M1 Garand

F

firefox117

New member
Just seeing if anyone out there reloads the M1 Garand at all, either for hunting or target shooting?

Recently got my hands on one, and have been loading it up, mostly for target shooting right now, and looking to compare/try new loads.

Currently loading a 150g Hornady FMJ bullet on top of 46.5g of IMR 4064. Cases are seated with S&B primers, and have had no issues as of yet. Estimating about 2500 FPS, but have no chrony to verify.

Looking to try some new loads through it, and looking for some good hunting loads to use. Thanks for the help.

*Note* Before you redirect, I am also on the CMP forums, but looking to expand on the audience, as both sites will have a host of different people/shooters.
 
Welcome to PM.

Been shootin' Garands since first one I was issued in 1954.

47 gr. H4895 behind 150 or 168 gr. SMK's give superb accuracy out of the old girl and easy on op-rods. The 168 gr. load shoots to same POI of M72 Match ammo and the 150's pretty well duplicate M2 Ball.

Same load behind any good 150 or 165 gr. hunting bullet great whitetail medicine.

Regards,
hm
 
hornady manual has a section on loading for the garand. varget , imr 4895 I have had great results. also I/h4895 and I 4064. berger 155, 168 and 175. horn 167, nosler 165 and 168. sierra 165 168 and 175.Lapua 155 and 167. I load match bullet for targets. hunting bullets for hunting. great rifle. and cartridge.
 
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I use 168 Amax over 47.2 of IMR-4064. Accuracy is awesome. The only problem I have is it shoots about 3.5 inches high at 100 with my rear sight bottomed out. Anyone else have this issue?
 
Originally Posted By: SwiftKillI use 168 Amax over 47.2 of IMR-4064. Accuracy is awesome. The only problem I have is it shoots about 3.5 inches high at 100 with my rear sight bottomed out. Anyone else have this issue?

How does ball ammo shoot? If other ammo shoots high, about all you can do is have front sight built up.

Edit to add: .020" should be worth 2.5" @ 100, but I'd add .030-.035"; you can always file off the excess or shoot with a few clicks of elevation @ 100.

Regards,
hm
 
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I put an adjustable gas plug in mine and it don't much matter what I shoot out of it, I mean, within reason...I shouldn't have even told this because I always blast on the morons that jump up and immediately post every time there is a question regarding an AR that jams. There's about 10 of them on this site that insist an adjustable gas block is this must have, cannot fire the gun without it cure all for an AR.
I am not against them, but I believe they are not needed on an AR...that said, if there ever was a rifle that can stand to be dialed down a bit it is the Garand...set it to where it cycles and shoot everything.
 
I use to shoot mine in the vintage hipower matchs with greek M2 ball. Love that rifle alot!!
Put a adjustable gas plug in it and started reloading. 155gr AMAX in '64 Match brass, 49.5 grain IMR4895. 175 SMK, 45.5gr IMR4895 64 match brass. And been wanting to take a deer with it, just have been to lazy to get it out with my 165 grain Nosler BT loads to test.
 
Originally Posted By: msincI put an adjustable gas plug in mine and it don't much matter what I shoot out of it, I mean, within reason...I shouldn't have even told this because I always blast on the morons that jump up and immediately post every time there is a question regarding an AR that jams. There's about 10 of them on this site that insist an adjustable gas block is this must have, cannot fire the gun without it cure all for an AR.
I am not against them, but I believe they are not needed on an AR...that said, if there ever was a rifle that can stand to be dialed down a bit it is the Garand...set it to where it cycles and shoot everything.


Adjustable gas blocks come in handy with an ar when you shoot suppressed. Otherwise you're way over gassed and sucking smoke.
 
