Anyone have experience with reduced jacketed bullet loads in the M1 Garand? I was talking to an acquaintance at the range who was having trouble with his M1. It was cycling OK, dropping the brass close so clearly light loads, but it wasn't terribly accurate, dinner plate groups at 100 yards.
He had just started reloading for it. It looked like he was using some commercial 150gr FMJ bullets and good brass, but his load data indicated 45gr. IMR 4064. I asked why it was so light, and he said it shouldn't be, because it was a load recommended by his "M1 expert".
I had my chronograph so I shot one over it and it clocked 2388fps. I think that's slow enough to fall into "reduced load" territory. He was adamant that his "old time expert" had told him that's what he needed to keep from damaging the old rifle.
I've shot reduced loads before that were accurate enough, and if you're just punching paper and the rifle cycles it seems like a good idea, but I don't see how it's really necessary. People shoot HXP surplus ammo in them all the time, by the thousands, and that stuff is fairly hot, around 2800fps. They seem to hold up fine.
What confused me was the accuracy problem. He was blaming the ammo so I suggested bumping it up a bit since his load is well below book starting load. I'll be curious to hear if that helps. I know, I know... too many unknowns to diagnose an accuracy problem, and it's not even my rifle to shoot. I was just wondering if anyone had ever had a similar problem.