Armory Sponsor
Posted: 1/18/2012 4:07:42 PM EDT
|
I'm thinking I will buy one; but if I buy one, I will shoot it; and if I shoot it, I'll want to reload, so I can shoot it more on what I make for a salary at the current moment in this shitty economy.
Given all that, how inexpensively can one realistically load for the Garand? I'm not above searching around and scrounging for plinking bullets. Any recipes, formulas, or advice for the poorboy shooters among you? |
|
Knock Knock,..... Cost Calculator
This has been covered before. Next, you have to look for what you intentions are.....plinking.....High Power......Huniting all these factor into YOUR COSTS. Then you figure out what it costs to put the chosen components on your doorstep. Only then will you be able to calculate your costs. The best advice is get the Hornady Reloading Manual,8th Ed.as it has Garand loading data. I would think that will give plenty of data for plinking, targets, or hunting. |
|
Keep in mind that the CMP has some good ammo still available. If you do handload be careful to duplicate the original load, especially the powder. Most of us use H-4895 or IMR 4895. You will need 150gr .30 caliber bullets and load to published Garand velocity. You will also want hard cup primers. It isn't any more difficult than loading for any other rifles, but care needs to be taken to not damage the rifle- especially the op-rod. Jim |
| I have a pretty good supply of brass that I pick up a box at a time at the range. Its not enough for me to feel comfortable, but you can really clean up this type of brass at the range around the beginning of hunting season. You can then get decent bullets for less than 200 per k (check RMR Bullets for some good deals on bullets). Grafs had Tula primers for only 80 per 5k. Finally, you're going to use about 12-15 cents per round worth of powder (assuming "normal" 8lb powder prices). That works out to about 30 cents per round in my estimate. Assuming its Garand safe, another good option to supplement brass is some of the Privi blue box ammo. It shoot fairly good, gives you fairly good brass, and is well priced. |
|
Yes, I forgot to look deeply and fill in a few details.
I currently load. I'm mostly a blaster, so plinking grade is good enough for me. I currently load .223 for about $0.13 per round. So, about $0.30 perround is the best I can do for Garand? That's good to know, but in my ignorance I was hoping it might be possible to do if for less. Thanks for all the replies. |
|
I use IMR 4895, winchester or CCI large rifle primers and whatever bullets I can get cheap, check out nosler blems for cheap .30 cal 150/168 gr bullets. Sometimes they have some for a decent price. I also always end up scrounging some 30/06 brass at my range while I'm picking up 223. 30/06 sure is popular around here and not many reload, I have way more brass than I'll probably ever use. I don't shoot it much so I don't need that much. |
|
Quoted:
I know of a couple of CMP match shooters who are using 110 gr bullets (Hornady Pro Hunters, I believe), and 50-52 gr of Varget for a nice, low recoil load. They're using them out to 200 yards. If these work and your happy stocking these types of bullets and their performance, I think you can do this cheaper. I have seen a lot of these 110 grain bullets on sale as blems, seconds, or off-branded for dirt cheap (80-100/k in quantity). Personally, I would rather pay a little more to get a little more since that's only about 5 cents a shot cheaper than the pulled 175 SMK's. |
|
I use these in my Garand.
50 grains of IMR 4320 for a powder charge. Works great for plinking. Haven't figured out an exact cost, but it's probably around .25/round. |
| I purchased some Greek surplus from the CMP and processed the brass along with some additional Greek cases I purchased and all you have to do is remove the stake crimp which is very easy to do without any special tools then process like normal brass, I have had very good luck with 46.5g of IMR 4895 with a OAL of 3.300" |
|
Here are a couple of garand links
http://www.radomski.us/njhp/cart_tech.htm Garand loads at the bottom of the page http://www.alabamaservicerifleteam.com/id17.html |
|
Hi-Tech Ammo has the 147 gr pulls for $110/k + shipping. I've ordered two batches and have been happy with both. I haven't gotten around to loading them for my garand yet but will soon. They have done well in my 300 BLK. Here is the link:
http://www.iidbs.com/hitech.zkb?root&GENMENU6011&object-menu6 |
|
My M1 Garand eats civilian brass just as well as GI surplus brass. No issues.
I use (so far) the CCI military large rifle primers but wouldn't hesitate to use standard CCI primers as I used them for years in my M1A. I use (so far) only IMR 4895 powder (yes, there are other good powders but I've always used IMR powders) and it is working just fine. I've only used pulled GI bullets so far. I've been buying Hornady 150 fmjbt's but haven't reloaded any of them in the 30.06 cases yet. I need to buy some more "pulled" GI bullets but I've been spending money on other reloading stuff (mostly handgun bullets/powder). I bought a bunch of cast lead bullets a couple of years ago and have shot some of them through my M1917 Eddystone with no issues. I have intentions of trying them in my M1 Garand but haven't got around to it yet. Yes, these would be for short range practice but even 25 yd. practice is good if you're going about it right. |
|
http://www.zediker.com/downloads/m14.html
Read the first two articles from that link... While Glen is specifcally speaking about reloading for the M1A, a lot of it applies to the Garand Surplus powder might save you a little $ also....( his page shows 30-06 pulldown powder, IMR 4895) http://www.patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.aspx |
Armory Sponsor