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Posted: 5/26/2008 8:35:59 PM EDT
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I have only been reloading for about a month, so hopefully this is some easily-fixed rookie mistake. I am loading Hornady 150gr FMJBT bullets over 49.0gr of H4895 using both Winchester and R-P once fired cases a friend gave me I am having trouble with getting my M1 to feed this ammo. It goes through a full cycle (will not cycle reliably with less than 48gr H4895) but does not pick up the next round. It will pick up the last one or two rounds though. The enblock clip is noticeably more difficult to load and insert with reloads than factory ammo (which feeds 100%) This leads me to believe that my brass has not been properly resized, but resized brass and factory brass (as far as my caliper and I can tell) have the same dimensions to within +/- .002 inches. I am using a Lee single stage press and a Lee resizing/decapping die and trimming and chamfering the case mouth. I reload .223 as well and haven't had one hiccup. Suggestions appreciated! |
Aloha, Mark |
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Could very well be undersized brass. I like the RCBS Precision Mic for adjusting your dies. It's worth the money. Other case gages would work well too, it's just I'm familiar with with the RCBS. You didn't mention the type Garand you're shooting. CMP, Springfield, Match grade, or other. While I'm relatively new to the Garand rifle myself there are some issues that can (what I've read) cause failures to cycle like you're having. Sounds like the load you're using is more than potent enough that it should cycle any Garand. Garand chambers are usually on the large size and small base dies are not necessary. Wire brush and clean your chamber 1st. Use the correct Garand grease, not just gun oil. Garands need grease and in the right places. The next advice given by Garand shooters in the know is to replace the op rod spring. The spring universally recommended is the Orion 7 stainless op rod spring part number G28a. www.m1garandrifle.com/Garandparts.htm This spring is supposed to solve cycling problems similiar to yours and the spring is inexpensive. I replaced the springs in mine with that spring. It takes a lot of effort to cycle the bolt and pick up the next round in the Garand. Since you mentioned other ammo will cycle it may be a little hotter than your reload but your load is more than enough that it ought to cycle. These guys seem to have all the answers and will give good advice on any Garand problem. Check the M1/M14 and the Reloading forum. www.jouster.com/cgi-bin/garand/garand.pl |
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Thanks, new springs and adjusting my dies were my next step I do use Tetra Gun Grease, not oil to lube my M1, which I purchased from the Garand Guy with a new Citadel barrel I've tried loads up to 51.0gr H4895 with no luck. Still cycles but fails to feed all but the last one or two rounds... which makes sense if the op rod spring is weak I'll try replacing the spring and see what happens. Thanks guys |
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Some other issues with the Garand that could cause cycling problems: - Binding Op Rod- binding on the barrel or wood of the stock -dirty chamber -op rod spring -lack of lubrication -Carbon or dirt blocking the gas port in the barrel -carbon in the gas cylinder port -gas cylinder too large or the piston is worn letting gas get by If the gun cycles with LC or the Greek HXP 30-06 ammo designed for the Garand then it's probably not the rifle. However a field strip of the gas cylinder and cleaning the port in the barrel would be a good thing to try. Hornady Manual 7th Edition says a max charge of H4895 is 46.4 grains at 2600fps in the Garand. That's with Hornady cases and Win LR primers at an overall length of 3.185" with the 150 fmj-bt bullet #3037. |
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M2 ball cycles fine, as does both Winchester and Federal factory ammo, but I'll break down the rifle and give it a thorough cleaning and check for any signs from the list rg1 gave me. Rifle won't cycle anything below 48.0gr H4895 reliably, so 46.4gr won't work... possibly a red flag? Would 49.0gr possibly cause a bolt speed great enough to not allow the next round to be picked up (although the last round feeds 100% of the time)? |
Note: 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 IMR4895 is not the same as H4895........but, 49 gr of H4895, doesn't sound unreasonable. And, my Hodgdon Manual lists 49 gr. of H4895 as max. with a 150 gr. bullet. Aloha, Mark |
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I started with the NRA recommended load and worked down Stripped the rifle down and found a track wearing on the underside of the barrel caused by the op rod. The barrel that came with the rifle (not the original barrel) was shot out so I had it replaced with a Citadel barrel. I think the barrel profile is a little larger since i had to modify the rear handguard to allow the handguard clip to properly snap into place. I suppose this has become more of a troubleshooting issue and not a reloading issue. I'll try to find answers for the binding issue elsewhere, but I'll still take opinions on the matter. Thanks for your help |
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