Beating the dead horse... M1 Garand and commercial loads.... opinions & advice please

[gunnerbob]

Beating the dead horse... M1 Garand and commercial loads.... opinions & advice please

I know this has been discussed before but, whatever...

Shooting Commercial Ammunition in your M1 Garand

I've wanted an M1 for a long time but hate the cost and rarity of the 'ole M2 Ball... this makes me feel a bit better about it. Who has personal experiance with the Garand? What advice can you offer me about getting one? I could get the plug, but if I can safely fire some of the commercial loads without one... I won't bother.

Thanks!

 

[jsturges]

I reload very soft 30-06 loads and have enjoyed both the rifle and the significantly lowered cost per round.

 

[gunnerbob]

I reload very soft 30-06 loads and have enjoyed both the rifle and the significantly lowered cost per round.

I have yet to get into reloading, not sure what I'm waiting for...

Have you fired any of the loads tested in the article? Experiances?

 

[jsturges]

Bob, I haven't. I suppose that I am the original Scotsman! Found a set of Lee dies for almost nothing, and picked up the brass behind a guy at the range firing brand new rounds in his autoloading hunting rifle. I've never actually bought anything but the dies for the M1. Shoots the same projectiles as my 30-30 and 30 carbine. But it is hella fun, especially the "ping!" when the clip ejects.

 

[JohnD13]

When you get into reloading, Hornady's manual has a section on loads for the M1. I also buy ammo from the CMP, it's about a hundred dollars for an ammo can with 200 rounds in it. Only draw back with the surplus ammo is de-capping it and reaming the primer pockets to reload it.

 

[gunnerbob]

Well, I picked up a Springfield M1 this weekend. The barrel is stamped 1945 but still has pretty good rifling and seems to be as accurate as I am. The stock is in pretty good condition so I'm sure it has been re-stocked, also, there is "MT" stamped into the butt stock... not sure what that means...?

I fired Hornady 150gr SST and some Federal Fusion 168gr while at the range, they suggested these two would function fine... they did. I have an good amount of S&B 180gr FMJ and a bit of their 150gr SP, I loaded my clips up with American Eagle 150gr FMJ which the charts indicated as being pretty close to M2 Ball...

I'll try to get out to the range again to test other loads suggested, thanks guys.

 

[gunnerbob]

Anybody ever bought surplus ammo from ammogarand.com?

 

[gunnerbob]

I learned that my M1 was initially an Italian .308 Garand that was sent back to Springfield, fitted with a 1" spacer in the stock and had an older barrel/reciever placed in it. Pretty neat stuff...

Anyway, even after a proper greasing the bolt feels very tight when pulled to the rear of the reciever. Sometimes it'll have trouble going back to battery when fired without a bump... Does anybody know of this issue or if it's common? Could the rifle simply need to be "broken in"?

 

[gunnerbob]

Well, after some careful examination I discovered that my Op Rod is slightly bent... so it rubs a bit as it comes to the rear. Some greasing in the right spots takes care of the problem though.

 

[gunnerbob]

For those who still may look at this thread, I installed the aftermarket gas plug from GarandGear, took her to the range and tested a few of the loads listed on that website and all performed flawlessly, with no ill effects to the rifle. I recommend it to anyone with a Garand.