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Posted: 10/5/2009 7:29:21 AM EDT
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Hi All
I've shot up about all of my commercial/surplus 30-06 for my Garand and now seeking advice on reloading "the beast". What components do you recommend for general target shooting and (possibly) hunting? I'll need to order dies, propellant (and grains), projectiles, COAL and primers. I've been reloading .308 and have liked the 168gr. A-Max as a general "do all" projectile. So I'd like to keep that if possible, but can switch up if recommended. Thanks WT |
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My primary bullet is the Prvi Milspec 145 grain FMJ's from Wideners.
They are cheaper now then when I bought them I have used RL12, H322, IMR 4064, and IMR 4895 in the past. The next batch I make I plan to try Ramshot TAC and IMR 4320. My Garand has an adjustable gas plug, so barrel port pressure isn't an issue for me. |
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The 168-grain bullets should do just fine. I would not load anything much heavier for the Garand, though.
Powder? 4895 is the go-to powder for the Garand. You'll need to stay on the fast side for Garand powders. Port pressure needs to be down or you can damage the op-rod, so slow-burning powders are out. If I'm not mistaken, Varget may be an appropriate Garand powder. Verify this before you try it. If it is appropriate for the Garand, then you can share powder with the .308 Any LR primer should do just fine. Some prefer the harder CCI mil-type primers, though I don't think they are a requirement. Any 150-170 grain hunting-type bullet will do well. Nosler makes some nice plastic-tipped hunting bullets that will feed well and resist tip deformation. In my opinion, the A-Max is a bit too frangible for most hunting purposes. ETA - The adjustable gas plug is a nice option. I think I may just have to try it. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=777146 |
| 46 grains of IMR-4895 with 168 grain match bullets was "THE" standard competition load for years before the M1-A and AR-15 took over. I would start at 44.5 grains and work up in 1/2 grain increments looking for the load that shoots best in your rifle. Hornady lists OAL at 3.240" using that bullet. |
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My favorite garand load is your generic 150 gr FMJ w/cannalure, usually mil surp (pulled) with surplus IMR 4895. I think hornady used to sell them in the red box also. Perhaps they still do but they were double the price of the pulled ones.
Other bullets that work well in the garand are the Hornady or Sierra 168 FMJBT. Used to get pulled 150's and 173's from Wideners years ago and still have a few. Also was smart and purchased 32# of surplus IMR 4895. Paid somewhere around $7-8 a # for the powder. Stiff have 25-30# left. |
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Notes on reloading for a M1 Garand (in 30-06 cal.)..........
http://web.archive.org/web/20000620055732/home.att.net/~Masterpo/M1load.htm And the TWO RULES of reloading for a Garand............. Only medium burn rate powders are suitable for the M1's gas system. These keep chamber pressure below max and keep the gas port pressure within the design range. Back in the 50's the techies of Springfield Armory (the REAL one) gave the following two "M1 Gas System Safe Load Rules" to civilian shooters who were just being allowed access to the M1 rifle for Highpower competition:
1) NEVER shoot bullets HEAVIER than 180 grains 2) NEVER shoot powder that is SLOWER burn than IMR-4320 Violating either one of these two rules... i.e. slower powder OR a heavier bullet has the effect of raising the tail of the pressure curve (Where the bullet passes the port) above design spec. Military M2 loads can be duped with any flavor of 4895 and a 147-152 grain bullet. The perennial Highpower target load for the M1 for the last 4 decades has been a 168-175 grain target bullet over IMR-4064 powder. Please note that you CANNOT... rpt. CANNOT determine the suitability of a round for use in the M1 by muzzle velocity. It is quite possible that a round can be at the same muzzle velocity (Or lower) as an M2 round yet have a port pressure that is way over gas system spec. You MUST know the powder burn rate to know suitability for the M1. If in doubt, why risk it. Just my 2 bits, Swampy (posted on the AR15.com site) HTH. Aloha, Mark |
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Here's the best deal on 150fmj bullets that would be good in your Garand:
http://wideners.com/itemview.cfm?startrow=13&dir=278|281|727 Scroll down to the bottom of the page 46-47.5 grains of IMR 4895 should do well with these bullets. |
| I know it depends on the gun but would a person on average gain noticible accuracy by going to a 168 HPBT over the cheaper m80 spec bullet that is listed on Wideners site. From what I understand they are both made by Prvi partizan, and are not up to Nosler or SMK standards. I just don't know if it is worth the extra money in an old barrel. |
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Quoted:
I know it depends on the gun but would a person on average gain noticible accuracy by going to a 168 HPBT over the cheaper m80 spec bullet that is listed on Wideners site. From what I understand they are both made by Prvi partizan, and are not up to Nosler or SMK standards. I just don't know if it is worth the extra money in an old barrel. I wouldn't bother using a match bullet in my Garand unless I was testing or participating in a match. Mine is in pretty decent shape. I've fired 2.5-3 inch groups with 173 grain HPBT's in it before. Most of the time I just shoot the FMJBT 145-150's because they are cheaper. If you are trying to print a good group on paper, then the extra cost of match bullets is probably worth it for you. |
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Quoted:
A lot of good info in the above posts. I will add that I get much better accuracy with a flat based Spitzer styled bullet than a boat tail and my rifle likes IMR4064 just a little better than 4895. Mine too. 4064 is so much better, it is all I use to reload for the garand. I tried varget but it didn't shoot as well as 4064. |
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