REloads for the garands OAL

I purchased some hornady .308 FMJBT bullets. In the load data book it has them listed @ 3.185 COL......now my question is. I built a poormans OAL length guage. Loos fitting bullet in a sized case and installed it in the chamber, slowly applied the bolt until it locked. Removed the cartridge.
OAL lenth was 3.335. I did not see and noticable land/groove marks on the bullet.....

Is the over all length to fit the chamber a concern for garand reloading. How much jump is there to the garand rifleing even when you load to the max COL.

For now I have loaded my test loads as per hornady reload data for the garand

HXP 1969 case
hornady 150g FMJBT
Powder Varget loaded to the minimum of 42.2
CCI 34 primer
very lightly crimped.

With the cases trimmed to the 2.484 trim length the crimp ring on the bullet rest about 1/2 way
on the crimp ring.
with the home made AOL guage and then set back as manual says for auto loaders. the crimp ring sits high above the case mouth......

If you're content with single-loading, you can seat to whatever length floats your boat - but if you want to feed from the magazine, you are limited to not much more than the standard length of 3.34", although reasonably shorter generally functions fine in M1's.

The 3.185" length listed in your data book is specific for that particular bullet, which was undoubtedly designed for the 7.62 NATO cartridge and not really intended to be seated out for the .30/06 cartridge.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../11/3037-1.jpg

Does it look like this? If so, you will have very little bearing surface inside the neck when you seat it out to normal '06 length. Consequently, you will have loaded rounds where the bullet isn't held very firmly and may not perform well. You are better off seating it to the recommended depth, giving normal neck tension and allowing a light crimp in the cannelure (that's the accepted technical term for "crimp ring") if desired.

This business of trying to seat bullets out near the lands is fine for heavy-barrel precision rifles, but much less important in a vintage battle rifle that isn't going to be shooting many 1/2 MOA groups no matter how you load it. Furthermore, that particular bullet design isn't the best choice for precision shooting anyway, though it's fine for plinking, practice, and low-level vintage competition out to 200 yards. When you need to get the maximum possible accuracy from your M1, choose a match-grade HPBT bullet design long enough to be seated to 3.34" and still have at least 1/4 inch of bearing surface inside the neck.

this is all that was available to me @ this time. Most venders wont send even bullets to massachusetts.
Locally there is not much for reloading supplies. I have tried many local dealers and they just really do not seem intrested. I am guessing there is not much mark up in the bullet retail business. I have considered some of the bulk 147 grain bullets that seem to be out there.
My shooting will 97% of the time be 100 yards, other than some braging rights no compititions yet. Im just new to reloading for rilfe. I know you can buy surplus from the CMP but knowing I can roll my own is a plus when needed. My current cost with the primers, powder, bullets I use come right in @ 50ish cents each depending on the powder charge. Thats about what CMP offers.

I hope to find a source of bulk bullets that will give me the correct COL for 30-06 M2 ball. With only shooting 100y I cant justify spending to much on match bullets as the accuracy is (in my mind of thinking) not much better @ <200yards

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../11/mbm2-1.jpg

Have you tried Widener's? See http://wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8979&dir=278|281|727 for this bullet made to replicate M2 ball. Maybe they'll ship to Mass.

I recently purchased a 1000 vaccume pulled 147 grain bullets that should work for you. No cannalure. I would bump your load up to 47 grains of powder though. That's about midway through your powder range. That 1000 cost me $120 and I get decent accuracy out to 200. I'm sure the rifle shoots better than I do. Oh and if possible buy your powder by the 8 pound jug. You basically get about 3 pounds free.

right now Im working with what is available locally......8lb jugs only if its clays or reddot. Let alone any selection. Heck I had to order primers and only got 1000. Very frustrateing.
Im new to reloading for rifle so I did as the manual says and started my load on the low side.
I have a few pounds of varget to use up then I will move on to the IMR4895 that I have 1lb of. Meantime im looking for powder and primers with out paying shipping and hazmat which puts a damper on cost. Right now I am @ 50ish cents per round with current prices I paid for powder,primers,bullets,cases.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TDH

I recently purchased a 1000 vaccume pulled 147 grain bullets that should work for you. No cannalure. I would bump your load up to 47 grains of powder though. That's about midway through your powder range. That 1000 cost me $120 and I get decent accuracy out to 200. I'm sure the rifle shoots better than I do. Oh and if possible buy your powder by the 8 pound jug. You basically get about 3 pounds free.

