.308 or 30-06 for Garand?

[JackRydden224]

What's the cheaper and easier round to reload, .308 or 30-06? I'm a total noob with zero reloading experience.

[lpspinner]

The Garands are normally .30-06.

.308 & .30-06 both use the same diameter .308 bullets. The only difference would be the very slight difference in brass price, but the .30-06 does use more powder. (just a little more.)

[OldShooter32]

Cost is about the same. All components are same -- other than the case of course. The cost per case is about the same though. Might burn more powder by weight in the '06 but the difference by $ is minimal. "Classic" M1shooters will roll their eyes if it is not .30-'06, but they usually get over it.

[JackRydden224]

In that case then I can just pick out one that's better for the money regardless of the caliber.

[NotEnufGarage]

.30-06 uses about 10% more powder, other than that they're the same to reload. Same primers, same bullets.

I have a Garand in .30-06 and a AR-10 in .308. I love shooting them both, but wouldn't mind having a Garand in .308, just because I have more .308 brass now (about 1500 cases versus about 400 .30-06, plus a few hundred surplus HXP loads )

[sofbak]

....... "Classic" M1shooters will roll their eyes if it is not .30-'06, but they usually get over it.

OK, how long are my eyes going to be doing this????

One other thing to consider. You may have to modify a bullet guide for .308, or buy another one. The cartridge is about 1/2" shorter (approximately) and IIRC there is a delrin or teflon "spacer" that goes on the face of the bullet guide to keep the clipped cartridges against the back of the clip.

IDK if this is necessary, but have seen them in converted Garands.

[M27]

308 brass may be easier to find

and when buying factory ammo 308 is often easier to find in quantity

you can often find old 30-06 surplus ammo for a good price

[Waldog]

M1 Garand in 308 requires a NEW barrel to be installed and chambered by a competent gunsmith knowledgeable in Garands. It is a custom job and they are not off-the-shelf Garands. I know the US Navy had some Match 308 Garands as I shot them while on active duty. If you were lucky enough to find a Navy 308 Match Garand, it's going to valuable/expensive.

[bandook]

CMP has .308 Garands.
They'll set you back $1000 though as they are only available in special grade.

[Waldog]

CMP has .308 Garands.
They'll set you back $1000 though as they are only available in special grade.

These are the NAVY made Garands I was taliking about.

[brianinca]

>>>
CMP has .308 Garands.
They'll set you back $1000 though as they are only available in special grade.
>>>
These are the NAVY made Garands I was taliking about.
>>>

No, those are new build CMP Specials, with Criterion barrels. Those are a bargain at $1K with USGI forged receivers and all USGI parts, except for the new stocks. Getting setup to buy from the CMP is definitely worth it, but hurry because CA laws are going to screw that all up in '14.

The $1400+ cast receiver Springfield Inc. rifles in .308 are sketchy at best. One fellow at my club range sent his back 3 time for warranty work, then gave up on it.

The USN 308 Garands are rare and collectible, not worth the money if you want a shooter.

Unless you've been hoarding 3006 brass for a decade or so, in the future it will be MUCH easier to buy surplus 762 NATO brass for reloading. Buying commercial brass for a Garand is a losing proposition, expect to toss the brass after 4X loadings. Surplus and 3X loadings is the money saving way to go.

http://gibrass.com/brass.html

$0.15/rd per 1K vs

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1390176376/winchester-reloading-brass-308-winchester

commercial Winchester at $0.36/rd per 1K

You'll want small base dies regardless of caliber. I have two Garands I rebuilt to 308, the spacer block isn't needed unless you have a half-dozen 3006 Garands to also keep track of. The 308's feed fine without it.

I would strongly dis-recommend buying a non-CMP or non-US Navy 308 Garand build, unless it has provenance as coming out of a shop like Dean's Gun Restorations or other well known Garand builder. There were a lot of 308 Citadel barrels out there in the 90's-00's when 3006 was spendy, and a lot of half-baked conversions. You don't want one of those.

Regards,
Brian in CA

[ocabj]

If you want a .308 M1 Garand built for Service Rifle competition ("National Match"), check with some of the people in the Santa Margarita Gun Club. Last year or so, I know someone in the club was selling a couple of .308 M1s built by Don McCoy (who passed away last year).

[Waldog]

If you want a .308 M1 Garand built for Service Rifle competition ("National Match"), check with some of the people in the Santa Margarita Gun Club. Last year or so, I know someone in the club was selling a couple of .308 M1s built by Don McCoy (who passed away last year).

COOL! I knew the Navy had 308's. I didn't know the CMP was building new ones!!! Now, if I only had a spare wad of money!

If you want a .308 M1 Garand built for Service Rifle competition ("National Match"), check with some of the people in the Santa Margarita Gun Club. Last year or so, I know someone in the club was selling a couple of .308 M1s built by Don McCoy (who passed away last year)

Don McCoy's guns are TOP NOTCH. He is missed!

[deac777]

I have two Garands one in 30-06 and one in .308. The .308 is a shortened Garand sometimes called a Tanker Garand. I find myself shooting the 30-06 Garand more often but to answer the original question, I like to reload the .308 cartridge due to the abundance of brass and the wealth of powders that work well in .308

[JackRydden224]

I have two Garands one in 30-06 and one in .308. The .308 is a shortened Garand sometimes called a Tanker Garand. I find myself shooting the 30-06 Garand more often but to answer the original question, I like to reload the .308 cartridge due to the abundance of brass and the wealth of powders that work well in .308

There we go.

I finally got to shoot a garand today and I just love it. I will be getting it in the .308 once I sell all my stuff.