Reloading for M1 Garand

[hardlyworking]

[Sailormilan2]

Have you checked the headspace on the rifle that causes the cases to really grow? Garand tend to have generous chambers. If your chamber is a bit long, that may be fixable by changing the bolt. Different bolt "series" are cut to different lengths, and can often change the headspace. Within limits.

[For54]

B can still be a good shooter just set the case headspace when loading for it and watch for impeading head case seperatations. I only get 3-4 reloads out of my garand brass before case rims get too chewed up to reload regardless of headspace.

iv played around with 110 gr fmj with h4895 charges in the mid 30s . Cycles action and Good for plinking inside 100 yards but a little dirty.

Speer 125 tnt with h4985 charges in the low 40s is my reduced 100 yard plinker.

[hardlyworking]

[Rockzilla]

some nfo here...

http://web.archive.org/web/20000620055732/home.att.net/~Masterpo/M1load.htm

or if you can find the article American Rifleman 1986 ( I think)
Reloading For The M1 Rifle by_John R Clarke


Currently run:
IMR-4895 46.0grs
CCI-200
Sierra 168gr. HBPT or Bergers
LC-69 De-mil cases
In NM Garand shoots great
In Issue Garand shoots good but mainly shoot 150 FMJ or 155

there are separate sections in a few manuals for the Garand


-Rock

[highpower790]

some nfo here...

http://web.archive.org/web/20000620055732/home.att.net/~Masterpo/M1load.htm

or if you can find the article American Rifleman 1986 ( I think)
Reloading For The M1 Rifle by_John R Clarke


Currently run:
IMR-4895 46.0grs
CCI-200
Sierra 168gr. HBPT or Bergers
LC-69 De-mil cases
In NM Garand shoots great
In Issue Garand shoots good but mainly shoot 150 FMJ or 155

there are separate sections in a few manuals for the Garand


-Rock

Your load duplicates M72 military match.

[hardlyworking]

Got my stuff from Grafs

Sierra 125 TMK - flat base
Hodgedon 4895 1lb.

And will be using PPU once fired brass, full length sized, trimmed with a Lee pilot cutter if the cases exceed size in the Lee book.

I researched several places on line and found H4895 with 125 Speer TNT in the 46-48 range, and For54 above recommended "low 40s"

So my plan was to start at 48gr and work down to 40gr, stopping when action won't cycle properly. Hodgedon says you can undercharge with H4895 and ignition is still consistent down to approximately 60% of a max charge, so in theory I could go as low as 33 grains, but I'm sure that I'd run into function problems.

Hodgedon website for 30-06 and 125gr bullet lists:
Minimum 48.0 @ 2977fps
Maximum 53.7 @ 3229 fps

So it seems like I should be pretty safe following the plan.

I'm looking for 3 things - Weaksauce recoil, perfect function, good accuracy

[highpower790]

Got my stuff from Grafs

Sierra 125 TMK - flat base
Hodgedon 4895 1lb.

And will be using PPU once fired brass, full length sized, trimmed with a Lee pilot cutter if the cases exceed size in the Lee book.

I researched several places on line and found H4895 with 125 Speer TNT in the 46-48 range, and For54 above recommended "low 40s"

So my plan was to start at 48gr and work down to 40gr, stopping when action won't cycle properly. Hodgedon says you can undercharge with H4895 and ignition is still consistent down to approximately 60% of a max charge, so in theory I could go as low as 33 grains, but I'm sure that I'd run into function problems.

Hodgedon website for 30-06 and 125gr bullet lists:
Minimum 48.0 @ 2977fps
Maximum 53.7 @ 3229 fps

So it seems like I should be pretty safe following the plan.

I'm looking for 3 things - Weaksauce recoil, perfect function, good accuracy

With as little as 43gr of Varget or IMR4895 I have never had a problem with the action not cycling.

[OpenSightsOnly]

Got my stuff from Grafs

Sierra 125 TMK - flat base
Hodgedon 4895 1lb.

And will be using PPU once fired brass, full length sized, trimmed with a Lee pilot cutter if the cases exceed size in the Lee book.

I researched several places on line and found H4895 with 125 Speer TNT in the 46-48 range, and For54 above recommended "low 40s"

So my plan was to start at 48gr and work down to 40gr, stopping when action won't cycle properly. Hodgedon says you can undercharge with H4895 and ignition is still consistent down to approximately 60% of a max charge, so in theory I could go as low as 33 grains, but I'm sure that I'd run into function problems.

Hodgedon website for 30-06 and 125gr bullet lists:
Minimum 48.0 @ 2977fps
Maximum 53.7 @ 3229 fps

So it seems like I should be pretty safe following the plan.

I'm looking for 3 things - Weaksauce recoil, perfect function, good accuracy

Depends on the condition of your gas cylinder and op rod so using a powder charge lower than the 46-47 grain range may not cycle the action. Try it out.

With the 125 grain or 135 grain SMK, for me, 47 grains of H4895 is accurate and good cycling.