Shooting commercial?

[garrettbragg12]

The guy I bought my first Garand from is a garand collector (owns about 85, plus a whole bunch of other goodies). When it got to the topic of ammo, he mentioned that if I couldn't get surplus ammo, that 150 grain commercial 30-06 is okay to use. Does this sound right? Or am I chancing damaging my rifle?


M1/M3 Carbine: late '44 Inland
M1 Garand: late '44 Springfield

Information

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[Sarge1998]

Probably not, but there are those who say why take the chance. Use the advanced search function of this forum and choose single content search, type shooting commercial ammo and choose the M1 Garand Forum. The results are too numerous for me to list, but you can read a lot of reply's and decide for yourself.

Myself I use only M2 surplus, some new manufacture, I save the commercial for my BAR.

[Bob Womack]

There is some new-manufacture Garand-specific ammo. It will be marked as Garand ammo, ie "30-06 Garand"



The issue is burn timing. Modern powders burn quicker than the spec for a Garand and the faster burn rate can throw off the timing of the Garand's semi-auto mechanism. You see,the stroke of a Garand involves several events that have a timing sequence to them. If the speed of the operating rod exceeds the speed the sequence was supposed to occur in, bad things happen such as a bent op rod. Some have had success by installing an adjustable gas plug with an adjustable valve that allows you to bleed off the excess energy from the shell so that the system is protected. The method is to open up the valve so that the rifle won't automatically cycle and then slowly close it down until the rifle just cycles. Unless you are willing to do this, the general consensus is that you should stick to surplus ammo, which is cheaper anyway.

Bob

[AKA Hugh Uno]

There is some new-manufacture Garand-specific ammo. It will be marked as Garand ammo, ie "30-06 Garand"

The issue is burn timing. Modern powders burn quicker than the spec for a Garand and the faster burn rate can throw off the timing of the Garand's semi-auto mechanism.

Bob

You have this backward. The issue is PORT PRESSURE and faster powders would result is LOWER gas port pressures. SOME of the "ULTRA" magnum "Super Performance" type stuff uses SLOWER powders which MIGHT increase port pressure.

If you simply follow the link supplied by emmagee1917 (below/above) and HERE: Shooting Commercial Ammunition in your M1 Garand which details Eric-C's extensive pressure testing at the GAS PORT, you will quickly discover that it is difficult to FIND much commercial that ISN'T Garand safe. In other words, the advice about 150 grain commercial was pretty good.

[emmagee1917]

Shooting Commercial Ammunition in your M1 Garand
Some extensive testing here . Main thing is to remember that ammo specs can change without notice .
Chris

[browningautorifle]

After ages of this conflict, I finally went ahead and bought an adjustable gas cylinder lock screw. Now I can set it to just cycle with whatever questionable ammo I use. And THAT with a 7.62...

[Ben Hartley]

...I finally went ahead and bought an adjustable gas cylinder lock screw.

Finally! Somebody came up with the proper nomenclature! Thanks, BAR.

Ben Hartley

[Col. Colt]

Lube the M1/M14 AS PER THE MANUAL with GREASE of an appropriate grade, keep fresh springs in the gun (every 2-3,000 rds) and you are unlikely to have problems. Jim Thompson, author of two M1 books, very experienced in building and shooting them - tested with about the most abusive round he could find - 220 gr. Winchester Bear loads - a case of them. No change in wear or damage - until he removed the grease and relubed with oil. Seized the gun in 7 shots. GREASE! CC

[browningautorifle]

I have used most everything over the years in my M1, but I'm not willing or able to replace a broken Op Rod if it happens. We just don't have stocks of them here. Some ammo, newer stuff like the light magnum, may well be over the impulse patterns acceptable in the M1. I'm not sure so I finally knuckled and bought a locally produced adjustable...well you know!

[lude92]

i just bought a adjustable gas plug it takes all the worry away