My first cast M1 Garand load

I finally tackled a cast load for my Garand. I have been doing mostly plain based cast in bolt actions but a cast load for the M1 has always been my plan. I had bought a used RCBS 30-180-FN mold for my 3030 and figured I would try this for the M1 as well. With the gas check, the boolits were dropping at 191 grains. I sized them to .309. The RCBS cast load book lists a starting load of 32 grains of IMR 4895 so that is what I tried with a c.o.l. of 3.035. I fired 2 8 round clips through the gun and it cycled perfectly for every shot. The average FPS was 1759. I haven't really tried to fine tune it for accuracy yet but I was happy it cycled the action with what I thought was a light load. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions.

I'm at 34 gr to get reliable function so you are doing good. Now you can tweek for accuracy.

Happy for you with your obvious success! I have a question: Do/did you crimp? I have a small stash of similar bullets -- using 33.0 gr of same powder you use with my GC'd bullets, for which I used a Redding profile crimp die. I'm thinking, next batch, to use a Lee Factory Crimp die. While the recoil is not much different from using Sierra 150gr J's, I do have bullet movement -- interestingly OUT -- with the Redding die. Hence my question what you have done.
geo

No I didn't crimp these. I do crimp a lot of cast loads but these bullets were seated very firm in the cases.

The best part of getting a good cast bullet load for my M1 was it changed the ejection pattern from 12-1 o'clock to 3 ish. Most of my shooting is done on an indoor range and having to call a ceasefire the go pick up the cases rifle yelled at the target was a real pain.

I didn't think about shooting cast in my M1. I need to work up something for it. I do like to shoot it.

Your on the right path. I think I am at 36 grains too with the 30 hunter @ .309. Try 4831 too. It was very gratifying to empty the rifle with out a failure to feed .
Be well

I got the best accuracy out of my lee 200-309 with 32 grn of IMR4064 but it would not cycle the action at all, the group's where around 1"at 100. 34 grn of IMR4064 is what I stayed with in my Winchester Garand I powder coat then size to .311 over 34 grn will place 8 rounds off hand sitting in a chair with no help holding the rifle in around 4 inches. On bags it does around 3" and in my lead sled FIRE it does right at 2 1/2" all at 100. I fired over 600rounds of this in one month before hunting season and I had no leading on the piston or leading in the barrel I even took a couple of deer with it this year they all dropped DRT (dead right there)

43PU

Glad that your initial load met your expectations. You're certainly in the ball park with what most of the members here report for a good load in the M1

My load uses the slightly heavier Lyman 311299 sized to .311 over a couple of grains more of similar (non canister) powder, but it's all pretty close.

My Garand told me it likes IMR 4064 underneath the 311299 boolit this weekend. Was working up loads using IMR 3031, and it would eat them, but it just didn't seem to like the flavor as much as 4064. Now, I do tend to listen to it, and try my really hard to keep it happy. So, I will try the same load again, this time 10 rounds, just to be sure...

Hello all, I've posted this same message on different threads hoping to get the most knowledgeable info as possible.
I was able to finally get an M1 Garand in my collection. I am wanting to reload cast "boolits" for this particular rifle. I've reloaded for other 30-06 rifles (bolt action and pump action). I have a question about which mold to get. I am looking at the NOE molds 311332, 311365, 311299 or the 312299. Can anyone give me a recommendation for one or another? Would I have feeding issues with round nose cast "boolits (the 311299/312299) versus the spire points (311332/311365)? I planned on using either IMR4898 or H4898 starting at 30 grains and working up. Whatever advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated!

I believe the pictures will tell what needs to be said...except the reason the 4th and 5th shots went out was because the target turned into a faded grey mass..(old eyes)
Attachment 186182Attachment 186183

My first load was the 311291 gas checked at 175 gr and 12 grs unique Would not cycle the action but gave ok accuacy rings the gong at 50 yds. Wonder what the velocity is on that load

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311291 gas checked at 175 gr and 12 grs unique - Velocity guess?

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QuickLoad calculator shows around 1500 FPS.

