View Full Version : M-1 garand cast bullet load data
TylerL
03-20-2024, 11:27 AM
I am using a 150 grain lead cast bullet
I am using IMR 4064 and BL-C(2)
Bullet is a 150 grain .309
Where should I start?
rintinglen
03-20-2024, 05:01 PM
My only experience was with a 311-291, oven tempered for max hardness, gas checked, and 40- 42.5 grains of IMR4895 in a Korean import 30 years ago. It was not spectacularly successful. Until I got up to the top end, I did not have good reliability, especially as the gun got dirtier. But accuracy was best at the start load. Most of the advice I got was to go to a heavier bullet. Since nothing I did was going to make that gun into a ten-ring wizard, I sold it and gave up on that endeavor. There are many others on the board whose experience exceeds mine. Hopefully, they'll be chiming in.
Wheelgun
03-20-2024, 05:42 PM
Lyman 311299 (206gr) sized .311 with IMR 4895 in the mid-30grs will be the most accurate and safest on the Op rod. Somewhere around 1800fps
I'm not sure you can get there with 4064 and the lead bullet unless you gas check/powder coat and/or use filler. By the time you get the velocity down to a level acceptable for the bullet you will be down below 70% case fill which is not a good idea. I did extensive testing with a 150 grain jacketed bullet and found that I had to go down to about 35 grains of 4064 (and use filler) to get below 2000 fps. The problem with that is 35 grains is about 70% fill and is way below the published starting loads for this case and a 150 grain bullet.
dale2242
03-21-2024, 07:44 AM
Mine has 100% function with 32 gr of 4064 or IMR 4895 with cast from 150-200 gr.
That seems to be lighter than most M1s want.
Start low and when you get to 100% function call it good.
Thumbcocker
03-21-2024, 08:57 AM
Lyman 311299 (206gr) sized .311 with IMR 4895 in the mid-30grs will be the most accurate and safest on the Op rod. Somewhere around 1800fps
This
oldhenry
03-29-2024, 08:57 PM
Lyman 311299 (206gr) sized .311 with IMR 4895 in the mid-30grs will be the most accurate and safest on the Op rod. Somewhere around 1800fps
Everything I was looking for in one sentence.
Thanks
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