Is it bad I want a M1 Garand in .308?

[Jeremy2171]

Is there such a thing as ".308 M1 Specific Ammo" or could you just "shoot what you got"? Just curious.

There is no such thing (or need) for it. The 30-06 and 308/7.62 garands can already "shoot what ya got". Adjustable gas mods are a solution looking for a problem. 99% of garand shooters don't even need to think about them. Now if you are trying to clean the 1000 yd target and running heavy match bullets and a case full of 4831 etc then yeah you should use it. Otherwise its a waste of money. Keep your rilfe greased properly and ensure you ahve good oprod springs no shorter than 19.5" and you will be fine with any store bought ammo. If handloading..use the correct powders...any from 3031 to varget and any bullet from 100-220gr that you have data for.

Thats it...short and sweet.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

I have several Garands in '06 and always wanted to try out a 308, so when my son and daughter in law gave me a loose SA receiver for Christmas I knew exactly what to do with it.

This thread makes me wanna build a Garand.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

There is no such thing (or need) for it. The 30-06 and 308/7.62 garands can already "shoot what ya got". Adjustable gas mods are a solution looking for a problem. 99% of garand shooters don't even need to think about them. Now if you are trying to clean the 1000 yd target and running heavy match bullets and a case full of 4831 etc then yeah you should use it. Otherwise its a waste of money. Keep your rilfe greased properly and ensure you ahve good oprod springs no shorter than 19.5" and you will be fine with any store bought ammo. If handloading..use the correct powders...any from 3031 to varget and any bullet from 100-220gr that you have data for.

Thats it...short and sweet.

Please tell me your experience with using factory loads. And what to check for to make sure it doesn't damage anything.

 

[Garandimal]

Please tell me your experience with using factory loads. And what to check for to make sure it doesn't damage anything.

PPU M2 Ball, factory fresh in the sealed 500 rd. can, is the way to go.

​

Copper jacket and ~ $320/pop in sane times.



GR

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

PPU M2 Ball, factory fresh in the sealed 500 rd. can, is the way to go.

View attachment 984826​

Copper jacket and ~ $320/pop in sane times.



GR

C
omes in that box right?

 

[Havok7416]

Or in a blue 20 round box

 

[Garandimal]

C
omes in that box right?

Even comes in 7.62 NATO... for a little less.

​

GR

 

[Jeremy2171]

Please tell me your experience with using factory loads. And what to check for to make sure it doesn't damage anything.

Been shooting/building/collecting these for 30+years.

Your biggest concern is properly greased (not oiled) and a good oprod spring..either orion 7 or wolf extra strength. I like the wolf because they are stronger but you might have issues if you are shooting weak reloads or substandard milsurp ammo like late 60s M2 ball. Also if your gas system is worn and losing gas...the wolf springs will give you issues. In short...if you put a wolf spring in and you are shooting commercial or "good" milspec ammo and you start having cycling issues...you have a lube or a gas problem. Its like a miners canary...its warning you that there is a problem.

Orions are great because they have a lifetime guarnatee...but for like $7ea...I just buy them in bulk and replace when shorter than 19.5"

 

[Reloadron]

Always liked those stocks with the stripes. Really nice.

Ron

 

[Goes211]

Hey man, its your money, buy whatever you like. Personally, I like the idea of common guns in uncommon calibers.
I have a 1911 in .38 super just because.

 

[USMC1775]

I had one in 7.62x51mm, loved it! Traded it about 10 years ago and have been kicking myself ever since, only paid $750 and it came with a butt load of enbloc clips, sling, WWII cartridge belt, and bayonet. Worst thing is I remember the rifle, but don't remember what I traded it for.

 

[Garandimal]

Was considering an M1 rifle in .308... maybe even a re-Bbl., for WRoL conditions.

But all the M1's have very good bores, and the M2 Ball from both the CMP and PPU is stacked high'n'deep.

...and have no other rifles chambered in the cartridge.

(thought about a 6.5x55mm Bbl., though)






GR

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I personally would prefer to stay away from the Springfield Armory commercial M1s, which are out of production anyway. The are identified by the serial number which is 7000000 and above.

A better bet, for a bunch of reasons, would be to look at thecmrp.org website, order a military grand in .308 Win or work with their custom shop to have it rebarreled in .308. That said, mine are .30-06s, are nearly recoil-free due to the M-1s weight and gas action, and are tunable, reliable and better than acceptance level accuracy with either good hand loads (refer to the Hornady manual for M-1 Garand load data or "Master Po's Temple", the NRA's published loading data for M-1 Garand and 7.62x51 service rifle data) or Hornady Match ammo for the M-1 Garand. As a BTW, I'd bet my life on the M-1 Garand, as did my dad and uncle in WW2.

