Feeding a .308 Garand

[chill45100]

A question for the collective mind. Will using Federal Gold Medal .308 168 grain ammunition cause excessive wear or battering to the pieces parts of my as yet to arrive CMP special grade Garand in .308? Federal basically blew off the question by telling me to ask the manufacturer. CMP said it might be a good idea to use an adjustable gas block screw but they were not sure. I have a quantity of other brass to reload and plan on doing so as well. HOWEVER, there is also a large quantity of GM match that a buddy has and wants to trade. I can only use so much through my bolt gun.

Any guidance will be appreciated.


Oh and what are good powders to use in a 308 Garand?

Thanks much,

Chill45100

[lefty o]

thats pretty much the gold standard for running thru an M1A, id say its safe in the M1. generally powders with the same burn rate as imr4895, and 4064 are where you want to be for an M1.

[country gent]

Use any good mil spec 308 ( the federal gold metal qualifies here) Stay away from powders slower than 4320 or bullets heavier than 175 grns. I believe the new Hornady manuals have special data for the military rifles in 223 308 and 30-06 in them also.
The popular load for 308 in both m1As and garands was LC brass 41.? IMR 4895 federal gold medal primer and 168 sierra MKHPBT.
In the converted garands with out the block OAL can be increased quite a bit also.

[chill45100]

LeftyO and Country Gent, good information and thank you very much.
Chill45100

[country gent]

I needed to edit post as I had a typo on the powder. Another addition on the load is to duplicate the old M852 loading ( NM Load) shoot for around 2650 fps with the 168s. A little hint the Hornady 168 gr BTHP match seemed to do a little better for me in my rifles.

[bob208]

I load about 2600-2700 fps. with 147 gr bullets in my .308 m1. no problems at all mine is set up with a tight chamber,

[chill45100]

Once again, thank you one and all.

[bruce drake]

https://www.creedmoorsports.com/product/m1gp/see-all-departments?gclid=CjwKCAiA8OjjBRB4EiwAMZe6y8mGRtJL zjGp9OWdn5XqYD5chcAbKv1e2osS-I5XhQ_1RWPo-YNj_xoCf8UQAvD_BwE
Buy an adjustable gas plug and open it wide open when you first install it. Then dial it down after every shot until the rifle cycles and feeds the next cartridge properly.

That way you know the rifle is bleeding off the excess gas pressure to prevent any damage to your rifle. I own an M1 Garand in 7x57mm and its a sweetheart to shoot once the gas is dialed in for the load it likes (I have two: 140gr Remington core-loct softpoint with 39.5gr of IMR4895 & 180gr Hornady A-Max with 38.5gr of Hodgdon 380).

That said, whenever you change the load recipe for that rifle with the adjustable gas plug, you'll need to spend some time dialing in the gas system for the new load also. But since you may have a means of getting a good amount of the Federal ammo, you may not need to adjust the plug very often.

Enjoy the new rifle. Also, CMP has their own forum on the internet for highpower shooters and many own the same rifle you've bought so you can get specific load data from them as well.

Bruce

[Walks]

I think I'll get one for my old WIN M1, my shoulder would sure appreciate lighter loads.