If stupid was food, I'd weigh 900 pounds

[tjndaltx]

I'm so stupid. So angry at myself.

I've been reloading 30-06 for my M1 Garand.

I bought bulk bullets on Gunbroker and was told they were 150 grain.

Well, being a newbie, I forgot to weigh the bullets BEFORE I started reloading them.

After I got a whole bunch reloaded, I realized I hadn't weighed the bullets.

Eureka, they're 165 grains. Duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!

The bullets are jacketed soft point, sharp point.

I've got the 165 grainers loaded with 46.7 grains of IMR 4895.

Will I be okay with this load or am I going to have to take them all apart?

I won't make this mistake again, I can assure you.

[Cowboy5780]

37-52 grs of imr 4895 according to stevespages.com is ok

[tjndaltx]

Thanks Mr. Cowboy. Appreciate it.

[462]

tjndaltx,

In the NRA's "The M1 Rifle", the load is 47.0 grains of IMR 4895. I'd be leery of any load above that. Hot .30-'06 loads are not meant for the Garand...bent operating rods and such.

[tjndaltx]

tjndaltx,

In the NRA's "The M1 Rifle", the load is 47.0 grains of IMR 4895. I'd be leery of any load above that. Hot .30-'06 loads are not meant for the Garand...bent operating rods and such.

I appreciate this info. I'm under the 47 grains. I'm using 46.7 grains. Think I'm okay?

[mpmarty]

Invest in a collet type bullet puller and start over. Op rods are expensive and since you already have a press a puller is good to have anyway.

[mike in co]

ok..before you start over..
bullet length/or make
powder imr or hodgdon
oal
mil or comercial case
bbl is ??

i'l run in quick load,
but i think you are ok
mike in co

[tjndaltx]

ok..before you start over..
bullet length/or make
powder imr or hodgdon
oal
mil or comercial case
bbl is ??

i'l run in quick load,
but i think you are ok
mike in co

The bullets are bulk I bought on Gunbroker. Don't know brand. They're jacketed soft point with a sharp nose. Bullet length is 1.085.
IMR 4895
OAL - 3.226
some commercial some military brass
Don't know what bbl is........

I appreciate the help and man I hope I don't have to tear 200 bullets apart.

[Ricochet]

I wouldn't tear them down. You'll be OK.

[skeet1]

I'm with Ricochet, the powder charge you have is ok. I load 150 gr. M2 bullets with 47gr. IMR4895 for my M-1 and 15 gr. mor weight in bullet and slightly less powder is not going to make any difference.

Skeet1

[tjndaltx]

I really appreciate it, guys.

[mike in co]

i get about 2660 fps with 44kpsi for pressure, with mil brass a bit more pressure and velocity.


me thinks you are good...shoot a couple....


mike in co

[yondering]

This is another example of why you should work up to a load a few rounds at a time, before you load up a few hundred of them. If you're going to load that many, isn't it worth trying a few to see if they shoot well first? If they shoot poorly, you've got a couple hundred rounds of bad ammo on your hands.

[Hip's Ax]

From what I just referenced it looks like you SHOULD be OK. BUT, I would load up some (at least a couple, a few is better) starting at minimum and work up in half grain jumps up to your present load. Look for pressure signs and take note of rifle operation.

Garands are awesome rifles (I have a few) but as previously stated if you hurt one the parts can be expensive these days.

Frankly, my view on reloading is that if I get a new lot of any component I start at min again and work back up to my preferred load, every time. This would mean I'd be most certain to do it with new unknown components.

Just my 2 cents. Hope I didn't stick my nose in where it wasn't wanted.

[lwknight]

I might be all mixed up but, I think I remember that the M1s were made to shoot 150 grainers at about 2900 fps. That is a might warmish even though our modern bolt guns can go somewhat higher pressure loads.

[tjndaltx]

I certainly can't argue with good advice. You're right about loading a few at a time to start and I will do that from now on. Thank you.

And Hip, you're not sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. I appreciate the help.

Thanks a lot, yall.

[fredj338]

I might be all mixed up but, I think I remember that the M1s were made to shoot 150 grainers at about 2900 fps. That is a might warmish even though our modern bolt guns can go somewhat higher pressure loads.