YMMV,

Harry

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Before 80% of you start yelling Blasphemy, what I mainly would like is a newer one made by Springfield Armory and rebarrelled to .308.
If I could find an original that was rebarrelled at some point to .308 then I wouldn't mind that either.
I tried looking around and all I found were the 1950s Navy chamber-sleeved ones. (which are super collectible.)

I see that PSA has some Italian Garands in .308 on today's daily e-flyer.

 

[Reloadron]

I see that PSA has some Italian Garands in .308 on today's daily e-flyer.

I think at $2800 I'll pass. I have some old BMB marked parts including a BMB complete bolt assembly and a BMB trigger group. Looking at what some of the Garand parts sell for I might have to organize all my parts and sell some off. I remember having an un-cut op-rod around here somewhere.

Ron

 

[BreechFace]

@Heir Kommt Die Sonne

Palmetto State Armory has some Italian 308 Win Garands for sale, as far as the price .

Italian Breda - M1 Garand w/ M84 Scope and Crate = $3,999
https://palmettostatearmory.com/ita...ate-very-good-surplus-condition-bredam1s.html

Italian Breda - M1 Garand = $2,799
https://palmettostatearmory.com/ita...i-auto-rifle-very-good-condition-bredam1.html

 

[Pat Riot]

I have an M1 Garand chambered in .308.
It started out for me as a beat up cosmoline covered Korean “Lend-Lease” gun that I bought for $239 at B&B Sales in Westminster, CA in 1990.
The stock was atrocious. It looked like a boat oar. The Parkerizing looked great after I got it cleaned up. There was a date on the barrel of 1952. I assumed that this was when it was made. I had no idea I could have found out more about it through Springfield Armory or the Garand Collectors Assoc. if I had I would have learned that the receiver was built in 1943. This gun was shipped for service to the Army. After WW2 it was refurbished in 1952 and sent to Korea. Had I known when it was originally made I would have restored it to original configuration - No, I will not do that now. Don’t ask or ponder.
It was fairly accurate even with the funny rings in the bore, but the stock oozed cosmoline in the hot desert sun. The barreI had two rings etched into the bore at 3” and 3.5”. Probably from some metal flag or something left loosely sitting in the bore on a vibrating conveyance like a truck or ship or something. No one I talked to about it had a clue as to why.
I eventually encountered a guy at a gun show that built National Match Garands and M1A rifles.
I had him restock the gun, bed the action, do an accuracy job on it, install a NM front sight but leave the rear original. At that time Mil-Spec 30.06 was not cheap any more so I decided to have a .308 Match barrel installed as well.
This rifle loves 147 grain ball ammo. It is very accurate. Well, accurate for my crappy vision. I can put 8 rounds into a 6” circle at 300 yards from a bench. Well, I could 20 years ago.
In 2004 I gave it to my daughter. She held on to it until last Father’s Day when she gave it back to me. I dearly missed my Garand.
I haven’t had a chance to shoot it again yet. I had back surgery in May and carpal tunnel surgery in September and we have have this CoVid sh...Stuff, to deal with and all the ranges were closed...Blah, blah, blah

Anyway, here is my M1 Garand:

 

[Archie]

If your desire for an original (which does sound to me like the case) get an original in .30-06 Springfield. They are expensive.
If you want a shooting rifle in that configuration, a 7.62x51mm NATO (commonly .308 Winchester) would serve nicely and be less expensive in the main. I had one for several years to shoot the NRA High Power Rifle match (out to 600 yards) and it worked past my abilities. If I'm remembering correctly it was importer stamped 'Blue Sky' - at the time they were imported from Korea. The only mechanical problem I had was once after cleaning the rifle, including gas system. I didn't tighten the forward plug (nut) and the operation suffered due to gas leakage.
I shot reloads of 168 grain match bullets and a relatively (for .308 Winchester) fast powder. Shot well and dropped in pressure by the time the bullet past the bleed-off hole. No problems with bending the operating rod.

I got rid of it as it didn't get shot much - if at all - in the last ten years I owned it.

 

[Bwana John]

Before 80% of you start yelling Blasphemy, what I mainly would like is a newer one made by Springfield Armory and rebarrelled to .308.
If I could find an original that was rebarrelled at some point to .308 then I wouldn't mind that either.
I tried looking around and all I found were the 1950s Navy chamber-sleeved ones. (which are super collectible.)

I would NOT get it if has a cast repro receiver from Springfield Armory™.

A real one chambered for 7.62mm X 51mm NATO would not be heresy.

BUT... I'm pretty sure one chambered for 7.62mm x ................39mm ComBloc would be beyond the pale.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

I'm pretty sure one chambered for 7.62mm x ................39mm ComBloc would be beyond the pale.

Real gun nerds already know the AK is a bastard son of the Garand anyway.

 

[Garandimal]

Real gun nerds already know the AK is a bastard son of the Garand anyway.

More like orphaned... BY the M1 rifle.
(battlefield pick-up)




GR