What is the advantage of making your own reloads for the M1? Seems like it is time-consuming, expensive and requires a lot of specialized equipment and knowledge. The original military cartridges are available from the CMP for about 50 cents each. I'm a newbie, so go easy on me! TIA
Why reload for M1 Garand?
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jpwilly
Member
Because otherwise there's a very limited selection of ammo. Your choices are surplus ball or commercial ammo specifically selected for the gas system of the M1 Garand. Greek surplus isn't going to always be the most accurate in a particular M1. Reloading has much more to do with custom ammo for purpose, function, rifle than it does with low cost.
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TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
Reloading probably doesn't make practical sense unless you shoot a LOT or competitively.
That said, it's a great hobby all by itself and that's one reason so many people do it.
Much more enjoyable way to pass the time than watching TV anyway
From a financial view most people who reload do it for every gun they own, and the equipment costs become irrelevant over time. I bought all my expensive reloading gear in the mid 80s. It's paid for itself I'm sure, but I've never really done the math.
If you take the equipment and your time out, the costs can drop a lot. I reload .308 in quantity for example. Surplus .308 at today's prices is about 50 cents a round at best. My cost formula, which includes a 4% brass loss cost (lost or worn out brass) still has me reloading .308 ball type loads for about 25-28 cents a round. Punches holes in paper out of my M14 and FAL the same as the 50 cent stuff and I'm saving about $250 per 1000.
That said, it's a great hobby all by itself and that's one reason so many people do it.
Much more enjoyable way to pass the time than watching TV anyway
From a financial view most people who reload do it for every gun they own, and the equipment costs become irrelevant over time. I bought all my expensive reloading gear in the mid 80s. It's paid for itself I'm sure, but I've never really done the math.
If you take the equipment and your time out, the costs can drop a lot. I reload .308 in quantity for example. Surplus .308 at today's prices is about 50 cents a round at best. My cost formula, which includes a 4% brass loss cost (lost or worn out brass) still has me reloading .308 ball type loads for about 25-28 cents a round. Punches holes in paper out of my M14 and FAL the same as the 50 cent stuff and I'm saving about $250 per 1000.
The M1 Garand requires special loads for the gas system to function correctly. CMP does sell surplus ammo that usually good for plinking, but is (in my opinion) not suitable for serious match shooting. Higher quality ammunition will produce more consistent and accurate shots. Surplus cartridges are not known for outstanding accuracy. Hornady makes good match grade rounds loaded for the M1 but they are very expensive. You can also buy a Schuster gas plug and buy pretty much any standard .30-06 ammo, but it's going to be more expensive than reloads. Basically the only way to get low cost, match quality rounds is to reload.
Surplus is also in a finite supply.
Some of it can be very good, I have some Danish ball hoarded away that shoots as well or better than commercial ammunition I have tried.
Some of the surplus such as delinked M2 machinegun ammo is mediocre and only useful for plinking or informal target shooting.
Since very little .30/06 is used at a military level any longer, the odds of seeing any of it once the current supplies are dried up, is slim to not gonna happen.
Reloading for the M1 will be the only option unless more ammunition producers offer loads tailored to the M1 gas system and even then, like the Hornady ammo, it will likely be prohibitively expensive to shoot any large amounts.
Some of it can be very good, I have some Danish ball hoarded away that shoots as well or better than commercial ammunition I have tried.
Some of the surplus such as delinked M2 machinegun ammo is mediocre and only useful for plinking or informal target shooting.
Since very little .30/06 is used at a military level any longer, the odds of seeing any of it once the current supplies are dried up, is slim to not gonna happen.
Reloading for the M1 will be the only option unless more ammunition producers offer loads tailored to the M1 gas system and even then, like the Hornady ammo, it will likely be prohibitively expensive to shoot any large amounts.
derek45
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The M1 Garand was designed for a spectific pressure and BURN RATE.
If you deviate from what the M1 was designed for, you can bend the op-rod.
Nobody is making M1 Garand op-rods anymore, and once they are screwed up, it's very difficult to repair or replace them.
