M1 Garand loads needed

[cheese1566]

Yes, i know it has been said many times... but too lazy to search and sort.:killingpc

I need a Garand load for .30-06 for 150gr FMJ loads using IMR4895. (I know I have seen this a billion times here and at the CMP forum and want to say it is on the 44 to 50 grain range...)

Plus, I also have a LEE C309-160-R and Lyman 311284 and 311291's. I may contemplate experimenting some cast plinking loads and would appreciate any data for these boooolits as well.

[Mooseman]

The USGI load was 50 gr. IMR4895 for M2 BALL AMMO !

Rich

[Larry Gibson]

The USGI load was 50 gr. IMR4895 for M2 BALL AMMO !

Rich

If one reads the fine print where that "data" was extracted from you will find 50 gr was the maximum amount used with any specific lot to meet the velocity/pressure requirements. It is very, very unsafe to assume that was the load actually used in M2 ammunition. I know many have used that load over the years, especially in bolt guns, but with most lots of 4895 it is really too much for the M1 Garand. I have been dissecting and testing many different lots of M2 ammunition over the years and have yet to find a single lot with 50 gr of 4895 in it. Most all have 45.5 - 47 gr of 4895 in them. Lots of M2 will be found with 50+ gr of ball powder in them but that is not 4895 and should not be confused with 4895 loads.

Keep in mind there were 3 variations of M2 ammunition specifications. Briefly; 1st and actual specification for M2 ammunition was loaded to 2800 fps. 2nd was loaded to 2700 fps to match the maximum range of M1906 ammuntion to keep it within the safety fans of military ranges. Then in early '41 it was downloaded further to 2650 fps to keep it within the range fans of NG ranges which were in heavy use with the military buildup prior to WWII. This 3rd variation became the defacto M2 standard issue and was what was mostly used through WWII, Korea and up into the Viet Nam War. Many do not realise our soldiers and Marines actually went to war with substandard M2 ammunition. This is another reason many snipers prefered the M2AP rounds as they were still loaded to standard and thus "carried better at long range" than the issue M2 ammunition.

In over 35 years of testing many different lots of M2 ammuntion I've only found one lot of M2 ammunition (DEN 42) that comes close to 2700 fps out of 24" barrels over the years. Every other lot of ammunition tested from WWII up through LC69 run in the 2550 to 2650 fps range.

Anyway, to answer the OP's question; I use 46.5 - 47.5 gr (depends on the flavor and lot) of 4895 to load M2 ammo with M2 bullets or 150 gr SPs to equal the 2700 fps and ballisitics of M1906 ammunition.

I use 45.5 - 46.5 gr to load M80 bullets to 2650 fps which seems to regualte pretty well to M1 and M1903 rear sight elevations.

I load 47.5 - 48.5 gr 4895 (again depends on flavor and lot) under M2 or 150 gr SPs to equal the 2800 fps of the original M2 specifications.

US milsurp cases are used with above loads and most ofen WLR or CCI #34 primers. All of these loads have been pressure tested by me with the M43 Oehler PBL and been found to be well within the MAP for M2 ammunition. However, as always loads should be worked up for the rifle they are used in.

As to cast bullets the OP's 311284 and the 311291 are the best choices. Load both over 28 gr 4895 with a 3/4 gr dacron filler. Work up in 8 shot test strings (reason should be obvious for M1 users) in 1/2 gr increments to 32 -33 gr. The best accuracy will be when functioning is 100% reliable, usually in the 1850 - 1950 fps range.

Suggest an alloy of WWs + 2 % tin or any with a BHN in the 16 - 18+ range. Size at .311 and make sure the GCs are well seated on the GC shank. Use a good lube such a Javelina or other quality 50/50 lube.

Larry Gibson

[Hardcast416taylor]

The load my Springfield M-1 seems to like best is as follows. I load 46.5 gr. IMR-4895 with a CCI #34 primer in IMI brass with a FMJ 147 gr. ball in front of all this.Robert

[Kraschenbirn]

46.0 gr H4895 under a 147 gr. FMJBT (M80), lit by a WLR primer, produces 2620 fps (avg. 8-shot string) from my old DCM Garand (a '43 Winchester rearsenaled in '66) with 2-3 MOA accuracy.

