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Posted: 5/6/2025 1:16:04 PM EDT
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I've got a pair of Garands that I've owned for years. A Danish Winchester return with a VAR barrel as well as a Springfield. I've never taken the Springfield to the range and the Winchester hasn't been for a LONG time. Pending weather I'll be fixing that this weekend. I've got several cans of HXP. Two spam cans as well as a couple 30 cals. I've got some loose clips as well and will be shooting them for sight-in. I'm planning on loading up some "Garand appropriate" loads as well. I've never actually reloaded 30-06 before as my only -06 rifles are Garands and an '03. I was going to whip up some "M2 ball" using M80 bullets I have laying around, but then remembered I have a box of Hornady 150 grain SST's. I figured they'd be more accurate and I'm not using them for anything else. I've got a decent stash of commercial 30-06 brass, two pounds if IMR-4895, and will have to check my large rifle primer stash. Based on Hodgdon's "M1 Service Rifle" load data, I'm planning on building up some test loads at 47 grains of IMR-4985 with a 3.34" COAL. This is a starting load, but if it cycles, I'm totally fine with that. Initial test loads will just be one clip worth, but if all goes well I'll load up the rest of the box of bullets. I'm just planning on shooting the Winchester this weekend and have a new op-rod spring coming as I have zero idea how old it is. I plan on keeping my reloads on the lightweight side as due to medical reasons I'm recoil sensitive. |
"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
IMR 4895 is a perfect match for Garand level loads. That's why l long ago settled on IMR 4064.  Which is still a perfect match, as well, using ~49.5‐50 grs. The M80's will be great plinking bullets, too. I just loaded up 96 rounds and burned up 56 of them last weekend when two of my shooting buddies and l had a "Garand Day" shooting silhouettes at pistol ranges and steel at moderate ranges. The furthest being around 140 yards. Don't need high priced bullets for that kind of stuff. 
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Drugs kicked in now, need sleep, radiation tastes funny at 7 am every day... a bit like victory. - Ginger
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Originally Posted By Bumblebee_Bob: IMR 4895 is a perfect match for Garand level loads. That's why l long ago settled on IMR 4064. Which is still a perfect match, as well, using ~49.5‐50 grs. The M80's will be great plinking bullets, too. I just loaded up 96 rounds and burned up 56 of them last weekend when two of my shooting buddies and l had a "Garand Day" shooting silhouettes at pistol ranges and steel at moderate ranges. The furthest being around 140 yards. Don't need high priced bullets for that kind of stuff. IMR 4064 and around 49 grs with m80 , or basically any 150ish grain projo has been great with mine. |
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You could even download below minimum a fair ways if the recoil bothers you. I want to say you can get to around 39 grains before it won’t cycle. That depends on your piston and gas cylinder condition too. Iirc my 100 yard 150 fmj plinking load was 46 grains. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
| I checked the primer stash and I've got some of everything. Remington, Federal, CCI, and Winchester. Pretty much all Magnum or Match. Looks like I should stay away from Federal with the Garand. I'm thinking Remington Magnum as I have plenty of those. Thoughts? |
"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
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I doubt you’ll need even the starting loads to get reliable function and accuracy and especially if you’re trying to reduce recoil. Last night I shot a Garand match using these reloads. Hornady 150 gr FMJ w/ cann. H4895 45.0 gr OAL 3.250 Some people recommend using 125gr Speer TNT’s and I use them with 43.0 gr of IMR4064 with great accuracy and very little recoil in my 1903 and 1917. The Garand just doesn’t get the same accuracy and likes the 150’s better. |
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Made up 10 test rounds tonight. All rounds checked in a Wilson case gauge and every charge weighed/dispenced by a Frankfort auto trickler. I ended up using the M80 ball bullets I recently picked up from CDVS. 147gr FMJBT M80 bullet 47gr IMR-4895, 3.25” COAL, Remington LRM  Planning on testing Saturday. I’ll have several clips of HXP as well. |
"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
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Originally Posted By compuvette: Made up 10 test rounds tonight. All rounds checked in a Wilson case gauge and every charge weighed/dispenced by a Frankfort auto trickler. I ended up using the M80 ball bullets I recently picked up from CDVS. 147gr FMJBT M80 bullet 47gr IMR-4895, 3.25” COAL, Remington LRM https://i.imgur.com/r0HNlJR.jpeg Planning on testing Saturday. I’ll have several clips of HXP as well. You are on the right track 
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Originally Posted By compuvette: I checked the primer stash and I've got some of everything. Remington, Federal, CCI, and Winchester. Pretty much all Magnum or Match. Looks like I should stay away from Federal with the Garand. I'm thinking Remington Magnum as I have plenty of those. Thoughts? I was using a mix of whatever the hell I had for the Garand loads and have had no problems. I know that isn't the "correct" answer but it isn't that critical of a component when I do my "Range food" reloads. |
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Pulled the Winchester out of the safe tonight. It’s a Danish return with a VAR barrel. Checked the op rod spring and I’m betting the Danes must have swapped it just before sending it back to the states. Spring looks and feels new. The barrel is a ‘57 and looks perfect. I’ll be hitting the range tomorrow morning if all goes well. Planning to take my ‘43 Remington Rand as well, just because…… |
"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
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The range was being used for Sheriff’s department firearms training this morning, but I was able to squeeze in between shifts to chrono the new 30-06 loads. 147gr FMJBT “M2 Ball” 47gr IMR-4895, 3.25” COAL, Remington LRM 24” M1: 2560fps Cycling was perfect. No issues whatsoever and the bolt locked back/clip ejected like it should. Recoil was more than acceptable. I was standing, wearing a T-shirt and it didn’t beat me up. After getting the velocity, I had five rounds left. There was a bunch of cones and barrels on the range for the department training so I didn’t want to go back to 100 and shoot past them. I was able to find an angle at 50 yards for a clean shot. I fired five kneeling offhand into about 5 inches. Not my best work by far, but it grouped well and I’m assuming it’s capable of much better with me not sucking….. Here she is with my ‘43 Remington Rand that I also shot today:  This is the ‘43 Winchester with the VAR barrel. I was able to recover all my -06 and 45 brass along with a LOT of 9mm, not that I really need more of that….. Wish I would have had more time, but it’s a super nice day and I really can’t complain. Got to chat with the Sheriff a bit too. He’s an old family friend. ETA - another pic: 
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"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
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