Originally Posted By: wklmanOriginally Posted By: msincI put an adjustable gas plug in mine and it don't much matter what I shoot out of it, I mean, within reason...I shouldn't have even told this because I always blast on the morons that jump up and immediately post every time there is a question regarding an AR that jams. There's about 10 of them on this site that insist an adjustable gas block is this must have, cannot fire the gun without it cure all for an AR.
I am not against them, but I believe they are not needed on an AR...that said, if there ever was a rifle that can stand to be dialed down a bit it is the Garand...set it to where it cycles and shoot everything.


Adjustable gas blocks come in handy with an ar when you shoot suppressed. Otherwise you're way over gassed and sucking smoke.

I couldn't agree more...but some of these guys are telling others how badly they need an adjustable gas block when the rifle is not extracting or ejecting or double tapping or hitting too far left...it's ridiculous.
 
It's funny, a lot of the guys on the CMP forums say right off the bat not to get an adjustable gas block for the M1, as they are mostly useless, unless you're shooting some crazy stuff. But like everything, it comes down to personal preference.

Any thoughts on the 155g Lapua Scenar? Hear they are just as good, if not better, than the SMK's.

My very first load out of my M1 were 47 gr. H4895 behind 150g SMK, and shot fine. Switched to bulk 150g FMJ's just for regular plinking, but of course, accuracy is out the window. Pretty good at hitting the target at 100 yds, albeit, it's a fair spread. Wouldn't mind sitting down and doing some good target shooting with her though, and see how accurate it really is.

I'll work on some of the loads mentioned above, and go from there. Thanks.
 
Originally Posted By: msinc

I couldn't agree more...but some of these guys are telling others how badly they need an adjustable gas block when the rifle is not extracting or ejecting or double tapping or hitting too far left...it's ridiculous.

Lots of ar professors out there lol. Some better learned then others.
 
Originally Posted By: firefox117It's funny, a lot of the guys on the CMP forums say right off the bat not to get an adjustable gas block for the M1, as they are mostly useless, unless you're shooting some crazy stuff. But like everything, it comes down to personal preference.

Any thoughts on the 155g Lapua Scenar? Hear they are just as good, if not better, than the SMK's.

My very first load out of my M1 were 47 gr. H4895 behind 150g SMK, and shot fine. Switched to bulk 150g FMJ's just for regular plinking, but of course, accuracy is out the window. Pretty good at hitting the target at 100 yds, albeit, it's a fair spread. Wouldn't mind sitting down and doing some good target shooting with her though, and see how accurate it really is.

I'll work on some of the loads mentioned above, and go from there. Thanks.

I would try the Lapua bullets just to see...one thing I have noticed lately and I don't really know why, but it sure seems like bullets are not what they used to be. 20 years ago if you loaded anyone's "match" bullets they didn't just shoot good groups, they shot the best groups you were going to get if the rifle was capable and you had a good load. Today, not so sure...I have a custom rifle that is made out of some of the best components with very careful work. I could not get very good groups with Sierra, Hornady or Nosler "match" bullets. 1"-1 1/2" groups were about it. Tried some Bergers...same load, same brass, same prep, same rifle and it put them in the same hole. 2nd custom rifle, not quite as fantastic the level of parts, but very careful work putting it together...same thing. Puts Berger bullets in the same hole, not so good with the rest. What else can you conclude when everything else but the bullets is the same????
Extreme example...same two rifles that will put Berger bullets in the same hole are only capable of about a 3"-4" group with Nosler Partitions. Now I realize this is a hunting bullet, but come on Nosler!!! I have never seen anything that will shoot Partitions good.
I have a 223 custom rifle that will not group with anyone's "match" bullets either, but it puts those cheap Nosler Varmageddon bullets in the same hole. I am not getting it...a purpose designed accuracy bullet wont shoot, but a cost effective hunting bullet groups way better??? Has to be the bullets, and I have noticed that those Varmageddon things seem to shoot fantastic out of everything.
 
I've been reloading for my CMP Garand for quite some time. My standard load is a 150gr FMJ bullet and 47.0gr of IMR-4895. I've tried 4064, but the 4895 seems to work better.
 


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