Bill

[BoolitSchuuter]

My load;
47.5 grains IMR 4895
Winchester Large rifle primer
Winchester case
Nosler 155 grain HPBTM
OAL 3.330"
:2gunsfiring_v1:

[ilcop22]

45-47 grains of IMR 4895, depending on your rifle.

I shoot the LEE C309-160-R. Here's a couple loads from my 1903's:

34.5 grains IMR 4895 (I use that load for hunting, try 34-36 grains)
12.5 grains Red Dot

I've used other powders for light loads, but 12-13 grains of Red Dot suits me just fine. That said, I never shoot cast out of my Garand. It's a very sensitive rifle and you need an adjustable gas plug when using cast loads to avoid damaging the op rod. I bought one but never bothered with it. The M1 deserves a full meal. :Fire:

[405]

I have an extremely nice Garand so am very cautious about what I load for it and how I load for it. If you are interested in only powder and bullet suggestions for the Garand, it is everywhere. For serious Garand care here's what I did/do- read and understand Duff's book on the Garand along with other references like Hatcher's Notebook and as many regular load data manuals as I can find, use good brass beginning with new, resize with care, check and trim brass if needed, don't try to extend the life of the brass beyond about 3-4 loadings, use the right bullet with the right powder and the right primer, use light crimp into crimp groove (correct use of the Lee FCD produces a crimp as good or better than a roll crimp done by the seater die)

FWIW- My favorite Garand load is: 150 gr FMJ PRVI bullet, 46 gr IMR 4895, CCI No. 34 primer, light crimp into crimp groove, COAL 3.33"

[Ole]

50 grains of IMR 4320 works with the 150 grain class of projectiles.

I'd rather use a ball powder than deal with the aggravation of trying to meter IMR 4064 or 4895, but I guess I'm in the minority. :mrgreen:

[milprileb]

Go with Larry Gibsons recommendations for 4895 powder.

[madsenshooter]

Do you suppose my going by the 50gr of 4895 found in the spec sheet in the back of Cartridges of the World was why I got flattened primers when I first started reloading? I imagine so. Had a buddy that did worse though. He loaded to the max from data developed in light cases, but he put those loads in GI cases. Left nice imprints of the ejector hole on the base of the brass. When I showed him what he should have seen himself, he gave all his GI brass to me, and followed the recipes a bit closer, including the brand of brass they used.

[Larry Gibson]

Do you suppose my going by the 50gr of 4895 found in the spec sheet in the back of Cartridges of the World was why I got flattened primers when I first started reloading?

Yup, seen that happen too many times over the years. As I mentioned; the 50 gr load was the max load with the slowest lot of non canister 4895 the US Arsenals would accept. The slowest such lots I've found were pretty close to the slowest lot of IMR4064 instead of cannister 4895 commercially available. As I mentioned, I've yet to find any lot of US M2 ammuntion with 50 gr of 4895 in it.

Larry Gibson

[smokemjoe]

I went to 48 gr. 4895, 147 Ball, It was hot in my M1s, went to 45grs and perfect. Donrt beat up the action either,

[W.R.Buchanan]

46.0 gr of IMR 4895 + 147gr recycled M80 fmjbt's.

45.0 for .308 with same bullets.

These are good standard loads and work well in many cases.

No need to look farther than this thread for info on these loads. Larry pretty much laid the technical side out. and the experience of the group is valid.

These loads are accurate and they cycle the action nicely without beating it. There is very little in velocity to be gained by upping the charge, past 47 gr, and no reason to use it as a 150 gr bullet hitting anything at 2500fps will do as much damage as one hitting at 2700fps.

We had a guy win our club Silhoutte Shoot last Saturday shooting a Garand with 46.0 gr of 4895 under a 150 gr M2 Ball recycled bullets. He hit 14 out of 40 targets! This was from 500 to 200 meters, or full course. He was shooting against all of us with scoped rifles, and He hit 4 rams at 500 meters offhand with iron sights!

Randy