are out if stock. They get stuff in often.
http://www.gibrass.com/projectiles.html

Widener's used to have them all the time but since the same I have not seen them often.
https://www.wideners.com/reloading-supplies/bullets/best-bullets-by-brand/surplus-bullets

I've had good luck with Hi-Tech ammo online. Their prices are a little higher but they have good and different stuff.
https://hi-techammo.com/collections/30-projectiles-bullets
Again, unfortunately the only M2 bullets they have in stock are black tip armor piercing and very pricey.

Sorry I can't be of more help for right now but I hope the information helps.

 

I've shot a bunch of 147 gr. bullets thru my Garand's in the past, both pull downs and a bunch of new manufacture. I think they will fill your criteria nicely, relatively accurate but not match quality. I was actually pleasantly surprised. I used IMR4895.

 

4064 on the slow side with a standard (closed) gas plug.

 

As others have said...the real issue is the powder, I had a guy bring me one that had the case stuck in the rifle...pressure was too high at extraction it just ripped the end off the gun. You are not going to go to walmart and pickup 3006 off the shelf and have a happy rifle.

Reloading for it is fun, and if you handload there is no reason to buy an adjustable gas system plug.....unless for some reason you want to load it real soft.

 

When I started reloading for my Garand I used some 147 gr. pulls (M2?), similar to the pulls you linked. I wanted to get used to reloading for my new rifle and wasn't concerned much with accuracy. I soon went to Hornady, Nosler and Speer 150-155 gr bullets with pretty good results. My best (or close to it) were loads of IMR 4064 under a Hornady A-Max 155 gr. Unless you get an adjustable gas plug for your Garand, stay away from factory ammo or "standard" 30-06 load data.

Master Po must have passed away since I haven't been able to get to his site for several months, but I used the Hornady manual's M1 Garand section...

 

I know it's a minor point but the M2 bullets are 150gr with a slightly different profile that the 147gr bullets used in .308 ammo. Both can be used but I feel the M2 bullets shoot better.

 

Just advertised. Check out these M2 150 gr. flat based bullets. They are specifically designed for 30-06 M1 Garand.
https://www.nereloading.com/index.php/m2-30-06-springfield-150-grain-full-metal-jacket-flat-base-500-count.html

 

I got Master Po's web site to open last night but it took a while. I had almost given up and it popped open.

 

Thanks for all the feedback. I am aware of the fact that you can't just buy any 30-06 ammo off the shelf and I was definitely planning on using Garand specific reload data. Thanks for the link to the M2 Ball bullets rg1. I just might check those out.

 

Those 150gr M2 bullets look good for the Garand.

 

The Hornady 150gr FMJ can be bought cheaply. Seat to 3.250" oal over 48.0gr H4895 or 50.0 gr IMR4064. Both my Garands shoot these under 2moa. Likewise my 03/A3.
Watch MidwayUSA for blems/2nds.

 

Are those boat tail?

 

Yes Hornady's 150fmj-bt is a boat tailed bullet. Also, the cannelure is not exactly in the right position for 30-06. Must be correct for .308 Win??? Older Hornady manuals list the oal at 3.260" which puts the cannelure out in front of the case mouth. Later Hornady overall lengths with the 150 FMJ-bt bullet is 3.185" which would allow you to crimp in the cannelure. I've shot them in Garands at both lengths and they feed and function fine at both lengths. A good shooting bullet. For plinking either the M2 flat base or the Hornady boat tail would do well. Maybe if you're shooting match games with your Garand then match bullets 150-168 gr. would do better. I actually prefer loading the M2 150 gr pulled bullets plus being cheaper. They were a much better deal back a few years. The M2's mentioned above are the first I've seen available in some time. Don't delay if you do choose them as they won't last long. Already bought my 500 and should have bought more?
Note: the M2's are pulled bullets. They definitely are from different lots of pulled ammo. The bullets may vary a bit in tip shape, cannelures may not be the same shape, and some or many may have marks and dings from pulling them. They will not be perfect like the Hornady bullets are. Just so you aren't disappointed with pulled bullets. They will still shoot fine even though mixed lots and dings.
If you zoom in and move around on the M2 pulled bullets you will see some with the pull marks. I resize some pulled bullets in a Lee .308 bullet sizing die and some with a nasty raised pull mark, I smooth with a fine file. Usually not necessary but I do anyway.

 

I medaled at last Garand match I shot at Talladega with the Hornady's. If it wasn't a 10X, it was MY fault. Not the gun or bullet
(CMP "Special w/Criterion barrel and Boyd's new stock).
Matches are shot at 200yds. With my gun, I can't shoot the difference between the $20/100 FMJ and $40/100 155-178gr match bullets. (1/2" at 200yds)
Your $$$, your choice!

 

The Lee .308 Bullet Sizing Die only costs around $20 and well worth the price if you do shoot lots of pulled bullets. Irons down any pull marks plus makes sure they are round. I run all pulled bullets through a sizing die.

 

You can find Nosler 168 Custom Competition for about $.17-.20/ea shipped a couple times a year. Cabelas had some about a year ago for that, and shooters pro shop has them for that on sale a couple times a year also. They're .22 right now

http://www.shootersproshop.com/nosler-products/nosler-blemished-2nds/nosler-blemished-bullets.html

I don't load pulled M2 because
1. they're almost always magnetic, and the range I use and the club I 3-gun at doesn't allow any magnetic ammo, and
2. they haven't proved particularly accurate.

 

I've found the 150gr. Hornady FMJBT to work fine in my M1's. Match grade anything isn't enough more accurate to justify the cost. 1 1/2 to 2" groups will clean high power tsrgets. Never used pulled bullets.

 

Another vote for Hornady 150gr FMJBT. They're plenty accurate for a battle rifle with iron sights that most people shoot at 100-200 yards.