kennygarza
Member
What are the heaviest loads that can be fired from a Garand? I didn't know if 150 gr. was the max or could it go all the way up to 220 gr.?
KG
KG
Heaviest load from M1 Garand?
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Devonai
Member
According to Jim Thompson, author of The Complete M1 Garand, loads heavier than 180 grains can cause problems with sustained use.
The problem is that the round is in the barrel longer, causing the rifle to be in recoil longer. This can fatigue the recoil spring and in a worst case scenario snap the op-rod. Thompson recommends either very sparse use of heavy rounds or replacing the recoil spring often.
Another option is removing the gas cylinder entirely, transforming your rifle into a pull-handle bolt action. Just watch out for the exposed gas port!
The problem is that the round is in the barrel longer, causing the rifle to be in recoil longer. This can fatigue the recoil spring and in a worst case scenario snap the op-rod. Thompson recommends either very sparse use of heavy rounds or replacing the recoil spring often.
Another option is removing the gas cylinder entirely, transforming your rifle into a pull-handle bolt action. Just watch out for the exposed gas port!
longhorngunman
Member
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A lot of it has to do with the type of power used. I've read that IMR4895 or H4895 and IMR4064 are the right burn rate for the Garand.
Swampy
Member
kenny,
The problem with the M1 is that it has a gas system designed for only a narrow range of gas port pressure. Military M2 ball ammo meets this spec. Much if not most commercial hunting type 30-06 ammo does not. The pressure as the bullet passes the gas port is too high. This can cause problems ranging from accumulative stress on the op-rod to the point that it starts to bend, then malfing, to possible breakage.... all depending on HOW FAR over the limit the load is and HOW MANY are shot. It could take quite a few rounds of a load that is over the limit only a small amount. In cases where slow powder is used, such as the "Lite Magnum" ammo being marketed today, reports are extant of op-rods breaking with the firing of ONE shot.
In extreme cases, an overaccellerated op-rod and bolt can batter the heel of the receiver to the point of cracking it. Bye-Bye receiver. You now own a unitized parts kit....
Way back when.... in the 50's, when the M1 rifle was first being made available to civilian Highpower shooters.... the tech weenies at Springfield Armory (the REAL one) gave info to the NRA to pass on to civvy shooters regarding the M1's gas system. The "gas system" safe load rules that they gave are:
1) NEVER shoot bullets HEAVIER than 180 grains.
2) NEVER load powder SLOWER than IMR-4320
Those rules still apply today FOR UNMODIFED M1 RIFLES.
You CAN shoot heavier bullets and slower powders in the M1 but you must vent excess gas port pressure by installing an adjustable port gas lock screw. These are made by both Schuster and McCann.
Best regards,
Swampy
Garands forever
The problem with the M1 is that it has a gas system designed for only a narrow range of gas port pressure. Military M2 ball ammo meets this spec. Much if not most commercial hunting type 30-06 ammo does not. The pressure as the bullet passes the gas port is too high. This can cause problems ranging from accumulative stress on the op-rod to the point that it starts to bend, then malfing, to possible breakage.... all depending on HOW FAR over the limit the load is and HOW MANY are shot. It could take quite a few rounds of a load that is over the limit only a small amount. In cases where slow powder is used, such as the "Lite Magnum" ammo being marketed today, reports are extant of op-rods breaking with the firing of ONE shot.
In extreme cases, an overaccellerated op-rod and bolt can batter the heel of the receiver to the point of cracking it. Bye-Bye receiver. You now own a unitized parts kit....
Way back when.... in the 50's, when the M1 rifle was first being made available to civilian Highpower shooters.... the tech weenies at Springfield Armory (the REAL one) gave info to the NRA to pass on to civvy shooters regarding the M1's gas system. The "gas system" safe load rules that they gave are:
1) NEVER shoot bullets HEAVIER than 180 grains.
2) NEVER load powder SLOWER than IMR-4320
Those rules still apply today FOR UNMODIFED M1 RIFLES.
You CAN shoot heavier bullets and slower powders in the M1 but you must vent excess gas port pressure by installing an adjustable port gas lock screw. These are made by both Schuster and McCann.
Best regards,
Swampy
Garands forever
kennygarza
Member
Wow! Thanks for the info. Some of my friends and I were playing with the idea of a Garand as an all-purpose hunting rifle, but now that wouldn't be such a good idea. I'll pass this info on to them and tell them to just stick with the ball ammo and shoot the rifle for plinking. I guess the Remington 742 and 7400 and Benelli R1 has an adjusted gas system.
Thanks.
KG
Thanks.
KG
rero360
Member
correct me if I'm confusing the M1 with the M1A, but couldn't you turn the gas valve complety off and cycle the bolt manually. thus being able to use any round you want.
nbkky71
Member
Yes, it is possible to close the spindle and turn your M1A into a semi auto rifle. However, it becomes EXTREMELY difficult to cycle the operating rod. Folks have told stories of having to stand on them or kick them to extract the spent case.
Some of the match M1A rifles have the spindle permanently fixed in the OPEN position.
Some of the match M1A rifles have the spindle permanently fixed in the OPEN position.
Swampy
Member
Yes, you are confusing two different rifles with different gas systems.
The M1 rifle (aka Garand) was the US military mainstay thru WWII and Korea. It fires the 30-06 round. This is the rifle being discussed above.
The M1-A is the commercial copyrighted name owned by the commercial Springfield Armory Inc. for their semi-auto clone of the US Militarys M14 rifle. Both fire the 7.62Nato (.308 win) round.
The M14-M1A rifle has a gas shut off valve. The M1 rifle does not.
Best regards,
Swampy
Garands forever
rero360
Member
thanks swampy, thats what I thought but wasn't positive,
Sleeping Dog
Member
I have an extra gas plug/bolt, and I drilled a 1/8" hole through it. That turns the gun into a straight-pull bolt-action. It should be able to handle slow powder and heavy bullets with no problem. The plug was a couple of bucks at a gun show.
I'd still only use a 5-round clip to hunt, because it wouldn't be worth the hassle to convince a DNR agent that the gun is not semi-auto with that plug.
(5 round capacity is the limit for semi-auto in MI)
Regards.
I'd still only use a 5-round clip to hunt, because it wouldn't be worth the hassle to convince a DNR agent that the gun is not semi-auto with that plug.
(5 round capacity is the limit for semi-auto in MI)
Regards.
Henry Bowman
Senior Member
Try this: http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=182758 It shoots a 510 gr bullet (in .458 Win Mag) from a Garand.
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