Reloading recipes

Made my introduction to this forum and am now ready to work up some reloaded ammo. Right now I will be using new Rem. cases with CCI 34 primers behind a starting load of IMR 4895 with a Hornady 150 grn. flat base bullet. Of course this will be for my M1. This seems to be the standard starting spot. I will probably start with 45.5 grns. of powder unless there are other recommendations. If someone can either hook me up with already existing forum discussions or direct me further on the forum it will be greatly appreciated.

You folks already have proven this is the place for M1 info and expertise. I am worried now that I will be making a trip in the future to Anniston, Ala. for more than I can probably afford.

My suggestion would be start there but only load a couple clips worth. See if it will cycle your rifle. If not then you only have a few to pull back down. Go up a half grain at a time until you find your optimum load.

After reading through the forum pages I certainly agree that I may be starting a bit low and your advice is well taken. Just want to be a bit conservative since there is a lot to learn about this autoloader type of rifle. Will report back on progress after powder and primers arrive hopefully next week.

As a good friend of mine keeps telling me loading for pistols is fairly easy. Loading for the rifle is a can of worms. different bullet weights and different powders and different weight charges will all effect it. Sometimes as little as a half grain of powder will get you a perfect load. This powder will do this and that powder will do a little worse and that powder a little better. I tested a new bullet in my AK last week. They grouped 5 shots at just under 2 1/2" at 24 grains of IMR 4895 at 23.5 and 24.5 they opened up to almost 5". I would suggest possibly starting at 47 grain for your M1 and work up some loads going up and down a half grain at a time and then head for the range. Good luck and good shooting.

Oh and never exceed max loading data which for I 4895 I beleive is 51 grains.

I agree with starting at 47 grns. of 4895 and working up in 1/2 grn. increments. I plan on loading 2 clips each at 46.5, 47.0, 47.5 for my first outing. Waiting for powder and primers is the tough part.

A picture is worth 1000 words.............

Below, Standard Military Ball M2 loading, 50 grains IMR-4895 with 150 grain bullet. ;)

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...03loads4-1.jpg

Below from "Handloader Magazine"

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...03loads2-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...03loads3-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../03loads-1.jpg

NOTE: DO NOT use IMR-4350 or other slow burning powders of this burning rate or slower in a M1 Garand, you will bend the operating rod and damage your M1 with "*high gas port pressure". (*Not the same as high chamber pressure)

Thank you very much Ed. I will be studying this for a while. I am feeling more reassured that my first range session will be very enjoyable. Thanks again.

Very impressive charts there with a lot of info for all of us.

I don't gotta open up my fat mouth at all!

Well, I just received my shipment of powder and primers and was excited to get started reloading for the Garand. No such luck. Half the primers were not there and the ones that were there are the wrong ones. Just got off the phone with the supplier and hopefully the correct ones are on their way. Garanditis is an affliction that only range time can cure. My Garand needs its medicine now. Oh, well.

Finally got all powder and primers in. I decided to start with 46 grains of IMR 4895 then 46.5 and 47 grains. Plan on being at the range this coming weekend and will report back on progress. Also have ordered an adjustable gas bloc which will be here this week. Now first to get on paper then see if I can get respectable groups with these old eyes. Any other advice will be greatly appreciated.

Finally got to the range. Fired the 150 grn Hornadys with 46 grns IMR 4895, CCI 34 primers. Was on target with the first shot (8" X 11.5"). Had to adjust 2 inches left. My first groups pretty bad 3-8 inches. Rifle shoots a lot better than me. Will try different loads and try to concentrate on my breathing and trigger squeezing in the months to come. Totally pleased with this rifle and lookforward to scouring this board for all of the advice and information about the M1. Thanks to Ed,Smellie and TDH for all your help.

Dennis

Finally got to the range this past Sat. Fired 24 rounds at 100 yds using 46 grns IMR 4895, CCI #34 primers, Hornady 150 grn flat base spirepoints and Rem. brass. Groups were 3-8 inches. Rifle shoots better than I do. Totally pleased with my first outing with this M1 and will now be trying to refine my shooting before trying my other handloads. Thanks again to Ed, smellie and TDH.

Cald you are welcome. I ended up at the North Store during the National matches and had an H&R 5 mil serial number follow me home. The ticket said Muzzel 1 and Throat 2. The next day I took it to the range. The only one that didn't have an activity going on was the 200 so I adjusted my sights up and let it fly. The target was a man sized silouette with a 12" shoot'n'c over the ten ring. The first clip I either shot high or low. So I went a click up and held just below the bottom of the S'n'C. By the 5th clip I was keeping most of them in the low left quarter of the S'n'c. Definatley in the realm of minute of bad guy. At least for my tired old almost 60 year old eyes. Later at 50 the last 2 clips were within 3" That's a golden west 150 grain bullet pushed by 47 grains of IMR 4895. It's also a great load for my Smith 03A3.

