Hello all. I have about 400 commercial 30-06 cases. Mostly Winchester and PMC. My Hornady book does not show any loads for the Garand with the two different powders that I have for use. H335 and IMR 4895. Hornady lists their loads based on military cases. Has anyone loaded commercial cases for use in a Garand? Where can I get load data using commercial cases? 147 grain FMJBT

Thanks

Courtesy of ChrisGarret
"Recommended .30 caliber M1 loadings from the NRA

147 - 155 grain FMJ or HPBT bullets

IMR 3031 - 48.0 grains
IMR 4895 - 49.0 grains
IMR 4064 - 50.0 grains
W748 - 48.0 grains
AA2460 - 49.0 grains
AA2520 - 51.0 grains
AA2495 - 50.5 grains
H4895 - 49.0 grains
BLC-2 - 49.0 grains
H335 - 49.0 grains
RL-12 - 48.0 grains


165/168 grain FMJ, HP or SP bullets

IMR 4895 - 47.0 grains
IMR 4094 - 48.0 grains
AA2520 - 47.5 grains
AA2495 - 47.0 grains
H4895 - 47.5 grains
BLC-2 - 49.0 grains
H335 - 47.0 grains
RL-12 - 44.5 grains


173/175 grain FMJ or HPBT bullets

IMR 4895 - 46.0 grains
IMR 4064 - 47.0 grains
AA2460 - 46.0 grains
AA2495 - 46.0 grains
H4895 - 47.0 grains
BLC-2 - 48.0 grains

180 grain FMJ, SP or HPBT bullets

IMR 4895 - 43.0 grains
AA2460 - 46.5 grains
AA2495 - 45.5 grains
H4895 - 44.0 grains
BLC-2 - 47.5 grains
RL-12 - 41.5 grains

Cases:
*The loads listed above use comerical cases* WW seems to be the best cases. If yhou are using Millspec cases you should reduce the powder charge by 1.5 Gr and work up slowly."

http://www.alabamaservicerifleteam.com/id17.html

Chris

I know this is a dumb question; however, I have only loaded 40, so go easy.

What difference does the mil surplus/commercial case make?  Obviously it effects the power factor of the round since there is a noted difference here.  Is one brass softer than the other, leading to greater pressures?

Military brass tends to be thicker, which reduces case volumes, which tends to boost pressures.

If the brass-beating M14 action is due to its heritage rather than its differences, using military brass and expecting short brass lifespans are what you will have with the M1.

There is not too much of a difference in 3006 case weights between commercial and military, especially compared to the 308.

Just weigh the brass you intend to use and compare it to the brass you want to use.  The difference in weight will have an effect on case capacity, and I've assumed a 7:1 ratio between brass volume and powder volume.

For example, your proven brass weight is 200 grains.  Reduce your powder charge by 3 grains if you want to use brass that weighs 221 grains (21 grains difference, 7:1)  This sure is not exact, but will get you in the ballpark for pressure.

I see no difference in pressure signs using the same powder charge in military LC 69 and a couple other years, RP, Win, Fed, or Greek HXP brass. Winchester cases I've weighed are slightly lighter than even Fed or RP. At Garand load levels of IMR 4895 between 46 and 48 grains of powder and 147-150 grain fmj bullets you'll see no difference in signs of pressure visible on case or primer switching case brands. The different brand cases do show a little difference in the brass hardness with some being softer. Chrono tests only shows a few feet per second difference between case brands. Using typical Garand loads just work up and test for best accuracy and 100% reliability. You'd probably get some accuracy improvement separating your Win and PMC cases into separate lots. My loads with IMR4895 are at 47-47.5 grains using RP 9 1/2 LR primers using 150gr fmj-fb surplus bullets and the same load using Hornady 150 fmj bullets.

I have actually discovered that my LC .30-06 brass is lighter than many brands of commercial cases. The simple act of weighing them will let you know how you stand. As a rule, heavier cases have less internal capacity and therefore create higher pressures using identical charges.

For the weight to be properly calculated the cases must be resized and trimmed, then weighed.