Cast loads for 03A3 and Garand

I am getting ready to work up some loads for my Garands and my old 03A3. In years past I always used H4895 but that is very hard to find anymore and also very expensive when you do find it. So, I am working with 3031, 4198, Buffalo Rifle, BL-C2. I have found that the 3031 is much more accurate than the BL-C2 in .223 so I am thinking it probably will also be better in 30-06 since the last load I tried with it in 06 did not impress me. Molds I have on hand are 311359, (too light) 311291, 311466, 311416,308241 and one I just got which is an old original but never used HM2 311-160-5.
I am open to suggestions as to what you guys are using. I am not really interested in buying anymore molds at this point since I have more than I can use now including pistol molds. Powder is maxed out also due to storage space. So would like to work with what I have.

10 shots under 1 MOA with Lyman 311284 (208gn) with 31.5gn of 3031 in my 4/44 original 03A3. Rifle has a 12X Leupold fitted.

https://i.imgur.com/SabiU6Dl.jpg

Impressive! What distance was that? The 284 is not one I have but it is duly noted.

Try 19 of Buffalo and the 311291, or a couple more grains of the 4198.

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Originally Posted by Rickf1985

I am getting ready to work up some loads for my Garands and my old 03A3. In years past I always used H4895 but that is very hard to find anymore and also very expensive when you do find it. So, I am working with 3031, 4198, Buffalo Rifle, BL-C2. I have found that the 3031 is much more accurate than the BL-C2 in .223 so I am thinking it probably will also be better in 30-06 since the last load I tried with it in 06 did not impress me. Molds I have on hand are 311359, (too light) 31291, 311466, 311416,308241 and one I just got which is an old original but never used HM2 311-160-5.
I am open to suggestions as to what you guys are using. I am not really interested in buying anymore molds at this point since I have more than I can use now including pistol molds. Powder is maxed out also due to storage space. So would like to work with what I have.

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What I have found

New springs might have function issues, as in they might eject a fired case but not pick up a new round,
if testing new loads I have a tool kit I take to the range and if I get a good accurate load that does not function. I try a different spring

any cast bullet under 150g or so ... you have to push the velocity and when you push the velocity accuracy suffers

165- 170 plus is the min weight that works .. as long as you do not push the velocity

I would try the HM2 311-160-5. water droped w gas check lube of your choice ..... seated so a bullet does not touch and can be extracted no problem

I would also use a tuff of dacron as the load ration is in the 50-60% filled ratio and it helps lots

I have found in my Garands 175g will function
180g -200g get the best accuracy / function

you could also do a straight pull with all most any powder ... red dot / unique

best powder is 4895 or a powder in that powder speed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rickf1985

I am getting ready to work up some loads for my Garands and my old 03A3. In years past I always used H4895 but that is very hard to find anymore and also very expensive when you do find it. So, I am working with 3031, 4198, Buffalo Rifle, BL-C2. I have found that the 3031 is much more accurate than the BL-C2 in .223 so I am thinking it probably will also be better in 30-06 since the last load I tried with it in 06 did not impress me. Molds I have on hand are 311359, (too light) 311291, 311466, 311416,308241 and one I just got which is an old original but never used HM2 311-160-5.
I am open to suggestions as to what you guys are using. I am not really interested in buying anymore molds at this point since I have more than I can use now including pistol molds. Powder is maxed out also due to storage space. So would like to work with what I have.

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I am "with" Bad Ass Wallace, using same mould -- Lyman 311-281 -- albeit mine come out in 211 grain weight. However, while I have shot this in several 1903, 190313, and 1917 models I have not fired it in a Garand. I, too, use IMR3031 powder.
geo

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Originally Posted by Ford SD

What I have found

New springs might have function issues, as in they might eject a fired case but not pick up a new round,
if testing new loads I have a tool kit I take to the range and if I get a good accurate load that does not function. I try a different spring

any cast bullet under 150g or so ... you have to push the velocity and when you push the velocity accuracy suffers

165- 170 plus is the min weight that works .. as long as you do not push the velocity

I would try the HM2 311-160-5. water droped w gas check lube of your choice ..... seated so a bullet does not touch and can be extracted no problem