TDH, great shooting. My next loading session is to load up some 47 grain loads then get to the range to spend some real qualithy time to dial in. Yeah, funny how certain things "follow you home". That's one fine H&R you got there. Definitely an inventory keeper. By the way, how do you feel about the 150 grain bullet versus other weights since I do not presently expect to load any other weight or should I give a try?

Dennis

Your next session of load development try the following at the range. Double bag the Garand. One bag under buttstock. Front bag one to two inches in front of trigger group plate. Do not put a bag under or in contact with the front hand guard section. Completely remove the sing from the rifle if one is installed. Do not force the rifle down into the bags while you fire. Then shoot five round group for size. On some rifles you need to disregard the first shot as it was not loaded by the rifles full function cycle and it may be way out side the group you will get from rounds 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. problems like this can be corrected later after you have found a load the rifle likes. Good luck.

JBS, thanks for the recommendation on setting up. It makes sense not to place a bag under the forward handguard. I also learned something about the chambering of the first round. Never had given that a consideration. Appreciate your response. Saw you were in Texas, I'm down here in Victoria.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by caldweda

JBS, thanks for the recommendation on setting up. It makes sense not to place a bag under the forward handguard. I also learned something about the chambering of the first round. Never had given that a consideration. Appreciate your response. Saw you were in Texas, I'm down here in Victoria.

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Thats all we need, another Lone Star beer drinker........................

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMGP2800-1.jpg

Yuengling Beer, the oldest brewery in the United States. :thup:

Here I am in the very early hours before going to work and you send a great photo that just makes me thirsty. Oh, by the way, some of us down here are hooked on Shiner Bock. Great dark beer. Enfields are certainly OK also. My brother restored one he picked up in Columbia years ago.

Calweda, I am late in getting to this thread, but you might invest in the #7 Edition of the Hornady loading manual. There is a section dedicated to the M1 Garand that I have found most useful. Likewise, this information is also included in the older #6th Edition, and can be found used at gun shows, or perhaps on Amazon. I have been using Hodgdon H4895 with the Hornady 155 gr AMAX match bullet for the JCG Memorial Matches at Ft. Knox, KY, for years with remarkable success. Have you had a chance to measure the dimensions of your particular barrel in regards to Throat Erosion, and Muzzle Wear? This may have no bearing on the potential accuracy one could expect from these fine War Fighting Rifles, but good specs certainly couldn't hurt. Like you, my earliest efforts with the M1 were hampered by the "Wingnut" behind the trigger. With a bit of mentorship from the KYR&PA and Meade Co. Sportsman's Club during the M1 Garand Clinic at Scott Mountain Known Distance Range at Ft. Knox, I can count on at least scaring the hell out of the ten ring at 200 yds.
+1 on Garanditis and its effects on the wallet; I only wanted one to shoot informally, but now I have many, and have even gotten into building one up with a Criterion barrel. It shoots at least as well as my best LMR barreled IHC, and now I do not worry about wearing out a potentially collectable one.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Shiner for shipping their tasty Oktoberfest edition of their spectacular libation for us here in the Bluegrass State.:beerchug:

GrD,
Great to know you are able to get our home grown brew in your neck of the woods. I was able to put a few rounds downrange this past weekend. I sandbagged like JBS instructed and my goups were much better (avg-4 inches). This was using 46 grns IMR 4895 and 150 grn Hornady FMJBT. I'll start scouting for the 6th & 7th edition manuals. By the way my rifle is a restoration with an 11/44 receiver and HR bolt behind a new criterion barrel. It will probably be a while before I possess a more "correct" Garand but this one will surely help me develop a suitable load as well as the practiced shooting technique before I move on to the poor house after spending my retirement funds on more Garand goodies. Right now I need to load up some more rounds at different powder weights and pick up some A-Max bullets. I was in the local shop last week and should have picked some up.

Well Howdy Caldweda!
KY is known for its fine Bourbons, but sadly lacking in the Barley-Pop original selection. We rely on quality imports from the New Belgium Brewing Co., Mendocino County, Lagunitas Brewing Co., and Alaska Brewing Co. to send "PROPER" brews for us to enjoy here. Sad, but true fact of life here in the Beautiful State of KY. I am eternally grateful for the benevolence of the Great State of Texas for sharing the Shiner legacy of fine brews for those here of more discriminating palate. We would be poorer for its absence here!
If you can not locate a copy of the latest Hornady manual, let me know and I will provide you with at least a hard copy of the data available in the Hornady Manual I have. Might even let you have a few of the 155 AMAX bullets to play with before you commit to a large purchase of said bullets.
As I said earlier, I hope I have been of some assistance.:cheers:
Cheers,
Got-R-Did.