I get good action function and amazing accuracy on a very tight newish-CMP-build using their current Criterion barrel M1 with 38 grains of IMR 4895 and the Lyman 311291 boolit, making about 2050 FPS per QuickLoad. Like, sub 1.5" military-sighted groups at 100 yards, time after time. Takes that much powder for my tight gun to feed next round. Similar functional requirement on other boolits, just not that same level of accuracy. QuickLoad says that load makes about 26,000 PSI in chamber. And, at that velocity, I heat treat the cast alloy to (my measured) 30 Brinell Hardness, sized 0.311", and lubed with a high-speed lube.

good luck, garrisonjoe

One quirk I ran into when working up a load for my Garand. Lee 170gr, PC, GC, sized .3095. H4895. Vertical stringing all but disappeared with 100% reliable cycling and good groups at about 36grs. But when I got away from the bench and shot off hand, I would get a few failures to pick up and chamber a round after ejection. Classic short cycling. The problem really raised it's head when I handed my rifle to a couple young men at the range. They were smaller in stature than me and I think that just added to the problem. To test my theory, I got down and shot prone and had them do the same and that got us back to 100% reliable cycling.
So the moral of my story is to test your loads away from the bench especially if you intend to hunt with your Garand. I settled in at 39.5 grs of H4895. This extra recoil gave me the reliability I needed, excellent groups, and still not a hint of leading.

Jacketed and 4895 are my recipe for clanging 400 yard steel

https://i.imgur.com/qcbUvbF.png

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

https://i.imgur.com/2DtTiQi.jpg

Before I gave my M1 to my son tried cast using the RCBS 308-165 SIL and IIRC somewhere in the area of 34-36 grs IMR 4064. Function was good and grouped about as well as M2 ball. Did have some leading on the oprod face and tiny flecks of lead in the gas cylinder, but it cleaned up easily.

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I get good action function and amazing accuracy on a very tight newish-CMP-build using their current Criterion barrel M1 with 38 grains of IMR 4895 and the Lyman 311291 boolit, making about 2050 FPS per QuickLoad.

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Just to give a "steel clanging" field report of this load. Held off 10 competitors in local military rifle match today while shooting this cast load against their jacketed loads. Only takes a bit more elevation to work with the military sights (sights set at about 375 yards for a 200 yard target array).

good luck, garrisonjoe

I have been shooting my M1 for about 5 years now. 1.5"-2" groups are average with its pet load.
34 grains of imr 4895
Rcbs 165 sil
CCI primer
100% function
When I first got my M1 I didn't have any 4895 but did have imr 4831.
Did some research on this site and found the bob s load
So I loaded 24 rounds up with
39 grains of 4831 with the Lyman 311299 and she shot great.
Boolits are sized to .311
What I noticed is the faster 4895 load cases ejected at the 3 o'clock position and the 4831 load at the 1 o'clock.
I got 2050 fps from the 4895 load.
Love the M1
In the winter I shoot 12 grains of red dot. Tilt the rifle and eject the empty into a box. Very accurate too.

Maybe I'm just lucky with my load (above, a 311291 at 2050 FPS with 4895), but it dumps all the brass into a pile 2 feet across at 6-8 feet out on the 4:30 o'clock. Very convenient at the range.

BTW - I did try the Lyman 311299 200 grain
and the NOE 30 Hunter 188 grain bullets

which are both wonderful from my original barrelled 1903 and 1903A3 Springfields. (Like, 1 MOA)

But the nose is so long and fat on those two slugs that the short throat of a new build Criterion barrel on my M1 captures the slug, engraving it hard and if a live round is ejected, it pulls the slug out of case.

Having a new 311299 design mold made up that reduces the nose diameter a couple thousandths, with the hope I can use that generally very accurate slug without having to crimp half-way up the nose, or having to do nose sizing steps.

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Originally Posted by garrisonjoe

Maybe I'm just lucky with my load (above, a 311291 at 2050 FPS with 4895), but it dumps all the brass into a pile 2 feet across at 6-8 feet out on the 4:30 o'clock. Very convenient at the range.

BTW - I did try the Lyman 311299 200 grain
and the NOE 30 Hunter 188 grain bullets

which are both wonderful from my original barrelled 1903 and 1903A3 Springfields. (Like, 1 MOA)

But the nose is so long and fat on those two slugs that the short throat of a new build Criterion barrel on my M1 captures the slug, engraving it hard and if a live round is ejected, it pulls the slug out of case.

Having a new 311299 design mold made up that reduces the nose diameter a couple thousandths, with the hope I can use that generally very accurate slug without having to crimp half-way up the nose, or having to do nose sizing steps.

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Is the new designed 311299 the Accurate 31-200L ?
He has sold over 50!

Thanks,
Henry