It's a really bad idea to run 30-06 hunting ammo from your local gunstore thru a Garand.
99.9% of my shooting is with handloads. I don't remember ever shooting surplus or factory ammo thru my CMP Garand.
If you deviate from what the M1 was designed for, you can bend the op-rod.
Nobody is making M1 Garand op-rods anymore, and once they are screwed up, it's very difficult to repair or replace them.
It's a really bad idea to run 30-06 hunting ammo from your local gunstore thru a Garand.
99.9% of my shooting is with handloads. I don't remember ever shooting surplus or factory ammo thru my CMP Garand.
Tim the student
Member
My reloads are better than HXP - cheaper too. Why wouldn't I?
I occasionally drag out the old blunderbuss and shoot the thing in Competition. The last National Match ammunition was made in the 60’s, used the 174 FMJ, and that bullet is not as good as the 168 Match bullets available today.
So, if I want the best groups, I reload.
200 Yards Prone SF on the old 5V target
NM ammo is just not up to snuff anymore.
I recommend that you full length resize all your cases, set up your sizing die with a case gage, size to gage minimum. Trim, and prime your cases off the press. Seat each primer by hand and verify that they are below the case head. No high primers. Use the most insensitive primers you can find, never use Federals as they are the most slamfiring primers around, I recommend CCI #34’s. Heard the Russian primers are mil spec, but don’t know. Don’t attempt to seat the bullet to the lands, just seat LT 3.30”, use IMR 4895/AA2495/H4895. Lots of loading data for the Garand is on the web.
So, if I want the best groups, I reload.
200 Yards Prone SF on the old 5V target
NM ammo is just not up to snuff anymore.
I recommend that you full length resize all your cases, set up your sizing die with a case gage, size to gage minimum. Trim, and prime your cases off the press. Seat each primer by hand and verify that they are below the case head. No high primers. Use the most insensitive primers you can find, never use Federals as they are the most slamfiring primers around, I recommend CCI #34’s. Heard the Russian primers are mil spec, but don’t know. Don’t attempt to seat the bullet to the lands, just seat LT 3.30”, use IMR 4895/AA2495/H4895. Lots of loading data for the Garand is on the web.
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Acera
Member
Here is an exercise,
First get your reloading calculator going........
http://ultimatereloader.com/tools/reloading-costs-calculator/
Then check prices, I will use Midway just for convenience.
168 gr Match King $32/100
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=1482125877
Lets consider this load as a base loading, 46gr of IMR4895 @ $23.50 a pound.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=242576
Primers $30/1000
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=744614
So for about the same price (this works out to about $0.51 each) using your saved cases you can get a match bullet custom built to your specifications.
You could use cheaper components and save some money which will eventually add up enough to cover the initial cost of the equipment.
Another thing to remember, the CMP has had trouble supplying the shooters. There have been long delays recently. This route, you can roll your own if needed to quickly replace the practice rounds you fired.
Another benefit, it forces you to expand your knowledge and skills in the firearms realm.
First get your reloading calculator going........
http://ultimatereloader.com/tools/reloading-costs-calculator/
Then check prices, I will use Midway just for convenience.
168 gr Match King $32/100
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=1482125877
Lets consider this load as a base loading, 46gr of IMR4895 @ $23.50 a pound.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=242576
Primers $30/1000
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=744614
So for about the same price (this works out to about $0.51 each) using your saved cases you can get a match bullet custom built to your specifications.
You could use cheaper components and save some money which will eventually add up enough to cover the initial cost of the equipment.
Another thing to remember, the CMP has had trouble supplying the shooters. There have been long delays recently. This route, you can roll your own if needed to quickly replace the practice rounds you fired.
Another benefit, it forces you to expand your knowledge and skills in the firearms realm.
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christcorp
Member
Other than for the hobby/fun of it; and specific MATCH SHOOTING (Which most match shooters reload no matter WHAT gun/caliber they have); there really is no other reason to reload for the M1 Garand.
