REloads for the garands OAL

[mac1911]

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......

Information

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[Parashooter]

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.



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.

[mac1911]

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

[Parashooter]

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.

[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.

[mac1911]

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.

[ballbags]

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.

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

[mac1911]

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 ?

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.

[Parashooter]

Graf & Sons

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

[mac1911]

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