Reloading for M1 Garand
- Thread starter tchunter
- Start date
- Status
jcwit
member
Do a google search on the powder companies web sites, safer than taking someones word over the net!
I prefer the IMR 4895 series of powders in my Garands. Accurate Arms AA2495 is a copy of IMR 4895 but stupidly they call it something different and confuse everyone. Accurate Arms told me it duplicated the 4895 pressure. When it was less than IMR 4895 I shot at least five kegs of the stuff through M1’s and M1a’s. I could not tell any difference on target or over the screens. I am shooting H4895 in my M1a’s, I have tried AA2520, a ball powder. Accurate Arms told me grain for grain it also duplicates the IMR 4895 pressure curve. It is a lot denser than the stick powders and a lot messier. Leaves a lot more residue in the gas system; still it shoots well. I cannot say that the better throw uniformity you get with a ball powder really means anything on paper.
I have buds who love IMR 4064, but it does not throw well. For them it does not matter as they weight each charge. That takes too much time for me.
A bud who placed very high in every Garand match he shoots, he loads 46 grains IMR 4064 with his 168's.
I shot the 168 out to 600 yards with great success but when the 175 SMK’s came out I used those at 500 and 600 yards.
My standard load out to 300 yards is a 168 grain Nolser/Sierra/Hornday, 47.0 grains IMR 4895, military cases, CCI #34 OAL LT 3.30".
You can cut the load by a couple of grains and it will still shoot well.
November I ran a primer test with all the primers I had around the house. I wanted to see how Wolf and Tula 7.62 did. Those primers shot very well and are considered "Mil Spec".
You absolutely do not want to use primers that are "more sensitive" in Garands due to the risk of slamfires. I recommend CCI #34, then Tula7.62 as these are sold as mil spec primers. I do not recommend Federals in Garands/M1a's as these are the most slamfiring primer on the market.
I have buds who love IMR 4064, but it does not throw well. For them it does not matter as they weight each charge. That takes too much time for me.
A bud who placed very high in every Garand match he shoots, he loads 46 grains IMR 4064 with his 168's.
I shot the 168 out to 600 yards with great success but when the 175 SMK’s came out I used those at 500 and 600 yards.
My standard load out to 300 yards is a 168 grain Nolser/Sierra/Hornday, 47.0 grains IMR 4895, military cases, CCI #34 OAL LT 3.30".
You can cut the load by a couple of grains and it will still shoot well.
Code:
[SIZE="3"]M1 Garand Douglas Barrel 1:10 twist
168 Sierra Match 47.0 grs AA2495 wtd WLR FC Cases OAL 3.30"
5 May 00 T = 82 ° F
Ave Vel = 2632
Std Dev = 16
ES = 50
Low = 2616
High = 2666
N = 10
168 gr Sierra Match 47.0 AA2520 WWII cases WLR OAL 3.30"
5 May 00 T = 82 ° F
Ave Vel = 2658
Std Dev = 35
ES = 85
Low = 2612
High = 2697
N = 5
168 gr Sierra Match 48.0 IMR 4064 wtd LC66NM WLR OAL 3.30"
5 May 00 T = 82 ° F
Ave Vel = 2594
Std Dev = 18
ES = 38
Low = 2575
High = 2613
N = 5
168 gr Sierra Match 49.0 wtd IMR 4064 LC66NM WLR OAL 3.30"
5 May 00 T = 82 ° F
Ave Vel = 2669
Std Dev = 27
ES = 65
Low = 2651
High = 2716
N = 5 [/SIZE]November I ran a primer test with all the primers I had around the house. I wanted to see how Wolf and Tula 7.62 did. Those primers shot very well and are considered "Mil Spec".
You absolutely do not want to use primers that are "more sensitive" in Garands due to the risk of slamfires. I recommend CCI #34, then Tula7.62 as these are sold as mil spec primers. I do not recommend Federals in Garands/M1a's as these are the most slamfiring primer on the market.
Code:
[SIZE="3"][B]M1 Garand BMR Receiver Douglas Barrel 1:10 twist [/B]
150 gr FMJBT 1966 Ball
14 Nov 2011 T= 74 ° F
Ave Vel = 2545
Std Dev = 20
ES = 68
Low = 2513
High = 2581
N= 8
174 FMJBT White Box 1968 NM M72, Headstamp LC67 match, box velocity 2640 fps
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2592
Std Dev = 28
ES = 103
High = 2647
Low = 2544
N = 10
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI #34 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2632
Std Dev = 20
ES = 60
High = 2671
Low = 2611
N = 10
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Tula 7.62 lot 1-10 primers OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2582
Std Dev = 15
ES = 49
High = 2602
Low = 2553
N = 10
excellent group
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Wolf NCLR lot 18-09 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2607
Std Dev = 17
ES = 57
High = 2642
Low = 2585
N = 10
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM WLR (Nickle) OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2650
Std Dev = 19
ES = 68
High = 2688
Low = 2620
N = 10
Very good group
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI200 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2599
Std Dev = 22
ES = 75
High = 2637
Low = 2562
N = 10
Very good group [/SIZE]
Last edited:
- Status