There is plenty of plinking ammo available. $96 for 192 rounds from the CMP. Basically, $10 a box with S/H. If you really want to hunt with the rifle; it weighs a ton; there are 2 options. Spend $35 and swap out the gas plug with a schuster plug, and then you can shoot ALL the Commercial Ammo you want to. Or, spend $5 at a Army/Navy store or gun show for a 2nd gas plug. Drill out a big-ass hole in it. Swap that out for the original plug. Then, you've got essentially a bolt action gun. Shoot any ammo you want, and don't worry about adjusting the schuster plug for each different type of commercial ammo. In a hunting situation, you MIGHT get 2 shots at an animal. If you're on shot #3, you either suck at hunting, or shouldn't have been taking that 1st shot. I hunt with bolt actions 99% of the time. (As does most hunters). Manually chambering a round in an M1 Garand, is no different than chambering a bolt action rifle. At least for me.
So unless you feel compelled to hunt semi-auto; or you are into match-shooting; there really isn't any reason to reload except for the hobby/fun of it. And if you're already reloading for another caliber, then it can also save you money. If you are starting reloading as a new hobby, there will be about a $400 initial investment. But that pays off relatively quickly.
There is plenty of plinking ammo available. $96 for 192 rounds from the CMP. Basically, $10 a box with S/H. If you really want to hunt with the rifle; it weighs a ton; there are 2 options. Spend $35 and swap out the gas plug with a schuster plug, and then you can shoot ALL the Commercial Ammo you want to. Or, spend $5 at a Army/Navy store or gun show for a 2nd gas plug. Drill out a big-ass hole in it. Swap that out for the original plug. Then, you've got essentially a bolt action gun. Shoot any ammo you want, and don't worry about adjusting the schuster plug for each different type of commercial ammo. In a hunting situation, you MIGHT get 2 shots at an animal. If you're on shot #3, you either suck at hunting, or shouldn't have been taking that 1st shot. I hunt with bolt actions 99% of the time. (As does most hunters). Manually chambering a round in an M1 Garand, is no different than chambering a bolt action rifle. At least for me.
So unless you feel compelled to hunt semi-auto; or you are into match-shooting; there really isn't any reason to reload except for the hobby/fun of it. And if you're already reloading for another caliber, then it can also save you money. If you are starting reloading as a new hobby, there will be about a $400 initial investment. But that pays off relatively quickly.
Sunray
Member
Same reason you reload for anything else. You want to use the best possible ammo in your rifle. Milsurp ain't it.
Reloading for an M1 is no more expensive nor difficult than loading for any rifle. Same equipment. The only requirement is that you full length resize every time and watch the case lengths. Reloading makes the endless search for the best price for ammo go away too.
Reloading for an M1 is no more expensive nor difficult than loading for any rifle. Same equipment. The only requirement is that you full length resize every time and watch the case lengths. Reloading makes the endless search for the best price for ammo go away too.
KDS
Member
Do both. Buy the surplus from the CMP and save the brass to reload later. That is what I am doing. I am slowly aquiring my reloading equipment and saving brass as I shoot. By the time I am ready to reload 30-06, I will have plenty of brass on hand.
Probably I would never have the expertise nor confidence to do my own reloads, but would like to have a reliable source for limited quantities of correct and accurate ammo for the M1. Are there folks who would sell their handiwork? How would I find these people? TIA
Reloading for the M1 Garand is no more difficult than reloading for any rifle although the Garand is probably a little less forgiving of sloppy reloading techniques.
Greek HXP ammo had good brass for reloading so save your brass even if you do not currently reload. Cost per round of the HXP from CMP is a tick more than the cost per case for new commercial brass plus you get to "unload" in the bargain.
I buy HXP for something to shoot and as a source of brass but my handloads are much more accurate.
Greek HXP ammo had good brass for reloading so save your brass even if you do not currently reload. Cost per round of the HXP from CMP is a tick more than the cost per case for new commercial brass plus you get to "unload" in the bargain.
I buy HXP for something to shoot and as a source of brass but my handloads are much more accurate.
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