M1 Garand Match loads

[Knifeman1988]

I would like to know if there is a load out there that will shoot nice MOA groups @ 100-200yds. I have yet to find a good shooting load for my M1. Will be very grateful for any and all data shared on here.

Thanks,

Travis

[Rock]

This will be a challenging road for you since the M1 Garand is not a 1MOA rifle.

[bruce drake]

Best I've ever gotten out of my Garand was 4MOA which will still keep them in the black of a NRA Highpower Target. My load for Highpower Shooting in 46gr of IMR4064 over either 150gr FMJ or a 168 Sierra MatchKing.

I attribute that to the age of the rifle mostly. She's a candidate for a rebarrel shortly. Just trying to decide whether to keep her in 30-06 or move her over to 308.

Bruce

[jonk]

Bruce,

I'd second the rebarrel... both of mine will do about 2-2.5 MOA. I'd keep it in 06, the 308s sometimes get finicky feeding from what I've heard.

[sundog]

Did not get to shoot high power last Saturday due to the [F2] tornado that tore up our range. One month ago we tried to shoot the match and it was so steekin' windy no one could even hold the 200 yard target boards offhand, so we shoot some practice prone, and called it a day. Did I mention that it was windy? In March, we go weathered out - good ole Oklahoma thunder bumpers with lots of cloud to ground lightening.

So, back to the practice prone targets last month (in the wind). With a Garand, I shot a 189-11X at 200 on the MR-52. When I got done, my spotter says, "yer gonna like that target." Well, I did like it. The load was Hdy 150 FMJ, 47.0/surplus IMR 4895, LCNM cases, #34 primers. I use the RCBS X die for brass prep. The surplus (new manufacture) 4895 is a tad slow from cannister, more like 4064. Good stuff. I actually prefer 4064 over 4895.

My other choices for bullets for high power (our range is max 200 yards) are 168 BTHP or 173 FMJ. Any of these work pretty good.

Sure do like the M1 Garand! Due to the tornado damage, ongoing safety considerations, and rebuilding, our 100/200 yard range is closed until rebuild is finished and safety system reinstalled - hopefully less than 60 days. Gonna miss one or two more high power matches because of it.

I guess that was a lot of words just tell you what load I was shooting, eh?

[Lead Fred]

I rebuilt my M1, match grade, and 2 moa @ 100 yards is about all it will do.

152gr Israeli AP
48gr IMR-4895
CCI 34 Primers
LC cases.

[Hip's Ax]

You'll need a top shelf M1 with all the match goodies built by one of the big names to get 1 MOA or less AND the rifle will need to see the smith on a regular basis to keep shooting that way.

With that said, check out the below link for M1 match loads. Scroll down near the bottom.

With my handloads my service grade can almost clean an SR target, that is hold the ten ring. I think 2 MOA is about all any good condition service grade can do.

http://njhighpower.com/cart_tech.htm

[NickSS]

I have been shooting M1s since the late 60s when I got my first one. I have owned probably 12 of them and currently own 4. I also shot them in High Power competition for about 20 years before I converted to the M1a. The basic stock M1 Garand will hold about 2MOA with GI ball ammo. If it does not it probably indicates that either the bedding, bore or gas cylinder requires work and maybe all three. With match grade ammo that same rifle will shoot a little better especially at longer ranges. Now to shoot better than that you need extensive work to accurarise the rifle this includes the following: Replace the GI barrel with something like a kreager match grade barrel (The last one I had installed cost me $500 in the early 90s). Glass bed the action to the stock. To do this properly you first start by glassing the lower stock band the the stock and on the forstock glass both end caps to the wood and in addition install two wood screws into the fore stock from the upper middle band after removing the heat shield from the fore stock. Then you bed the action. There are instructions on how to do this from the NRA but I forget the details as its been 20 years since I did one. Oh you also need to make sure that the gas cylinder is tight if not you can peen the barrel slots until it is. Once you have don this you will have a rifle that will shoot 1 MOA groups with top quality match ammo using match grade bullets. It will also shoot GI ball into around 1.5 MOA. The last M! I had reworked went to a gun smith that specialized in service rifles. For a mear $800 in 1992 he did all this work including installing Match Sights and chambered the rifle in 308. It would easily shoot 1 MOA with Sierra Matchking 168 gr pushed by 42 gr of AA 2520. Hwever I could shoot better scores with my M1a super match rifle so i only used the M1 in practice.

[Bob S]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/M1/McCoysticker.jpg

... will shoot honest MOA with good lots of A-171, or 41.5 grs 4895 and either Sierra 168 Grain MK, or the new 175 grain Match King. Obviously it's .308.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

It's REAL ... it's wood and steel!

[Char-Gar]

The M72 Match and Sniper load for the Garand can be duplicated by loading 46/4895 over the 172 GI match bullet in GI cases. However, I have never found the GI Match bullets to be that accurate. Substitute the 168 Sierra Int. Match and you will have a load with will give you a good idea of the accuracy potential of your rifle.

Of course, it is always possible to tweak this load for some improvement in an individual rifle, but the improvements won't be drastic.

[dualsport]

I've been looking into this, handloading for my Garand. I shoot HXP and can get 2-2 1/2" 5 shot groups prone when I'm on the ball. I think I lucked out and got a good one, it's Korean War era Service Grade that looks like it wasn't used much. What I was wondering is about using the 168 gr MKs.. I thought 150 gr. was standard for a Garand. It sounds like I maybe should get the 168s instead.

[bruce drake]

The 150 will work for the 200 and 300 yard lines but at 600 yards the 168 MK helps out a lot to handle the longer distance.

I've known shooters to use 125gr bullets at the 200 as well. Its all in how your rifle accepts them.

Bruce

[garandsrus]

Travis,

The Hornady Garand Match ammo that the CMP issued at last year's National Matches shoots great. I don't think I heard any complaints about it. The price is a little high, but one box won't break the bank to see how it shoots for you. The ammo is loaded with Hornady 168gr match bullets and they list the velocity so you could probably duplicate the loading.

John

[fourarmed]

I could not get my Garand to shoot decent groups with bullets heavier than 150 gr. I finally settled on 51/AA2520/Sierra 150SP. It would consistently do 2MOA at 200 meters with that.

[NuJudge]

I'm with Bob S.: My .308 M1 rifles have always consistently shot better than my .30-'06 Garands, all other things being the same. I also agree with him as to the load they like.

CDD