Reloading for the M1 Garand w/ 168 gr pills

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03-08-2009, 12:06 AM
Bayou

Reloading for the M1 Garand w/ 168 gr pills

Just registered and wanted to say Hi and ask a reloading question for the M1 Garand. I made a deal with a buddy to buy his M1 Garand which I should be picking up next weekend. I always wanted one of these and now I'm finally getting one :dancingbanana:.

I'm a reloader and want to reload for this rifle. I have plenty of 168 gr Nosler match and 168 gr Hornady A-Max bullets handy so I'd like to use them. I'll probably go with IMR4064 powder, Win brass and, WLR primers.

The question I have is can I start off using published start loads for bolt guns with this combination or is there special load data for the Garand because of its unique operating system?

Second question will I need to get an adjustable gas plug for the above load recipe and how do I set that up if needed.

I'm a total newbie with the M1 Garand so I could use some advice.

Thanks!
03-08-2009, 05:38 AM
Gun Surfer

IMR 4064 is by most accounts a fine powder for .30-06 in M1 Garand. A little slower than the "ideal" powder IMR 4895, some think IMR 4064 is superior.

You have to be careful of the slow powders, like IMR 4350, as they are indeed fine for bolt guns, but not suitable for the Garand gas system. You should get an adjustable gas plug if you want to use them.

I have found Sierra 168, Hornady 168, and Nosler 168 HPBT bullets all work well in M1 and M1A (at least in mine) for std bullet seating depths. The A-MAX bullet is very accurate, but it is long and likely should be reserved for slow fire / single shot work. Be mindful of bullet seating depths vs throat length to rifling etc.

Hodgdon Powder Co. has reloading data on line that shows IMR 4064 for 168 Hornady HPBT between 47 and 50 gr loads. I have use 48 gr loads with good accuracy in my M1 with Hornady 168 HPBT.

(Do not rely on internet data alone, check with a good loading manual and load with usual precautions.)
03-08-2009, 10:40 AM
slamfire1

My personal favorite load with the M1 Garand is a 168 Match (any brand) 47.0 grs IMR 4895, any case, CC#34, OAL LT 3.30”

AA2495 gives identical results, and when it was cheaper, I used kegs of it.

I conducted testing of IMR 4064. IMR 4064 is an excellent powder, but it is the slowest I would use in a Garand. It is also long grained so it does not throw as well as IMR 4895/AA2495/H4895.

I would use a charge not to exceed 48.0 grains with a 168. My chronograph data, including data from a 26” match barrel, is below.

Quote:

Second question will I need to get an adjustable gas plug for the above load recipe and how do I set that up if needed.

My loads are totally appropriate with the Garand gas system. If you shoot commerical ammunition with its too high of port pressures, and too slow powders, then you will need to consider an adjustable gas cylinder lock screw. However, if you roll your own, use IMR 4895/AA24956/H4895/AA2520 (a ball powder), use proper loads, you will not need to mess with an aftermarket lock screw.

Code:

M1 Garand Douglas Barrel 1:10 twist 168 Sierra Match 47.0 grs AA2495 wtd WLR FC Cases OAL 3.30" 5 May 00 T = 82 ° F Ave Vel = 2632 Std Dev = 16 ES = 50 Low = 2616 High = 2666 N = 10 168 gr Sierra Match 48.0 IMR 4064 wtd LC66NM WLR OAL 3.30" 5 May 00 T = 82 ° F Ave Vel = 2594 Std Dev = 18 ES = 38 Low = 2575 High = 2613 N = 5 M98 26" 1-10 Wilson Barrel 168 gr Sierra Match 48.0 IMR 4064 wtd LC66NM WLR OAL 3.30" 5 May 00 T=82°F Ave Vel = 2653 Std Dev = 9 ES = 27 Low = 2645 High = 2672 N = 9 150 gr FMJBT TW 56 Ball 24 Mar 04 T= 70 ° F Ave Vel = 2680 Std Dev = 31 ES = 78 Low = 2620 High = 2698 N = 6
03-08-2009, 11:49 AM
Bayou

Great information Guys, Thanks!
02-10-2011, 12:00 AM
sevenfingers2001

two of my favorites

The M1 Garand can be finicky and should you use the wrong powder you could bend your operating rod.
One of my favorite loads was 46.3 gr. of AA2520 with a 168 gr. Sierra HPBT Matchking, and a CCI 200 primer. You can also use a WLR primer and achieve similar results.
I shot groups as small as .640" @ 100 yards.
02-10-2011, 11:37 AM
Kirk

Garands were designed around IMR 4895. Powders with a significantly slower burn rate (slower than 4064, as noted above) may damage your op rod & rifle. Any powder with a burning rate similar to IMR 4895 can be used. Alternates include H 4895, Varget, AA 2495 and others.

