Dorobuta

I was recently gifted a Garand from a good friend of mine. It's the first Garand I've ever owned. It's in pretty decent shape, 1944 build - though it's been grafted with various parts over the years, so it isn't a collectors item.

I'm probably going to re-barrel it with a Criterion barrel - it has been shot over the years with corrosive ammo. The bore is decent, but not great. I figure if I have it, I'm going to shoot it.

Anyone have any good load data, or a source for good load data for the Garand? I may even do some matches with it, once I re-barrel it, providing I can shoot it decently

Terry G

I own two Garand's that I shoot recreationally, but I don't re-load. I would suggest one of the Curio & Relic Forums for loading data as it seems every other poster has a "Pet" load. Original M-1 Garand's, rifles with all matching part's are fairly rare. Mine are both mongrel's.

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Dorobuta

Cool, I’ll do some digging. I’m seeing some commercial rounds being advertised as specific for the Garand. I’ll have to check them out...

John in AR

I don't load .30-06, but have read that there's a tendency on milsurp Garands to prefer a particular weight (or weight range) of bullets; doing better with 147's than 180's or vice-versa.

Definitely +1 on Terry's advice about C&R and reloading forums.

boati

M-14 forum, CSP forums, Fal forums, and shoot it first, after a careful cleaning of the bore with Sweet's bore cleaner, and see if the accuracy is acceptable. the barrel change is going to cost as much as the gun would normally have cost you.

Dorobuta

New Barrel is about $185 - $200

Garand

I bought a Korean import junker with a smoothbore barrel back about 1995 and rebuilt it. I managed to find a new GI barrel that shoots about as well as I do, put on a NM front sight and due to local range limitations has given me great service out to 300 yds. For years I used this in 3 gun matches and had a ball.

Jammer Six

Why wouldn't you use a real reloading manual?

Dorobuta

I do, but that is not the same as a 'pet' load that people have found to be very useful. If someone has a particular load with a particular powder (for any rifle) that they recommend, I generally check the load against a manual to make sure it isn't an under or over charge, then I back off a few grains and work up to their load to see if I like it.

If someone can save me a few dozen trial and error range sessions, or get me on track for what seems to be a consensus of dealing with the particulars of a Garand, that's what I'm looking for.

I always use published manuals and load data as a reference. I don't want to blow up a gun or get injured. Just looking for useful info.

Garand

National Match ammo built by Lake City Arsenal always used IMR 4895 as its propellant in .30-06. Good place to start.

Dorobuta

Thanks! I have plenty of 4895 on hand for other rounds I load, I guess I’ll start there....

Garand

One thing that I forgot to mention is that I tried 162 grain cast lead bullets in my Garand in a cost saving exercise. I found that the action required at least a mv of 1,950 fps to work reliably and it lead to a lot of leading the barrel.

I worked out a couple of reloads using 47.5 grains IMR 4895 for the Speer 150 grain bullet and the M25 tracer bullet that give me the same point of impact out to 400 yds, for when I shoot on military ranges where tracers are allowed. Nice flexibility when shooting winter matches on a sea of white.