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Would ? Could you please tell us where you got them ???

Are these new production? The cannelure seems more like a old crimp line, just the image maybe? what is the over all length of the projectile?

I have considered the 147 grain pull downs also, what are the over all lenth of those projectiles ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Parashooter

http://wideners.com/images/fulls/mbm2.jpg

Have you tried Widener's? See http://wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8979&dir=278|281|727 for this bullet made to replicate M2 ball. Maybe they'll ship to Mass.

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Graf & Sons
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...b30mc150-1.jpg
PRVI BULLET 30cal (.308) 150gr FMJ 100/BAG
Our Price: $16.99 Out of stock
Item #: PPB30MC150

The Widener's "M2" bullets appear identical to the Prvi Partizan bullet of the same weight from Graf's. They are new production. The cannelure style is common in European bullets and doesn't indicate previous use. Here's a picture of a 100-yard group with these from a K31 (GP11 military round shown for ogive comparison).

Attachment 16886

wideners just confirmed these are serbian manufacture..........

Mac..... The overall length is 1.140. Powder is suppose to have 1600 grains per pound or so a good friend of mine tells me. Even at that with 47 grains of powder a pound goes quickly. I'm making them for about 35 cents a round. You don't say where you are located so I would suggest a large outdoor sports store near you or call the small gun shops in your area. Some of them are fairly well stocked in reloading supplies or may order them for you. And those Privi bullets have a very good reputation. Oh and when it comes to reloading for the rifle it will be a very intresting journey



Ball bags

Grindels Sales
Grindel Ammunition

If you run a search you will find dozens of sites that offer .30 that maybe near you. Bulk is usually a lot cheaper.

Im in massachusetts, locally the selection sucks on powder and bullets. @ the current prices I paid and grains used im @ .53 per load. I way over paid for the bullets I currently have compared to other sources. Its a long drive to any BIG store so the drive is about equal to shipping expenses.

I shot my 1st 60 rounds today. Beat my last score...........All 60 went bang and cycled with out issues. As far as acurracy? I had a lot more in the black and bit tighter groups than anything before but my trigger finger,eyes and concertration went out the window @ about the 32nd round. Im still horrible @ rapid fire.

Seat any bullet you shoot through that only to mag length. You never seat to the lands on a Garand or M14. Slam fire risk, you don't want to blow up your gun. Don't shoot anything heavier than a 175gr Sierra Matchking either. Riley's in Hooksett NH, take a ride they'll have what you need.

Tom

I went to the gun show in holbrook massachusetts "PRAYING" to find some bullets................nope a few boxes of some heavy 185g sierra bullets which he wanted 29.00 for 50?
No bulk bullets at all. Well they had a few guys with some cast bullets that seemed like good prices.

Jeff Bartlett sells surplus bullets and brass via mail order. Search his name it will come up. Bass Pro Shops down by Gillette Stadium had a good selection of bullets too, Kittery is hit or miss, usually miss, Riley's is good and may have bulk 147-150gr FMJ, call them. If not you'll have to mail order them. Check Powder Valley, Wideners, Natchez, or search bulk bullets. Midway USA definately will have them but you'll probably have to ship them to a friend in NH or ME. Winchester and Hornady are real good for bulk.

Tom

I will keep searching

BARTLETTS RELOADING: 150gr FMJ Lake City Pulldown from M2 Ball non magnetic $160 per thousand.

Tom