The 168 gr bullets often give superior accuracy in most Grands. Wideners sell the Prvi 168 gr BTHP bullet (gives me sub-MOA accuracy in a bolt action) http://www.wideners.com/itemview.cfm...ir=278|281|727
02-10-2011, 02:22 PM
brownie

my Garand likes 168gr Sierra SPBT AND 47grs of 4064. shoots real well at 200yd targets.
02-19-2011, 09:48 PM
mac1911

There is a older article out here on the web.......Reloading for the Garand and also Reloading for the semi auto both have some good info and data. Try google as I have lost the links.
Hornady 7th manual has some Garand specific data. If you email or call hornady they will mail you a copy of the 2 pages.
02-24-2011, 08:24 PM
PAshutr3

Quote:

My personal favorite load with the M1 Garand is a 168 Match (any brand) 47.0 grs IMR 4895, any case, CC#34, OAL LT 3.30”

This load has been extremely accurate as well in my 55 H&R M1. According to the Hornady Manual which has a M1 Garand specific load data section, this is very close to a max load; max being 47.1gns of IMR 4895
03-02-2011, 11:56 AM
mac1911

I will add the Varget has become my powder of choice. I have shot my best groups and most consistant scores with it. I also like the fact that it just seems to burn much cleaner. Less soot on the cases, barrel only takes a few patches to come clean compared to 4895.
My load comes from the hornady 7th manual
I started with the minimum and been working my way up in .5gn segments. 46 grains seems to be the sweet load for my garand.
03-18-2011, 09:05 PM
slamfire1

My load of 168 Match, 47.0 grains IMR 4895, RA 54 cases, CCI #34 on various 100 yard reduced targets, all fired in competition.

This one in Dec 2010. For the day, I shot a 483, which is very good with a Garand. This prone target is not my highest score, but the nice group in the middle shows the accuracy potential of this load.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4Dec2010-1.jpg
Another year and another good 20 round SF prone group:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dSFProne-1.jpg

When the weather is cool, but not freezing, our club will shoot 80 rounds instead of 50 on the 100 yard reduced course. I am proud of the 199-6X sitting rapid fire target. While it does not really show the excellent accuracy of the load, it shows you can shoot a HM score in the rapids.

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

20 rounds prone SF, 200 yards on the 5V target. My Club found a supply and shot vintage matches on the thing. What a hoot! That target was the target used at the National Matches during the 50's and 60's. Shoot a "4" and you may still win. Shoot two "4"'s and you might place in the upper ten, shoot three "4's" and you will be way down the list.

Matches were often determined by V count.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...Nosler47-1.jpg
04-26-2011, 08:17 AM
gulliver62

I have had very good luck with the Nosler CC 155 to lighten the recoil just a bit (some of the guys on the Garand line have gone as lower in weight). I have been using between 47 and 48g of 4895 depending on the rifle.
07-26-2011, 03:55 PM
Jumong

NRA M1 Garand load data hosted at Master Po's website. All the loads listed are safe for the Garand and some duplicate M2 Ball and the M72 Match .
http://web.archive.org/web/200006200...rpo/M1load.htm
As others have stated; IMR 4895 is perfect. IMR 4064 and Varget are quite popular. I like 168 Noslers with 46 grains of IMR 4895 in LC cases.
07-26-2011, 04:06 PM
Jumong

My M1 and M1a don't like the 155 Palma bullets. An older High Master on our range routinely shot 125 grain hunting bullets to lessen recoil on reduced courses, saving the 168 Match bullets for full courses. I've never asked him for his load data as I started shooting an AR a couple of years ago.
09-08-2011, 10:16 PM
colt100

My garands like IMR 4064 better then any other powder I have tried. I just got done working up loads with 168 noslers and 155 noslers with CCI primers. My rifle likes the 168's better then the 155's and I got about an inch tighter group with the 168s then the 155's. IIRC, my best load was 47 gr IMR 4064 with the 168's but I am out of town right now so don't have my info with me. This load was about 50 FPS slower then mil spec so it's right in the ball park. In fact, the same rifle grouped the 155's best about 50 fps back from mil spec.

I havn't tried the VV powders in the garand and want to try some to see if I can get the groups down some more. My 168 load was right about 2.5 MOA (8-shots) with irons and a CMP service grade garand. I hope to get a load down to 1.5 MOA.