Lesson learned today with my M1 equipment purchase

hans4811 · May 4, 2010, 11:06 PM

As you may know from some of my other posts, I've been gearing up to reload for my M1 Garand using my Hornady LNL AP. As in any reloading endeavor, I always research it to death and tend to lean towards being safe by maybe 'overdoing' certain things.

Case in point, I purchased the Hornandy OAL gage with the intention of trying to make as accurate of a round as I could by minimizing headspace. This sounded like this tool could do that, as you basically push a bullet to the lands and take a measurement of this dummy round. In theory, this should work...mmmm, not so much with an M1.

...as I found out that when you do this, the bullet is practically falling out of the case. This is due to the inherent length of freebore of this rifle. So I found out you can't really do what the bolt action guys do with a gas operated rifle...too much tolerance in this rifle. So I learned that you basically can only load these rounds to a given COl and not so much as loading them to the 'lands'....on the bright side it was only about 35 bucks, plus Midway just gave me a store credit anyways !!

So for any of you guys loading for the M1, save your money and don't buy the Hornady OAL gage for it. Not to say this is a bad product, just doesn't work for the M1 is all !!

On a side note, got my Greek HXP ammo from CMP this past week and was able to zero in my M1 this weekend !! WOW !! Forgot how much fun it was to shoot that thing

My poor pistols didn't even get fired this weekend....

chris in va · May 4, 2010, 11:26 PM

There's a very high probability I will be making the 6 hour trip up to the North Store this weekend to buy my first M1 Service Grade. After calling and finding out there is a two month wait, the drive doesn't seem so long.

velocette · May 5, 2010, 08:21 AM

The ole warhorse Garand is both satisfying to own & shoot and is easy to reload for. Basic recipes for reloading are all over the web.
Got mine through the DCM, years ago. It's the one rifle that my son is waiting for me to croak so he can get it. (I'm not cooperating)
The Garand is a battle rifle. Designed to be reliable, strong and immune to the indignitys that GIs subject them to. Long freebores, generous tolerances and strong. Oh yeah, they're heavy too.
Mine is definitely the best money I have ever spent on a firearm.
Paid $187.00 for it, Worth perhaps 6 ~ 800.00 today.

Roger

hans4811 · May 5, 2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

After calling and finding out there is a two month wait, the drive doesn't seem so long.

Waited about 3 months for mine. Been seriously thinking along the same lines as you as I have about an 8 hour drive....need that second one for a backup right ?

Quote:

Mine is definitely the best money I have ever spent on a firearm.

Ditto !! Hear ya on the weight factor too! You really appreciate the GI's that humped these things during the Wars after you try standing up and shooting the thing and TRY and keep it steady...wow. Nice price btw too. You must of got that in the 80's I'm guessing as I got a buddy I shoot with that paid about the same.

May 4, 2010, 11:06 PM	#1
hans4811 Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Northeast FLA Posts: 44	Lesson learned today with my M1 equipment purchase As you may know from some of my other posts, I've been gearing up to reload for my M1 Garand using my Hornady LNL AP. As in any reloading endeavor, I always research it to death and tend to lean towards being safe by maybe 'overdoing' certain things. Case in point, I purchased the Hornandy OAL gage with the intention of trying to make as accurate of a round as I could by minimizing headspace. This sounded like this tool could do that, as you basically push a bullet to the lands and take a measurement of this dummy round. In theory, this should work...mmmm, not so much with an M1. ...as I found out that when you do this, the bullet is practically falling out of the case. This is due to the inherent length of freebore of this rifle. So I found out you can't really do what the bolt action guys do with a gas operated rifle...too much tolerance in this rifle. So I learned that you basically can only load these rounds to a given COl and not so much as loading them to the 'lands'....on the bright side it was only about 35 bucks, plus Midway just gave me a store credit anyways !! So for any of you guys loading for the M1, save your money and don't buy the Hornady OAL gage for it. Not to say this is a bad product, just doesn't work for the M1 is all !! On a side note, got my Greek HXP ammo from CMP this past week and was able to zero in my M1 this weekend !! WOW !! Forgot how much fun it was to shoot that thing My poor pistols didn't even get fired this weekend....

May 5, 2010, 08:21 AM	#3
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	The ole warhorse Garand is both satisfying to own & shoot and is easy to reload for. Basic recipes for reloading are all over the web. Got mine through the DCM, years ago. It's the one rifle that my son is waiting for me to croak so he can get it. (I'm not cooperating) The Garand is a battle rifle. Designed to be reliable, strong and immune to the indignitys that GIs subject them to. Long freebores, generous tolerances and strong. Oh yeah, they're heavy too. Mine is definitely the best money I have ever spent on a firearm. Paid $187.00 for it, Worth perhaps 6 ~ 800.00 today. Roger __________________ Trigger control + Breath control + Sight alignment = Gun Control. http://www.hrpclub.info/ NRA Smallbore Prone Master, High Power Master

May 4, 2010, 11:26 PM	#2
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	There's a very high probability I will be making the 6 hour trip up to the North Store this weekend to buy my first M1 Service Grade. After calling and finding out there is a two month wait, the drive doesn't seem so long.