First time loading for the Garand

[StickShaker]

Varget and 168 grain Hornady A-Max.


These are for my son and it's not easy getting accuracy feedback from him because he just shoots at "things" offhand. So I want to try and load them up to a so called standard round that the Garand likes.

I have come across quite a few posts on other forums that states 46 grains of Varget is the equivalent of the military M1 ball round. A few posters actually called Hornady and were told that they load 46.5 grains of Varget in the ammo they sell for the Garand although I see a discrepancy in the velocity between the reloading handbook and the specs for their factory ammo. The max load in the Hornady books for the Garand is 47 grains BTW.

Just running this info by you good folks and if it looks reasonable I'm thinking of going with 46 grains. He only wants 28 rounds so instead of setting up the powder measure on the progressive, I get to use my new Chargemaster 1500.

 

[tdt91]

28 rounds, whats the point, just go buy some ball .30 cal

 

[PowPow]

28 rounds, whats the point, just go buy some ball .30 cal

Because Chargemaster!

 

[kalister1]

If he wants 28, give him 28. BUT, 8 round en-bloc clips don't go into 28?
Or does he only have 28 empties?

 

[StickShaker]

Because Chargemaster!

It's warming up!

 

[StickShaker]

If he wants 28, give him 28. BUT, 8 round en-bloc clips don't go into 28?
Or does he only have 28 empties?

He's OCD just like his dad. I rechecked the message and it's 29. He did mention the 8 round clips but I think he also wants to fill up the empty holes in the 20 round ammo box.

I have had most of his empties since spring, about 80 Hornady and PPU. They are resized and clean so just need to finish up 29 of them.

 

[Art3]

If he wants 28, give him 28. BUT, 8 round en-bloc clips don't go into 28?
Or does he only have 28 empties?

That's what I was thinking...but I didn't want to judge

 

[Art3]

He's OCD just like his dad. I rechecked the message and it's 29. He did mention the 8 round clips but I think he also wants to fill up the empty holes in the 20 round ammo box.

I have had most of his empties since spring, about 80 Hornady and PPU. They are resized and clean so just need to finish up 29 of them.

So...fill the box and one clip...and...one more...too keep in a shirt pocket just in case?

29 seems even more weird than 28? But, I'm not here to criticize. Just hoping more recipe suggestions turn up.

 

[CSHS]

Unless he's going to the national matches, take it down to 42 or 43 grains. You'll lose maybe 200 fps, but take it easy on the old girl. There's no need to have it run as hot as military loads and it'll shoot great. But for full-up loads, here's some info to consider. http://web.archive.org/web/20000620055732/home.att.net/~Masterpo/M1load.htm

 

[ted76]

I have used 48.6 to 49.6 grains of IMR 4064 with a CCI 200 primer without any problems with 147/150 grain bullets in my M1.

 

[StickShaker]

So...fill the box and one clip...and...one more...too keep in a shirt pocket just in case?

29 seems even more weird than 28? But, I'm not here to criticize. Just hoping more recipe suggestions turn up.

From what I gather, he has 2 boxes (20ea) of ammo. One is empty and one contains 11 rounds. From the amount of empties I'm guessing he has bought 100 rounds since he got the rifle. I have 1 Hornady and 1 PPU that I keep as a reference. He had a fired but stuck case issue from a rusted chamber which may account for being 2 rounds off. The fired round and one test round after cleaning? I would make a good detective.

 

[Pinecone]

Go to CMP site, meet requirements, order a can of loose HXP.

Then he has 200 rounds.

 

[StickShaker]

Unless he's going to the national matches, take it down to 42 or 43 grains. You'll lose maybe 200 fps, but take it easy on the old girl. There's no need to have it run as hot as military loads and it'll shoot great. But for full-up loads, here's some info to consider. http://web.archive.org/web/20000620055732/home.att.net/~Masterpo/M1load.htm

Yeah, just occasional plinking. I do like reduced loads especially in this rifle so I'll go with the 42.5 load for 2400fps. I was concerned about feeding issues but he does have an adjustable gas plug. It's crazy how hard on brass these rifles are. Most of them were stretched in the .030 range with the worst measuring .045.

 

[StickShaker]

Go to CMP site, meet requirements, order a can of loose HXP.

Then he has 200 rounds.

Noooooooooo! Think of the Chargemaster children.

 

[StickShaker]

I have used 48.6 to 49.6 grains of IMR 4064 with a CCI 200 primer without any problems with 147/150 grain bullets in my M1.

Thanks for the load info but I only have Varget at the moment.

 

[StickShaker]

Unless he's going to the national matches, take it down to 42 or 43 grains. You'll lose maybe 200 fps, but take it easy on the old girl. There's no need to have it run as hot as military loads and it'll shoot great. But for full-up loads, here's some info to consider. http://web.archive.org/web/20000620055732/home.att.net/~Masterpo/M1load.htm

I ended up loading 44 grains. I checked back with my son and his gas plug isn't adjustable but I believe a higher volume to lower the initial pressure spike. If these shoot OK we will work the charge down further on future reloads.

 

[EKing]

My Garand load is:
Hornady 165 SST
Varget 42.5 grains
Winchester Large Rifle
COL: 3.21

It functions perfectly in my Garand so no need to increase powder. I can't speak to accuracy yet, but they all hit the target. Next range session will work out the accuracy, but for now I know I have a safe, functioning load.

 

[StickShaker]

My Garand load is:
Hornady 165 SST
Varget 42.5 grains
Winchester Large Rifle
COL: 3.21

It functions perfectly in my Garand so no need to increase powder. I can't speak to accuracy yet, but they all hit the target. Next range session will work out the accuracy, but for now I know I have a safe, functioning load.

Thank you for the information. I was going to use 42.5 but chickened out at the last moment.

 

[buellsfurn]

Go to CMP site, meet requirements, order a can of loose HXP.

Then he has 200 rounds.

the problem with CMP site says 60 day wait