Reloader 15, 17, 19, 22 for a Garand or Enfield?

[Ignition Override]

My Lee charts have nothing for these powders.

If they did, it might be for the wrong bullet weights.

Where can you determine whether the powders are fast enough to avoid stress in the M-1 Garand, and how much min. powder to use for 150 or 168-grain bullets?

 

[dennymac]

Reloader 15 for Garand

Good afternoon. If you have RE15 and 168 grain bullets, you are in luck. Put 46.0 grains of powder under a 168 grain bullet. Seat it to 3.25 inches long, and go to town. Practice your offhand, and keep your trigger elbow under you when you shoot rapids. I guarantee that it will shoot the middle out of the target, if your rifle is capable. My Garand eats it up, and my 1903A3 likes it even better. But, my 1903A3 likes ammo that the Garand doesn't. Best of luck to you. Hold 'em hard. DennyMac

 

[dmazur]

Some time ago I found a chart which was supposed to be "Garand safe" powders (in terms of burn rate) -

Benchmark
IMR-3031
H4895
H335
IMR-4895
BL-C(2)
748
Varget
IMR-4064

I also read that AA-2520 was used for Garand loads, even though it is a little slower than those listed.

The burn rate chart I'm looking at (in the front of the Sierra reloading manual) shows RE-15, RE-19, RE-22 as slower powders than the "region" recommended for a Garand. RE-15 is at least in the "general vicinity" of the typical Garand powders, but the others are much, much slower.

As you know, it isn't the amount of charge, but the "tail" of the pressure curve that bends the op-rod. Slow powders are supposed to have too high a pressure at the time the bullet passes the gas port.

The Sierra manual shows a load for RE-15 for the .303 British for a 150gr SPT bullet-

37gr at a COL of 3.075" for 2300 fps

 

[TwoEyedJack]

I reload for my Garand on a Dillon press and searched for a ball powder that would meter nicely through the Dillon powder measure. I settled on Ramshot TAC, which has a burn rate very close to H4895 and H335. Just to be sure of not messing up my op rod, I installed an adjustable gas plug. It provides great peace of mind.