M1 Garand reloading?

Cutleryotehunter

Cutleryotehunter

New member
My friend and I got drawn for a Maine Bull Moose permit this year again and I am his alternate shooter. I have decided that I am going to use my May of 1945 Garand for the hunt. I have one quick and simple question for those of you whom reload for this excellent rife. Do you crimp or do you not crimp?
 
I think its nice that you chose to use you M1 for this hunt.

I would load 165 Hornady SST grain bullets with H4895 powder and crimp if you want to (I would). Check your sights, at the 100 yard setting. Good luck.
 
For the most part I do crimp all my Garand ammo. I have experimented with ammo that was not crimped and never had a failure, but I still feel better crimping.
John
 
I reloaded and shot lots of rounds in NRA and CMP HP rifle competitions using garands and never crimped a round. While crimping will not hurt anything, it is not necessary IMHO. I might add that I always used GI brass which is a bit thicker than commercial. Can't comment on commercial brass.

Regards
hm
 
I load some 308 for my good friend for his Garand. I havent done any crimping and we have some really groups with the 168 and h4895. I also think it is pretty cool you will use that rifle for the hunt! Good Luck and have a time of your life! Lee
 
You shouldn't have to crimp at all.
Just don't go heavier in bullet weight than about 175 or slower in powder than about Varget-speed or so. Remember that the gas system and op rod spring were designed for a 150 grain bullet and IMR4895 powder. Too heavy a bullet or too slow a powder will overstress the op rod and beat up the action unecessarily. What Dan Carey recommends is good advice. IMR4064 powder also will work great.
 
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Well guys I decided to use 165 gr. speer spitz-sp bullets, because I have them on hand and IMR4895. I made up 5 dummy rounds and hand cycled them through the rifle twice and the c.o.l went from 2.250" to 2.259", I am using Remington brass too. I think I will have to crimp however these do not have a cannelure and all I have is a roll crimp die. Any suggestions on a different bullet in the same weight class? or should I get a taper crimp die?
 
I think you want to stick with 4895 powder......
i read about damage to the operating rod of Garands if you use a slower powder like 4350....
Others may know more about this powder sensitivity........

R
 
When I cycled them through the action by hand they were unseating, actually growing in overall c.o.l. and not seating into the case further. I was wondering if a Lee factory crimp would be ok to use on this speer bullet?
 
You could have more than one issue. First the sizing die could be a little oversize. You can check this by measuring the case before sizing and after. Also you can remove the expander button from the sizing die and see if you can seat a bullet in the case after sizing.
Change bullets and get one with a cannelure.
 


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