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Old February 11, 2001, 09:59 PM   #1
Kaliburz
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I'm new to the Garand, and I was wondering if anyone knows or has (re)loaded specifically for use in their Garand rifle? Comments, suggestions, precautions loading for the Garand?
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Old February 12, 2001, 02:00 AM   #2
kjm
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I just finished my first batch of M1 ammo for my Garand. The recipe I used was:

150 grain FMJBT Hornady projectile
LC 69 once-fired brass
48.5 grains of IMR4895
CCI-34 LR primers (milspec)

Apparently IMR4895 and H4895 are designed for this rifle, and was all the military used. I started low on the charge as my manual gives me a maximum of 49 grains. I've yet to test it though. You'll want to use the milspec primers from CCI (they come in a white box with black, plain lettering). The Garand was prone to slamfiring, so a less sensitive primer will be nice.
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Old February 12, 2001, 05:00 AM   #3
Patrick Graham
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Right out of the NRA Manual "The M1 Rifle"
Page 18:

147/150 gr bullets - either fmj or hpbt (the m2 load in 150)
imr 3031 - 48gr
imr 4895 - 49gr - about 2750fps out of a friends Rem 1917, about 2640fps out of my M1 (F1 Chrony)(Mil Spec if I ever saw it)
imr 4964 - 50gr
Win 748 - 48gr

173/175gr bullets M72 or m118 (the m72 load in 173)
imr 4895 - 46gr - about 2530 out of my M1 (F1 Chrony) - see note below
imr 4064 - 47gr

Note about the m72 rounds (173gr). the LC factory box says it should do 2640fps - this is not out of a Garand. It will do that only out of a bolt gun.
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Old February 12, 2001, 09:21 AM   #4
Southla1
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Kaliburz, all the advice you have gotten os far is excellent, stay with it! The main thing you have to take care about with the Garand is high gas port pressure. Of course as you know the port of the M1 is near the muzzle, so the way to avoid those pressures are to use bullets of 173 grains (GI match bullets) or LESS, such as the 168 165 150 etc. Also you want to stay away from slow burning powders such as 4831 (both IMR and H) 4320, 4350, etc. My personal favorite is either a 150 or 147 grain FMJ over 47 grains of a non canister 4895.
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Old February 13, 2001, 12:10 AM   #5
alan
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loads for M-1 rifle

Stick with medium burning rate powders, 3031, 4895, 4064, and or equivalent Ball or Spherical powders. I'm not familiar with the latter type. With 4895, a good working range from 168 up to 180 grain spitzer bullets would be from 46 to 50 grains, perhaps a bit less than 50 grains.

Start below and work up. You might also check Garand Specific Load Recommendations, which have been avbailable from the NRA among other sources. Accurate Arms lists Garanbd speficic loads in their Accurate Smokeless Powder Number 1 manual.

When I was loading for the Garand, I used Winchester Large Rifle primers, their "standard" primer, and never had problems of any kind with them. The 173 grain Match bullet shot very well in some Garands. These bulets are available on the surplus market. I believe some sources appeared in postings on this board.
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Old February 13, 2001, 04:46 PM   #6
sundog
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Kaliburz, I've had exceptional success with 173 gr NM bullets and 47.0 IMR 4064. Also, stick with Win or CCI primers. They're a little harder and help to prevent slam fire. Some guys say ain't so, but no reason to temp fate. sundog
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Old February 14, 2001, 07:56 PM   #7
Mouse Gun
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IMHO primer seating depth is more critical than primer selection to a degree as if you have high primers any can slamfire. I'm not saying don't use mil-spec primers but if they are seated high it doesn't utilize the extra protection they offer. They should at least be seated flush but preferrably below flush to .008 max. This gives some built in firing pin/primer clearance at lockup. I uniform all primer pockets for gas guns, period and I've used Winchester, Remington and CCI; no slamfires to date(knocking on wood). Uniforming replaces pocket cleaning in my prep process and I've yet to wear out a carbide cutter.

Brian
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