My new to me CMP 30-06 Garand kicks brass forward that brass catcher only intercepts a few and many land in front of the bench within 1 O'clock. I reload with 150 gr FMJs 43.6 gr H4895 which is pretty much starting load but cycles well. Will lighter bullet weight, such as 125 gr, moves the ejection pattern to the side to give the brass catch a chance to catch the brass? Probably keep the load at 43.6 gr H4895 just enough to cycle. Or I just go even light load with 150 gr? I could experiment but figure ask first. I don't want to mess with adjustable gas plug.
Will light bullet helps Garand from ejecting brass forward?
- Thread starter HankC
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I think you are possibly going the wrong way. I would stick with the 150gr. bullet and very gradually (.2 grain at a time) increas the powder charge, watching carefully for any signs of over pressure or action slamming, unt your ejection pattern moves to the side.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Just my 2 cents worth.
WestKentucky
Member
Light bullets tend to push an action faster and more violently. If your bolt is moving towards the barrel before the case gets out of its way then you are probably beating the gun apart and don’t even know it. You need to slow your action down, and in a gun like a Garand there aren’t many options. Stiffer springs, or slower ammo.
The only other thing I can think of is a stronger ejector spring which may pull the case harder and faster towards the side as the action opens and help the cases to get out of the way instead of riding the bolt home...or a worn out or broken ejector.
The only other thing I can think of is a stronger ejector spring which may pull the case harder and faster towards the side as the action opens and help the cases to get out of the way instead of riding the bolt home...or a worn out or broken ejector.
Hillbillyz
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I might be wrong but I think if your garand is functioning correctly it's supposed to throw the brass forward at about one o'clock.
JeffG
Member
I would research what a proper load is, and duplicate it. Bullet weight, powder burn rate, charge weight, and crimp. The time pressure dwell is important for proper functioning, and long rifle life...
GooseGestapo
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Your Garand is functioning properly.
To alter ejection pattern, it will help to use a faster burning powder.
Perhaps trying BenchMark, IMR8208, H322, or IMR3031 might help.
Also, lowering powder charges will slow down the slide which is what throws the cases foward.
By switching my .30Carbine from H110 to #2400 changes it from a 1o’clock ejection to a 5-6o’clock ejection.
BTW, my “plinking-practice load is 46.5gr H4895, competition load is 48.0 with 150 (max is 51.0). Might help to try bumping your load up a tad.
To alter ejection pattern, it will help to use a faster burning powder.
Perhaps trying BenchMark, IMR8208, H322, or IMR3031 might help.
Also, lowering powder charges will slow down the slide which is what throws the cases foward.
By switching my .30Carbine from H110 to #2400 changes it from a 1o’clock ejection to a 5-6o’clock ejection.
BTW, my “plinking-practice load is 46.5gr H4895, competition load is 48.0 with 150 (max is 51.0). Might help to try bumping your load up a tad.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
A charge of 46.0gr to 46.4gr H4895 under a 150gr bullet might move the brass to 2 o'clock but like said above, your Garand is operating normally. In any case that is a better load and not up near the max.
OK. I know kicking brass to 1 O'clock is typical for Garand due to the Op Rod hump. I'm loading at 43.6 gr H4895 mostly because the rifle is new, I function check with a light load and it is where my powder measure setting at for my 308s. This is my first 30-06 and I only have around 200 30-06 brass but find out brass catcher does not work well for Garand! They are range pick up brass, now I know why they are left at the range! Maybe I should try the mid load and bring to 46 gr range and see what it does. From my 308 AR, my experience is lighter load and lighter bullet weight would slow the BCG a bit and move ejection to the back, but there is no Op Rod hump to escape from! My M14/M1A kicks brass to a nice 3-4 O'clock, but it is a 308 Garand brother. Maybe I should convert the Garand to 308!
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Charlie98
Member
I run 47grn IMR4895 with any generic 150grn FMJ bullet, the first 2 or 3 cases eject forward at 1 O'clock, then the rest at about 2:30, quarter til 3. Don't know why, but they do. I'm guessing spring pressure on a full clip of ammo slows the bolt down just a hair, and then the bolt can operate normally after a round or two has stripped off.
OP, I would bump up your load a bit, I don't think it will hurt your rifle as long as it's serviceable.
