NEW Ammo in Garand

[mikelj]

I asked this question in an older Garand forum thread yesterday, but figured it might be better to ask in this one as a new thread. When I got my Garand a few months ago I knew very little about the gun other than its reputation and historical significance; so I bought some new 30-06 180 gr. ammo and fired a few clips without any problems other than having the clip pop out three times before getting the hang of it. (Go ahead and laugh at the newbie.)

Anyway, now I am aware that the Garand requires either surplus ammo or newer ammo made specifically for its gas system; some of which I have ordered from a local shop. My question is whether I'd be risking damage to the op rod by shooting the last two clips from the 180 gr. box?

Also, I hope to take some pics this weekend and post them as I would like some idea of what overall quality my rifle is.

Thanks in advance!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[garyc]

In 1926 the Army specd a 172 grain boat tail at about 2700 fps but difficluty in getting it to shoot in the Garand led them to go back to the 150 grain bullet at a reduced fps.

One of the newer reloading manuals ( I think it was Hornady) has a section specifically for the M1 Garand so if you can beg or borrow one you can check out the bullet wieghts and pressures they recommned for the rifle.

As I recall, the Spec for WWII 30-06 M2 Ball ammunition was a 150 Grain Spire Point flat base bullet at about 2640 FPS..

I have done handloads for the Garand and there is a little leeway but anything too far off the M2 ball Spec can result in feeding problems since the cartridge may not generate the right amount of pressure to either fully operate the action, or in the case of a hotter load generates too much pressure such that the action operates faster and with more force than the normal timing. The latter is the most dangerous. The Garand receiver is pretty strong but the return spring, operating piston and clip feed etc were designed to operate the action within the pressure levels of the M2 Ball Cartridge. Changes in the operation of action timing can cause problems like a bent operating rod, feed problems or worse.

You can check the specs on the cartdiges you have and see how close to the M2 pressure range they are. If they exceed it by much I would think twice about it. Assuming the cartridges you have left were very expensive and cost $1 per round one has to ask if $16 (two clips worth) is worth damaging the rifle. Op Rods are pretty expensive. Since it sounds like the first batch you shot worked ok you could chance it but it only takes 1 round to cause a problem.

I tend to be pretty conservative when it comes to loads in my Garands but thats just me. They came up with the M2 ball because the heavier bullets and pressures caused some problems with the Garand unlike the '03 which could digest a much wider variety of cartridges.

Thats my 2 cents worth , am sure you will get info from folks more knowledgable than myself.

G

[JBS]

I asked this question in an older Garand forum thread yesterday, but figured it might be better to ask in this one as a new thread. When I got my Garand a few months ago I knew very little about the gun other than its reputation and historical significance; so I bought some new 30-06 180 gr. ammo and fired a few clips without any problems other than having the clip pop out three times before getting the hang of it. (Go ahead and laugh at the newbie.)

Anyway, now I am aware that the Garand requires either surplus ammo or newer ammo made specifically for its gas system; some of which I have ordered from a local shop. My question is whether I'd be risking damage to the op rod by shooting the last two clips from the 180 gr. box?

Also, I hope to take some pics this weekend and post them as I would like some idea of what overall quality my rifle is.

Thanks in advance!

I would not subject the old girl to any more of that ammo.

[Pelago]

go the CMP forum, hornady makes a match grade 168 gr just for the M1, used at perry successfully, good ammo for the gun shot a 292/14X's with it last year


just match the specs on ball ammo, 2700 fps or so, and 165 gr bt sp 47 1/2 gr 4064 with the sp 165 works well, shot gold with it many times

[browningautorifle]

We have discussed this exact thing several times in the past year. Save time by going to the M1 section and looking back. It's all there.

[ballbags]

NO Damage as of YET? Keep shooting it sooner or later CATASTROPHIC FAILURE will HAPPEN

[AKA Hugh Uno]

actually ALL (100%) of the commercial 30.06 ammo I have tried in my Garands of over the years (I would guess about 10+ types of foreign and domestic ammo) seemed to shoot and function fine with normal ejection and nothing violent or strange. In fact, there is some commercial stuff that is absolutely SUPER.

In this category is Remigton Green Box and the South African stuff (Igman)d 150 grain soft point) Federal GMM etc.

Since you started to shoot the M1 just like HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of other owners who had never heard of this ammo/pressure issue and proceeded to shoot MILLIONS of rounds of the "wrong" ammo, don't worry about it too much. I think the better option is buy ONE box of anything you like. If the stuff doesn't sling out brass 40 feet and/or doesn't seem to lead to violent op-rod movement, shoot the rest and buy more if you like.

an additional caveat MIGHT be that you should likely stick to lighter bullet weights (150 grains).

[browningautorifle]

As I pointed out in the previous years discussions, we in Canada have no supply of ball ammo so most of the shooters use commercial. I agree that it should probably be standard velocity and 150 gr bullets but no other special care. I wouldn't use ultra velocity because of the extra heat. I've never even heard of a failure in an M1 rifle due to commercial ammo. And I do know a lot of U.S. collector/shooters.

[Swede]

I have some old .30 cal Match boxes of ammo that say 173gr at 2640fps. The only thing is I don't know if it is for an 03 or the Garand. I do know there are a lot of shooters using 170 - 180 gr bullets in their Garands.
I personally use only 150 & 168 gr bullets. 150 for most of my shooting and 168 for match.
So did 2 clips do damage to your rifle? I double it. Factory ammo is supposed to be okay to shoot in an auto. But I would stay with 150's.

[TDH]

If you go to any powder manufacturers web sight they will have loading data listed for the M1