OT: M1 Garand

[Dewight]

A M1 Garand has been on my wishlist for many years, but it has been down on the priority list. Finally ordered one from CMP this week. Been reading alot on forums dedicated to them and picked up a lot of information. With the wide range of knowledge, experience and expertise on this site I thought I'd inquire here about your experience and opinions on these icons of American history.

[Bullard4075]

Stick M1 Garand or Garand up there under "Search" and you will get a bunch of stuff.
It has been discussed here a number of times.
Welcome to the Garand club.
First rule, don't use any commercial ammo (except American Eagle -says right on the box "M1 Garand")
There is one other commercial brand rated for the Garand but I can't remember the name
right at this minute.
Commercial ammo can -and eventually will - break your operating rod.

[olyinaz]

There is one other commercial brand rated for the Garand but I can't remember the name right at this minute. Commercial ammo can -and eventually will - break your operating rod.

Hornady.

Remington makes a .30-06 FMJ round that I wish they'd just up and spec for the Garand. Heck, I can't imagine what else most of it is sold for! But in any case, American Eagle and Hornady are the two Garand specific loadings that come to mind, there may be more.

Best,
Oly

[damienph]

You should be able to buy ammo already in the 8 round clips from the CMP as well. Probably for less than the American Eagle brand, and definitely much less than the Hornady brand.

I still have some that I got back in 2000 or so; good stuff.

[pwl44m]

No safe should Be without one,Who else is gonna protect all those Safe Queens.

[Hook]

Order a keg of 4895 if you reload or a good supply of Greek ball from the CMP if you don't......then enjoy!

[olyinaz]

The Greek ball ammo is up to 50¢ a round now and the CMP warns about corrosion now too. When it was cheap I said sure, but now that it's not cheap I'm less inclined to get excited about it.

Oly

[M. M. Wright]

I load between 47 and 48 grains of 4895 behind a 165 grain Sierra. Be sure to back off and work up for your rifle. An old target load.

[AJMD429]

Commercial ammo can -and eventually will - break your operating rod.

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'. You can then use whatever ammo you want, and even set the gas flow low enough the gun becomes a 'straight-pull' bolt gun, which is good for range-bench use if you save your brass (or don't want to annoy your fellow shooters by bonking them in the head with brass).



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

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

[Dewight]

I've got 2 cans (384 rds.)of Greek ammo. I plan on pulling the bullets on some of them, replacing with appropriate weight Hornady and Sierras to make some Mexican Match ammo. Did that with some surplus 5.56 and it was some of the best shooting ammo ever in my AR. I also dump all the powder, clean the case, necks, average the charge weight for 10 rds. and recharge the case with weighed charges 1/10th of grain lighter. If they shhot significately better will do it to all of them. I'll reload the cases with 150-155 gr. bullets with H4895 powder.

[COSteve]

I've got a CMP service grade 1954 HRA M1 on the way right now for my son's 26th birthday. He's talked about getting an M1 Garand since he was in jr. high school. Here's hoping that it's a decent one. I'll post pictures when it gets here. In addition, I picked up 7 bandoliers Greek M2 ball (incl. en blocks) from a friend who sold his M1 to fund a NM M1A.

We've done each other favors so he let them go for what he had in them ($20 / bandolier). He also hooked me up with a guy he works with that had a 30cal ammo can full (300rds) of Greek 1980s vintage for $140 so I picked that up too. I figure that he'll have enough brass for me to start reloading 06 soon enough.

[2ndovc]

Don't know if it's still around but the Korea Arsenal (KA 73 headstamp) that I had was very accurate.

IMR 4895 and a 168 gr Sierra HP match bullet has been amazing.

I bought one of the Korean re-imports in the early '90s ( a Winchester) for $240.00.
Love that rifle! Darned good shooter and made me proud at Camp Perry when I did the CMP shoots.

Every time I get it out I want to run down to the beach and re-inact the D-Day landings!
"Dog Green exit, this way!"


jb

[damienph]

My CMP ammo is 1972 Lake City in the 8 round M1 Clips that I had left over from a CMP match around 2000. It is really good stuff, if you can find it.