OP, I would bump up your load a bit, I don't think it will hurt your rifle as long as it's serviceable.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Using H4895 and a 150 grain FMJ bullet a Garand safe load range is 43.2 grains up to a maximum load of 46.4 grains and while your load contributes to ejection angle there is no shortage of other contributors including the ejector spring tension. Typically my rifles kick the brass out between 1 and 2 O"clock with standard 147 to 150 grain bullets so what you are seeing does not seem unusual to me. If you have not already done so you can strip down your bolt and thoroughly clean the firing pin channel and the extractor and ejector channels and wash the springs down with solvent and lightly lube. Inspect the small springs for any shiny flat spots and wear. Fulton Armory and others market complete spring kits for the M1 Garand running about $30. Anyway, I do not see the ejection angle you are seeing as unusual.
Ron
Ron
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Changing the barrel will do nothing to change where the brass lands. Why not just move the brass catcher to where the brass lands?
Change to 308 may!
Dr. Google shows 308 Garands eject brass more to the side than forward, one theory is 308 brass is shorter and leaves the action earlier, less chance for the hump to hit the brass on return. Not sure if worth the trouble, just a thought. Moving the brass catcher is what I do but I need a bigger one! When the brass kicked by the Op Rod hump, some flew up and went over the net. Still caught many but many escaped. Throwing to the side makes it easier to recover the brass even if missed the brass catcher. I likely won't shoot the Garand as much as my other rifles, but like to try if helps reloading certain way. I get into 30-06 late, no more surplus ammo available, reloading is what motivate me to get my Garand with the recent batch returned from Turkey.
P5 Guy
Member
Try this; find a couple of new extractor springs. Run a clip and see where the brass lands without the brass catcher. Reduce the length of the extractor spring one turn and try it again.
Also make certain the rifle is properly lubricated with grease.
The direction of brass ejection is to be between 1 and 3 o'clock.
Bruce Dow from Dow's Arms Room taught me the extractor spring trick. With one less coil on the spring I get all but the last round landing close by at 2:30 more or less.
Also make certain the rifle is properly lubricated with grease.
The direction of brass ejection is to be between 1 and 3 o'clock.
Bruce Dow from Dow's Arms Room taught me the extractor spring trick. With one less coil on the spring I get all but the last round landing close by at 2:30 more or less.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Something you may wish to note here is in the image below of a stripped M1 Garand bolt.
While removing a turn or two will change the angle of ejection the spring is a small spring. Keep in mind when we cut a coil off a spring or coils that once they are gone they are gone. You can't put back what you remove and super glue is not an option.
Ron
While removing a turn or two will change the angle of ejection the spring is a small spring. Keep in mind when we cut a coil off a spring or coils that once they are gone they are gone. You can't put back what you remove and super glue is not an option.
Ron
1KPerDay
Member
OP is trying to fix A nonexistent problem. The Garand is running properly. Enjoy it. If you're worried where the brass lands, take the gas plug out and run it like a bolt gun. Or just shoot a bolt gun.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
I believe that covers it well.OP is trying to fix A nonexistent problem. The Garand is running properly. Enjoy it. If you're worried where the brass lands, take the gas plug out and run it like a bolt gun. Or just shoot a bolt gun.
Ron
Come on guys, it is not 60s that surplus ammo is everywhere and cheap, now the brass is 30c a piece. Did not say there is a problem with the rifle, just poor man like to recover brass as many as possible. Some ranges would not let shooter cross shooting line to recover brass.
Did not say there is a problem with the rifle, just poor man like to recover brass as many as possible. Some ranges would not let shooter cross shooting line to recover brass.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Yeah, I know that drill all too well.Come on guys, it is not 60s that surplus ammo is everywhere and cheap, now the brass is 30c a piece.
Ron
My HXP ammo (surplus from CMP) ejects brass about 3:00, but most on my handloads go to around 1:00-2:00. I prefer 150-155 gr. bullets and IMR 4064...
Also, I've noticed the ejection to differ with heavier loads; lighter loads are thrown farther forward, heavier loads often go to the 4:00 area...
Also, I've noticed the ejection to differ with heavier loads; lighter loads are thrown farther forward, heavier loads often go to the 4:00 area...
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Charlie98
Member
I found a trick when shooting outdoors... at least with wooden benches. Bring a hunk of cardboard with you and staple it to the side or end of the bench, you can bend it or whatever to deflect the brass when it ejects. Works great with my M1a, and even my Savage bolt gun, which seems to throw brass where I can't get it.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Charlie98
Member
It also works both ways... dude next to you is blasting away with his AR or AK... flinging brass at your head... staple a piece up on his bench, or on the off-side of yours.
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