cast in the m1 garand

[redneckdan]

I've shot about 100rds of cast through my garand so far. Cleaned it today and found one tiny spot of lead on the gas piston and two tiny spots on the gas plug. I finally figured a load that cycled my garand action. 39 gr of pull down IMR 4895 under a lee 170gr I tried the recommended 36 grs and it would eject the brass but not strip the next round or eject the clip.

[Jack Stanley]

When I tried loading the Garand years ago . I remember heavier than what you would expect bullets worked pretty well . The only "heavy" I had was a 311334 .

No leading near the muzzle right ?

Jack

[redneckdan]

nope, no lead near the muzzle. I guess the gas port is in a position that is shaves a bit of lead when the boolit passes.

[Jack Stanley]

With mine I was able to increase the powder charge untill I got leading at the muzzle , at which point the accuracy went down . I was using a Lyman 311334 bullet .

Jack

[redneckdan]

i started with 34 grains of IMR 4895 and worked up to 36 on recommendation of the board. Ejection/feeding was spotty so I worked up to 40 grains and found the optimium charge of 39 grains. No idea on the velocity, it goes bang 8 times and then PING!!, without having to touch the op-rod....I'm happy.

[Patrick L]

How did your 4895 loads shoot ?

I could never get any kind of consistent accuracy with "typical" Garand powders (4895, 4064, etc.) and cast bullets.

I found that I needed to use the Bob S loads, with lighter charges of slower powders, normally considered too slow for a Garand.

[Keith429421]

I'm in on the group buy http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=7786

Think I could use this bullet for some loads for my M1 using 4895?
Any recommendations on starting load?
Thanks,
Danny

[PatMarlin]

I wish I had a Garand..

[redneckdan]

better get your butt in gear before CMP runs out. They claim that they just recieved their last shipment of 1903s, garands won't be far behind. I'm predicting 2-3 years.

[redneckdan]

I was grouping about 3/4"-1" at 25ds with the cast loads, prone with no sling.

[Jack Stanley]

I wish I had a Garand..

Don't wait untill you have to pay nine hundred bucks on the scalpers market for a worn out fix it grade . After watching them for several years , the only thing that's gonna stop the price going up is the collapse of the dollar .

Jack

[Blackknight]

Hello redneck,
I have been shooting cast in our monthly M1 matches for about two years now and have probably won more than half of them. Don't think I have ever been lower than second place (knock on wood), but that is subject to change as I turned 70 this summer.

I don't think you said what your goal is for your shooting but I will give you what I have found with what we do, which is 100 yard bench shooting with either mag or single loading.

I use 28 gr. of IMR 4064 powder with a 311284 bullet water quenched from the mold, and a CCI 34 primer. This load is shot single loaded with the muzzle raised before the shot is taken. This is the most accurate way for me to shoot targets as it eliminates the variable pressure on the bolt from the rounds in the mag.

I have shot with the mag but the group will open a little. This requires a filler over the powder to give 100% density, and for that the 28 gr. powder charge has to be reduced about 3 grains. I don't have all of the details for OAL and such at hand but will get them if you are interested. My best 10 shot group as been right at 2 inches with the average closer to 2.7, the recoil is mild and I haven't cleaned the barrel since I settled on the above load. The sight elevation for a low six o'clock hold on the reduced 300 yard target is 35 clicks from bottom.

I don't know just how close this load will shoot, but when I am having a good day it will put them in the 10 ring.

Regards,

Bob

[PatMarlin]

Missed out on a beautiful winchester last year..

[Jack Stanley]

Pat , a key for this is to have cash in hand for opportunities like this . Don't spend it on nuthin' but a Garand .

Jack

[PatMarlin]

I know... but you autta see my last three gun purchases. Hard to pass up, and I've got to recover..