It's not so much the vel. as the pressure & pressure curve. Medium burn rate powders, no slower than IMR4320, & lighter bullets, no heavier than 172gr. Run them about 5%-6% off what you would a bolt gun & you should be fine. The M1 is a great piece of history & still gets it done.

[Cadillo]

I might be all mixed up but, I think I remember that the M1s were made to shoot 150 grainers at about 2900 fps. That is a might warmish even though our modern bolt guns can go somewhat higher pressure loads.


Most of the WWII ammo was AP, which I think weighed in at about 173 grains.

[243winxb]

Post #12 here http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2175229 Reads >>
There is an excellent article in the March 1986 American Rifleman, by John R. Clarke "Reloading for the M1 Rifle" starting on pg 50.

Some recommendations:

According to Clarke, powder charge and burn rate must work within the desired port pressure of 6000 +/- 2000 psi. Burn rates from IMR 3031 to IMR 4320 in relative quickness are desired. Too fast burn rate = low port pressure (rifle may not cycle fully), and not enough velocity at safe pressure levels. Too slow = excessive port pressure that can damage the rifle's operating rod and cause cycling too fast to pick up the next round off the clip. Other powders that fall within the burn rate, such as WW-748; Hodgdon H-4895, BL-C(2), and H-335; and Accurate 2495 or 2520, are suitable PROVIDED THE CHARGE WEIGHT IS CORRECT.

Don't try to make a magnum out of the M1, either. Clarke recommends light to medium loading levels: Sierra 150-gr HPBT Matchking with 48.5-gr of IMR 4895 for 2650-2700 fps. 168-gr Sierra HPBT Matchking with 47.5-gr IMR 4895 for about 2650 fps.

He recommends the 180-gr Sierra Matchking as an ideal substitute for the 173-gr M72 loading, with 47.0 gr IMR 4895 to get 2550-2650 fps depending on case brand.

Make sure your rifle does not have a worn gas piston, gas cylinder, gas port, weak operating rod spring, or bent operating rod that could cause it to cycle erratically. Clarke mentions that the position of the fired cases after ejection is a good indicator of port pressure: 150-gr loads fall about 12 to 1:30 o'clock, M72 (and 180-gr loads) loads will fall about 2-3 o'clock, and 190-200 gr loads at 3-4 o'clock.

[Cadillo]

Apparently we don't have many M1 shooters here. The key to this situation is that he is using IMR 4895, which is the prefered powder for the M1 and the one its gas system was designed around. I have shot a lot of Nosler 168 grain J4's as well as Sierra 168 Grain match Kings with 47 grains of IMR 4895 with no ill effects. Yes it is a hot load, but so is 49 grains of the same powder with a Hornaday 150 Grain FMJ. Both shoot well in my guns, with the stock gas system, again with no gas sytem issues.

If you are truly concerned about damaging your operating rod, you should purchase a Schuster Gas Nut. If you follow the instructions and tune it for your load, you can shoot any powder or bullet combination that is safe with regard to chamber pressure without danger to your oprod as you can adjust your gas system pressure down to the point that the gun will not even extract a fired case, and then dial it back up to the point that it will function without stressing the gas system. I have these on all the M1's that I shoot regularly. You can really slow down your bolt speed, which greatly increases the life of the bolt, receiver, and gas system components.

[243winxb]

Hey, whats the bullets diameter, .311", or .308" better check :kidding: or maybe not. :oops:

[mike in co]

Hey, whats the bullets diameter, .311", or .308" better check :kidding: or maybe not. :oops:

i do not think they make a 165 in 311........150,174 yes


mike in co

[mike in co]

I might be all mixed up but, I think I remember that the M1s were made to shoot 150 grainers at about 2900 fps. That is a might warmish even though our modern bolt guns can go somewhat higher pressure loads.


another reason why you are on my ignore list...2900 fps!!!!!
what book did that come from ???

more mis-information

( while you are on my ignore list, and i would not have seen it, it was quoted by someone else and showed up there.)

[Echo]

My go-to load for the M1 (and my other -06's) is 165 gr Hdy Spirepoint w/46 grs IMR 4895. And a chum whom I respect loads 46.5 grs. You are good to go with your loads.