I would also use a tuff of dacron as the load ration is in the 50-60% filled ratio and it helps lots

I have found in my Garands 175g will function
180g -200g get the best accuracy / function

you could also do a straight pull with all most any powder ... red dot / unique

best powder is 4895 or a powder in that powder speed

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"you could also do a straight pull with all most any powder ... red dot / unique "
Not sure what you mean by this? Could you explain?
And I am probably going to be using the 3031 powder with the HM2 mold so the extra bulk of the powder should eliminate the need for a filler. I have never used fillers so I am not real comfortable with using them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rickf1985

"you could also do a straight pull with all most any powder ... red dot / unique "
Not sure what you mean by this? Could you explain?
And I am probably going to be using the 3031 powder with the HM2 mold so the extra bulk of the powder should eliminate the need for a filler. I have never used fillers so I am not real comfortable with using them.

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Any light load in an M1 Garand turns it into a straight pull, clip fed single shot rifle. Kinda fun, bunch less recoil, easier on the rifle, don't have to chase the brass all over the range.

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Originally Posted by 15meter

Any light load in an M1 Garand turns it into a straight pull, clip fed single shot rifle. Kinda fun, bunch less recoil, easier on the rifle, don't have to chase the brass all over the range.

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Gotcha.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rickf1985

Impressive! What distance was that? The 284 is not one I have but it is duly noted.

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That group was benchrested at 100 yds. When I had my Springfield Garand, the same load would eject and drop the case right at my feet.

https://i.imgur.com/4aMC0cKl.jpg

I cannot bring myself to drill and tap my receiver for a scope! I have shot that gun with irons for 60 years now and it is still all original. I would love to find one already set up, even a sporter at this point.

If you want the same load for both rifles (?), I'd suggest the 311291 and 3031 powder with a dacron filler. Start at 26 gr and work up in the M1 until reliable functioning is just at 100%. Then try that load in the '03A3. If the velocity is under 2000 fps it should do well in both rifles.

I don't have a problem running a different load between the two guns since I keep the brass separate anyway. I have used 3031 with the 311041 in the past but I would have to look in my book to see what grains I used. I was not real happy with the patterns, they were not bad but they were not what I am used to. It was a book charge. As I stated before, I have never used fillers so I am not all the comfortable in using them. Adding a new element into my reloading routine worries me because at my age it is just asking for mistakes to happen. Mistakes in this game are generally unforgiving.

I have shot cast bullets in my Garand without fillers....BUT....after each round is chambered I raise the muzzle up to about 45deg and then lower back to target. Nothing really bad happens if I don't, just velocity changes a lot (about 100fps).

Rick
My best load in my M1 is 34 grains of I4895. But that is pretty much unobtainium right now unless you find it at a show.
I have used 32 grains of 3031 and the 291 but had chambering issues with the fat nose of the boolit.

When I got my M1 the first load I tried was 39 grains of I4831 with the 311299. It shot well but not as good as 4895.
Yesterday I was able to buy 5lbs of 4831 so I will at least be able to shoot the thing.
At $30 lb it was hard to pass up.
I only load 6 rounds in a clip just because. I take two rifles to the range and alternate between them and shoot at 100 yards.
In winter shooting I normally don't shoot my M1 or M1A but if I do it is with 12 grains of Red dot. Accurate load.
The rcbs165 sil. Boolit and the 311334 shoot very well.
I don't use any filler, that's up to the individual to decide.

The best 50-meter load in my 1903 Springfield is a 170g Laser Cast bullet + 8.0g HS-6 + WLR primer, seated until the bullet lube rings are hidden. Laser Cast indicates the bullet diameter is .310". It chronographs at an Average Velocity of 1139 fps, 73 fps Extreme Spread, 26 fps Standard Deviation through my current 1903 Springfield. I can consistently break clay birds at 100 yards with the load, but I have to use higher elevation on the ladder sight than with ball ammunition.

The load worked in 3 of my rifles and a few of my friends' rifles. It will print 1" groups at 50 meters using a rifle with a good bore. A friend is using 7.8g of Winchester 231 and seeing the same results.