Reloading for a Garand

[wheelgun28]

Yeah, I know its the S&W forum but...

Anyhow I recently bought a Garand and Id like to load for it. I have some Hornady 165gr SST and some Nosler 168 solid base hollow point heads. I do have Varget powder on hand and Winchester large rifle primers.

This is to be plinking ammo, 75 yard fun rounds. I dond need match grade and I dont need big power. I also dont want to damage the rifle.

My cases are mixed Federal and Remington no mil spec cases.

What say the experts

I know that the Garand would like 150G bullets but I have the 165s.

I also have a bunch of very old 168 G boat tail heads that my friends grandfather used in match shooting his '03 about 50 years ago.

I also bought some American Eagle 150G ammo, the box is marked "for Garand". This will help me start shooting her.

Thanks!

 

[Snapping Twig]

Years back I got a Remington 740, one of the original 1955 models. Still have it and it's a good one - no wear, cycles fine.

Anyway, I shot some of the 06 rounds I had made for my bolt rifles and boy O boy, that was a mistake.

Semi auto 06's don't like that slow powder, no sir.

I got on some Garrand sites and decided to use what they used, similar pushrod action, so why not?

IMR 4064 worked out so well I never tried anything else.

Heed the warning and find a powder suitable for your fine rifle.

I'd give those 165g rounds a try. Truth be told, I favor 165g in an 06 above all others, they might work out just fine.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Schuster Manufacturing

Schuster Nut - Learn to adjust it and you can shoot almost any .30-06 ammo within reason. I'm getting one for my Garand. The guy that showed me his and told me about them all but sold me on the spot. Read up on the website.

 

[BoDog]

I used to compeete with an M-1 in local matches. I can garauntee you trouble if you use too slow a powder, they will bend an operating rod , I found out the hard way. Stay with recomended M-1 loads. I don't remember the exact load but I burned a lot of 4895. Check on the NRA
web site and I am sure they are available.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I highly suggest using one of these powders which are almost identical to each other. IMR4895, H4895 or AA2495. If you like a Ball Powder better give AA-2520 a try. All those powders are very similar and in the correct burn rate range for your M1 Garand with 150gr or 165gr/168gr bullets.

 

[Culina]

I burn 46grains of IMR 4895 with the 168gr loads, it works well no bent op rod yet and they cycle nicely

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, there's some good info in this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/176829-need-garand-load-nm.html.

Garands like bullets from 150 to about 175 grains and powders in the IMR 4895 to IMR 4064 burn rate range. With 150s, you want 2,700 to 2,800 fps; with 168s and 175s, you want 2,500 to 2,600 fps. These velocities are easily obtained with 4895 or 4064, though 4064 does better with the heavier bullets than the light ones.

After every firing, full-length resize your brass, clean the primer pockets, and make sure the cases are within length specs. When loading, make sure your primers are seated below flush. It's not necessary to crimp the bullets, but if your bullets have cannelures and crimping makes you feel better, go for it.

Use actual Garand load data. It's available in the Sierra and Hornady manuals, and I think Hodgdon as well. My own loads are all for GI cases, so won't be of much help to you if you're using commercial brass.

FYI, opinion is divided on whether Varget is OK for Garands. I don't have enough spare op rods lying around to take chances, so I don't use it.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[BUFF]

Use actual Garand load data. It's available in the Sierra and Hornady manuals, and I think Hodgdon as well. My own loads are all for GI cases, so won't be of much help to you if you're using commercial brass.

FYI, opinion is divided on whether Varget is OK for Garands. I don't have enough spare op rods lying around to take chances, so I don't use it.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

This. Sound advice.

 

[sureshotbob]

I also like Hornady 165 grain spbt bullets used for my hunting loads. I have over 1,000 sitting on my loading bench that I got a deal on a few years ago. I did load up 80 rounds with them using military brass and 46 grains of IMR 4895 with CCI #34 military primers {recomended so you do'nt get a slam fire } they shot fine .They did seem to kick a little more than the M2 ball I have but I'm going to get some of Hornady's 150 grain fmj bullets as they are a good bit cheaper and I'll try to duplicate the M2 ball loads.

 

[jrd1976]

At one time the Civilian Marksmanship Program would send reloading data on the Garand. I could not find anything on their website.

Give them a call.

 

[Arisin Wind]

Checkout the CMP forum. Lots of good info there.

CMP Forums

 

[wheelgun28]

Thanks for the information guys!

I had forgotten that the Hornady manual has a Garand section.

I will do a bit more home work and see how it goes

Thanks again

 

[mkk41]

Most loading manuals have a 'service rifle' section for 30-06 and .308. Stick with powders in the 4895 burn rate. Varget is very much like 4895 and is quite popular in Garand circles.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree there are other good powders for loading for the Garand like Varget and IMR4064 but I still like using 4895.

Along with IMR4895 and H4895 there is also the Accurate equivalent which is AA-2495. If you would rather a Ball Powder you can use also AA-2520. Both powders are extremely close to the performance delivered by either 4985. Why Accurate didn't call their 2495 powder 4895 is beyond me.

 

[Rule3]

"Reloading for a Garand"


I got started for much less than then that. Probably a couple hundred.

 

[planojack]

I'll back up Snapping Twig on the use of slow powders in the Garand. A few years ago, I acquired a Garand and carelessly used the 30-06 loads I had made up for my 03-A3 with 4831. Fun to shoot if you like doubles or tripples. Even the Garand is a serious kicker if you get three shots from a single trigger pull. Stick to the loads listed for the Garand.

 

[USSR]

47.0gr of Varget will get you where you want to be. I use 47.0gr of IMR4895 with 168gr bullets in my Garands, but Varget (being a little bit slower) works well to.

Don

 

[wheelgun28]

Well just to follow up...

I had the chance to do some Garanding

I didnt have alot of time but it went well.

Factory American Eagle "made for Garand" had a good bit of whack to it.

I loaded some rounds at 43 and 45 Grains of Varget from the Hornady manual.

43 was not quite hot enough, it didn't cycle a few times and it felt like the recoil was lower.

45 was better cycled fine still less recoil than the factory.

I will load some 46 and more 45 grains for next time

Thanks!!

 

[Smithhound]

Get a copy of the Sierra Reloading Manual, Edition IV. Starting on page 165 there is a great section on loading for gas operated service guns. The Garand was designed for a narrow range of powder burn rate and bullet weights.
Thanks for posting this, I myself just acquired my first M1 and and starting up the learning curve on it.
RD