Reloading M1 Garand with Hornady .308 150g FMJ

[Der Jagar]

Hello to Forum. Searched the back pages with no result, I'm looking for input for reloading my M1 Garand 30/06 with Hornady's 30 caliber .308 150 grain FMF-BT. I've reviewed Hornady's info in their latest reloading book and have seen some bits and pieces about reloading with the bullet on the web. Several online reloading business's offer pretty good sale prices on 500 plus bulk purchases, making reloading per round a good deal vs buying ammo or other bullets. (I've been reloading since '76, so not new to the process) Anyway, I've read several posts that indicate that when using the Hornady bullet for reloading the 06 in the Garand, that if the bullet is seated/crimped on the bullets cannalure, it is a little short of the needed COL needed for the good accuracy in the Garand. Several indicate seating the bullet under the cannalure. What say any of you who have experience with Hornadys 150 grain FMJ in the Garand.

Information

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[no4mk1t]

Haven't loaded the Hornady 150, but I've shot a bunch of the Sierra and Nosler 155's. Buy them by the thousand, which saves over buying 100 at a time.

Just because a bullet has a cannelure, it doesn't mean you have to use it. I seat the 155 to 3.30" and they shoot very well. Good enough to win some trinkets at the annual Rifleman's Weekend M1 match.
A good M1 can shoot 2MOA when properly tuned. The ammo is only a part of the equation.

[browningautorifle]

Hornady's 30 caliber .308 150 grain FMF-BT.

I've shot lots and have some on hand now matter of fact. They work well enough for ball loading but I wouldn't thing they're match spec at all...I imaging they'll outshoot me but they won't be match grade... You seat them to whatever OAL you need.

[Sunray]

"...wouldn't think they're match spec..." Nope. Not even mentioned on Hornady's site any more. However, any 150 grain data will do. Load 'em to 3.340" to about 2800 fps, if you're looking to be close to .30 M2 ammo, and forget about the cannelure altogether. The cannelure is there for no apparent reason.

[Der Jagar]

I have a good supply of the Hornady 150 fmj on hand for reloading some of my bolt action military 30/06's and am just beginning to reload for the Garand, having shot a good portion of the PPU M1 Garand 150 gr 06's I bought after getting the Garand. I did load up 100 rds using H4895, IMR4064, and H-Varget using the Horn 150 fmj using three different powder grain weights of each powder to see what powder weight gave me the best accuracy. Haven't shot them yet as my North Iowa winter weather hasn't given a good day to do it, but was wondering about the shorter COL.

I've no problem raising the bullet seating depth (not crimping on cannelure), but was wondering if raising the bullet higher in the neck would affect anything, in other words would the bullet be seated to high in the neck affecting pressure and/or accuracy. Seating the bullet on the cannelure resulted in a COL of around 3.225" if I recall. The PPU 150 gr. ammo was approx. 3.325". I always strive for the best accuracy possible, but as with all of my military rifles, shooting a lot of it offhand, if I get "minute of milk jug" accuracy with no rest and get a hand covering group using a rest, I'm happy. The guns combat accuracy was around that I assume. A 2MOA or less group would be fine and I'll always strive for it, but I know the guns and my limitations.

Wondering also----those of you who do not seat on the cannelure or use a bullet with none, do you use any crimp on the 06 ammo for firing in the semiauto Garand. Reloading my AR and Mini-14 223 ammo I do, but don't for a 250 Savage bolt Ruger M77, nor do I for my various bolt action military rifles. From a lot of what I've read on reloading rifle ammo for a semiauto, a crimp is suggested, but with all things, there can be exceptions. Thanks for the previous replies.

[browningautorifle]

do you use any crimp on the 06 ammo for firing in the semiauto Garand

I've used lots of bullets without crimp groove and had no problem.

[Der Jagar]

To those who seat bullets without a cannelure/crimp groove or don't use one on a bullet with one, do you have any problem with bullet creep when firing OR do use put a slight crimp on the brass/bullet?

[Bruce McAskill]

I have not had a problem with bullets moving in a case when firing as long as it's a good fit in the case. But I have had much better accuracy in a 30-06 using a 150 gr flat based bullet. The boat tail takes away just enough length to not let the bullet stabilize 100%. Groups in general are bigger. Using a heavier bullet that is boat tailed is OK as the length of the bullet allows it to be more stable and one gets better groups. But in the 150 gr class the flat base is better. Also try to load it to about 2700 fps which is the true velocity of M2 ball ammo. Commercial soft point bullets are even better for accuracy.

[Jonzie]

I load for my Garands using the hornady 150s and seat to the cannelure but as mentioned
you dont have to. I prefer to use a light crimp but know others who dont and have no problems and they shoot M1s, M1As.

[browningautorifle]

Commercial soft point bullets are even better for accuracy.

Agreed, I once weighed 600 FMJs to find 55 that were correctish in weight. I loaded them carefully and only got pieplate accuracy. I then used some soft point bullets that were just thrown together with average care and they grouped on top of each other. They far outshot the FMJ...