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Old April 30, 2009, 08:56 PM   #1
Apache6
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M1 Garand recipe

I have a buddy who wants me to load him some M1 Garand rounds. I have .30-06 commercial brass and some 150 gr. FMJ bullets coming. Powder/charge weight rcommendations?
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Old April 30, 2009, 09:24 PM   #2
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Yupper. Commercial brass, uniform the flash holes and primer pockets, CCI milspec primer, 48.0 of WW 748 or BLC2 and your 150 grain ball bullet. This will basically duplicate the WRA and WCC ball loadings. Around 46000 cup so it won't beat up the op rod or action. I've shot thousands of them. Many others use 4895 or 4064, but they don't meter as well as ball powder and I load these on a Dillon. I SB size mine the first time and try some with a standard die the second time; if any feeding quirks arise, I stay with the SB dies. CB.
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Old April 30, 2009, 09:31 PM   #3
Apache6
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Awwww, man... Am I gonna need a SB die? Crap.
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Old April 30, 2009, 10:18 PM   #4
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No, you don't need a small base die. Unless the barel has been changed to some aftermarket match setup the chamber will be plenty generous to use a normal sizing die. I use a Lee pacesetter die with no troubles at all with my HRA M1. I do check each case with a Lyman case gauge after sizing and when completed.
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Old May 1, 2009, 10:16 AM   #5
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You have to use powder with a speed around IMR 4895 or you will damage the op rod on the Garand. IMR or Hodgdon 4895 or IMR 4064 works well. Here's one article on loading for the Garand:
http://www.alabamaservicerifleteam.com/id17.html
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Old May 1, 2009, 10:51 AM   #6
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While I size, trim, and prime off the press, I throw all my Garand charges. If you see any difference on target with thrown IMR 4895, then you belong on the Palma Team. Their thrown 308 IMR 4895 loads only grouped 3 inches at 600 yards.

In the load below, I am using the CCI#34 primers. Do not ever use Federal primers in a Garand/M1a. These are the most slamfiring primers around.

The target was shot with a match rifle, but hey, even using crappy, mixed, WWII brass, this load will hold the ten ring of the 600 reduced target.

M1 Garand 5 925 ZZZ CMP rack grade


150 gr Sierra Match HPBT 47.5 IMR 4895 thrown, CCI#34 mixed WWII cases OAL 3.30"
24 Mar 04 T= 70 ° F

Ave Vel = 2630
Std Dev = 33
ES = 109
Low = 2580
High = 2689
N = 16

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Old May 1, 2009, 08:43 PM   #7
Sport45
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Quote:
I have a buddy who wants me to load him some M1 Garand rounds.
Instead of this, why don't you invite him over to load his own while you supervise? Use 150 - 168gr bullets and powder no faster than IMR 3031 or slower than IMR 4320.
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Old May 1, 2009, 09:34 PM   #8
Apache6
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He's a 71 year old veteran who just wants 50-100 rounds to shoot through his M1 occasionally. I know he won't have any interest in reloading. Yes, I know the risk, but I just can't say no to the guy.

So Varget isn't recommended, huh? Too bad, I've got more of it than any of the other powders.

Last edited by Apache6; May 1, 2009 at 09:45 PM.
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Old May 2, 2009, 01:30 AM   #9
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Varget's good for the M1. A lot of folks use it. I show it falling between 4895 and 4064 on the burn rate chart.
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