OT Need help reloading M1 Garand

[Bis]

For Christmas I gave my son my M1 and he loves it. I gave him about 60 rounds of 1941 ammo that he blew through.
He has a friend that reloads and he wants more ammo. He has bought brass but wants to get primers and bullets.
I seem to remeber that some one makes primers for mil. rounds that will not slam fire. I think it was CCI. Any help would be appreciated as to which primers to get.
Also what bullets will work well in the M1. The gun will be used for shooting rocks at 100+ yards. we are talking whats cheap and will give lots of fun.
Thanks for any help you can give.

[1886]

CCI-34??? I think. 147-150gr "pulls" if you can find them. If not, someone makes a less expensive ball projectile that would be fine for your stated purpose. Be sure to seek out info for loading the Garand. I do not and have not loaded for the Garand and there are specific loading parameters that are recommended. I believe the op. rod is in question. Someone will come along who can give you more specific information. 1886.

[Bis]

Thanks for the reply. I look forward to the other responses

[Hobie]

Reloading is one thing. CMP ammo another. IMR 4895 and 150 gr. FMJs plus CCI primers (34s but standard 200s will work, just seat them all correctly).

[piller]

IMR 4350 was once used by the government as the powder for the .30-06 in the Garand. I do not remember what grain weight bullets were used, but they were probably in the 150 grain to 165 grain range. Do not load the cartridges to the maximum as the Garand was not made for continued use of the highest pressure rounds.

[AJMD429]

I would immediately get that Garand and thoroughly CLEAN it, especially the chamber and the gas port/piston parts. That 1941 ammo may well have corrosive primers. I believe the FIRST step in cleaning that is actually a WATER-based cleaning (it takes water to dissolve the corrosive mercury salts). That can be followed by the 'usual' oil/solvent based cleaning.

I may be wrong about that ammo, but if so, he'll have a cleaner gun, and a good knowledge of the parts and so on.

...anyway...as to the 'ammo' issue, I'm sure some of the Garand shooters will pipe up with some recommended loads.

There are also Garand-shooters forums, but "Leverguns" is the best forum, even for Garand shooters...

[big bear]

Get Hornady Reloading Manual, 6th edition and probably newest edition have section on reloading for Garand. Maybe someone here can scan and send to you by email. I'm not techie enough for such things. Heed there info carefully or you risk wrecking your rifle or yourself! Get a case length gauge , check primer seating and keep chamber clean. have much fun.

[jnyork]

The 1941 ammo was about a 90% chance corrosive, get the rifle, strip it down and clean it NOW, doesn't take that stuff long to ruin a fine old rifle.

Good luck with your rock shooting.

[firefuzz]

My 7th ed. Cartridges of the World books show 50gr of IMR 4895 to be the standard load for M2 ball using 150gr FMJ bullets, which in some manuals is a max load. My pet load for Garands is 55gr of IMR 4831 behind a 150gr bullet, a very soft recoiling loads that's easy on old operating rods an pretty accurate too.

Rob

[Tycer]

I have a friend who ruined his Garand the first time out by not using water to clean his gun and another who buggered his by running heavy ammo though it, Federal 180 grain PowerShok IIRC. The one gun is a wall hanger and the other is running fine now with pulled 150 grain FMJ and 49.5 grains of 4895 and CCI 200s and Federal brass.

[AJMD429]

I have a friend who ruined his Garand the first time out by not using water to clean his gun and another who buggered his by running heavy ammo though it...

Get a Schuster's adjustable gas plug. The 4-port ones are more fine-tuneable, but some folks like the 2-port ones better since they look more 'authentic'.



"2-port Schuster's Adjustable Garand Gas-plug" MidwayUSA Product #: 412046

"4-port Schuster's Adjustable Garand Gas-plug" MidwayUSA Product #: 777146

[Thunder50]

Wideners for the bullets and 4895 powder from powder valley should do what you want. Wideners might have the powder, check prices

[Bis]

Thanks everyone. I can always count on this forum. I am trying to get my son to take the time to check out your site but his life is really hectic (sp?) so I have been emailing him the high lights. Thanks again.

[Charles]

"IMR 4350 was once used by the government as the powder for the .30-06 in the Garand."

No, no, no... 4350 was never used by the govt and it's use, is a certain way to ruin your rifle!!!!! The rifle was designed to work with port pressure within a narrow limit. 4350 is too slow and develops too much pressure at the port. It's use will screw up the operating rod in short order.

The govt powder was 4895. You can also use 3031 and 4064, but stay away from faster or slower powders than those listed. Be certain and full length size the cases and watch the case length as they tend to stretch in the Garand rifle.

47.5 grains of 4895/ 150 grain spire bullet, GI cases and an overall length of 3.340 will duplicate the M2 ball load. You can use a little more powder, but why? 47.5 is correct for the rifle and it's sights. Killed lots of Germans and Japs with that load.

You only need water to clean the barrel if the ammo was pre-1950 military ammo with corrosive primers. With non-corrosive primers and good bore solvent will do.

[Cast Bullet Hunter]

CHARLES IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, in every point. 4895 or others very close to the same burning rate only for a Garand.

The military load varied from 48-50 gr depending on powder lot. Military powders are not blended as are canister grade propellents, and they loaded to specific ballistic (velocity) requirements and used the charge that gave that velocity, which is ca. 2850 FPS. If you, or the person loading, have a chronograph, simply load with IMR 4895, 150 gr bullet, with whatever charge is needed to give an average velocity of 2820-2850 FPS, which should be somewhere in the 48-50 gr range. There is absoluely nothing wrong with the 47.5 gr. that Charles suggests.

Any powder with a slower burning rate than 4895 will give gas port pressures that are too high and can lead to damage to the rifle, in some cases severe damage! It will last practically forever if you stick to 4895.

[1894cfan]

"47.5 grains of 4895/ 150 grain spire bullet, GI cases and an overall length of 3.340 will duplicate the M2 ball load. You can use a little more powder, but why? 47.5 is correct for the rifle and it's sights. Killed lots of Germans and Japs with that load.

Thanks for that, Charles. I asked that question quite a while back (maybe on another site?) concerning an 03A3 and got the answer of 47gr IMR4895. Also use this same load in a May 1941 Win M70 chambered for 30 GOVT 06. Been using that load in whatever cases I have laying around in both bolt guns.

[model55]

I'd stick with bullets of 168 grain and lower.Also imr 4895 or imr 4064.You do not want powders that will damage your operating rod.Even at that, mid range loads would seem to be the way to go no need to hot rod.