Questions on reloading for the M1 Garand

I've accumulated a couple hundred HXP cases now, I'll likely start loading for the M1 in the near future.
My first question is about die selection. Will any ol' 30/06 die set work, or should I get a "small base" set? It's my understanding that small base dies are designed for semi-autos to facilitate better chambering. Is this generally necessary with the M1?
Secondly, I'm going to have to procure case-trimming stuff. I've only loaded for 9mm and .357/.38SPL, and I've never needed to trim a case. I've seen anywhere from fairly inexpensive Lee stuff to ridiculously expensive case trimming rigs. What's a good bang-for-the-buck setup? Also, being military ammo, I suppose I'll need to get a primer crimp trimmer/swager.
Lastly, powder selection. IMR 4895 and fuggataboutit? Or is there a better option?

Thanks in advance

I have only reloaded a few hundred rounds for my garands but I have never needed to do anything to the primer pocket other then clean it. Using all hxp from various years too.

I've reloaded a bunch of the HXP cases using Lee dies, Wideners 150 gr. .308 mil-spec bullets and standard LR primers. The Lee 30-06 case trimmer method has worked fine for me. There are no primer crimps on the HXP cases.

I started with Garand loads using IMR4064 and my reloads shoot pretty close to what the Greek ammo does.

Save your cases and clips, use Garand strength recipes, reload safely and enjoy!

Die's-Triming-powder

Die's
In my opinion the forester benchrest are the best option.
I had lee dies and was not satisfied with the seating die.
The forester seater die has a sleave to allign the bullet.
Garands have generous chambers, so small based dies are not necessary.
For case triming I use the lee cutter and their 3 jaw chuck in a drill.
Once you get used to the 3 jaw chuck it is fast.

Powder really depends on the bullet weights you are using.
I use Varget mostly for 155 & 168's. Tried 4895 many times and never had good results.

JMHO

8milimeter said:

Garands have generous chambers, so small based dies are not necessary.

Click to expand...

...assuming no one has re-barreled it.

Warning! Notes: All loads use CCI BR-210 primers, with single exception noted. Overall length of all loads is 3.34 inches. Warning: Powders such as IMR-4350, IMR-4831, H-4831 and others with similar burning rates, cause short cyclings, increased recoil, erratic port pressure and accelerated wear in an M1. They should never be used to reload any cartridge intended to be used in a Garand. (Handloader Issue #114)

Click to expand...

stick to imr 4064 or 3031 powders with 150 grain bullets

I have four Garands, 2 GI barrels, a Criterion and a Match grade Kreiger.
All the chambers are on the large side.
If a standard 30-06 reamer is used, small based dies are not necessary.

JMHO

IMR and H-4895 powdered have always worked well for me. My 150gr loads love Reloader-15 interestingly enough. If you go with 168gr, try Win748.

j8064 said:

I've reloaded a bunch of the HXP cases using Lee dies, Wideners 150 gr. .308 mil-spec bullets and standard LR primers. The Lee 30-06 case trimmer method has worked fine for me. There are no primer crimps on the HXP cases.

I started with Garand loads using IMR4064 and my reloads shoot pretty close to what the Greek ammo does.

Save your cases and clips, use Garand strength recipes, reload safely and enjoy!

Click to expand...

Is the Greek ammo reloadable? I have 2 tins of it. Also, is there anything tricky about the Garand? Just bought a press tonite and the guy I bought it from said reloading for a Garand was a tough way to start.

IMR 4895 is supposed to be close to origninal. BUT.... I have found it to be tempature sensitive. (won't produce consistent groups in the summer time).
H4895 is susposed to be a more tempature stable version of the same powder.

I have also heard of 4064 being used.

Good luck.

I'm going to try and find a recipe for BL-c2

For trimming, the possum hollow trimmer with drill adapter is not exactly precise, but is faster than anything else. Just get the drill locked on low speed and hold it with something, push cases into it, and they are trimmed in a second(trimmer spaces on the shoulder, no need for collets/shellplates). You can crank out hundreds of cases in a few minutes. RCBS dies and shellholders(no real prefference, just what I have)

For loads, I use H-4895 powder, works well, is not temp sensitive, and abundant. For bullets, usually whatever .308 150gr flat base I can find cheap, my Garand isn't picky. For match loads 168gr SMKs over H-4895 is more accurate than I am.

+1 for possum hollow trimmer with power adapter!

rico903 said:

Is the Greek ammo reloadable? I have 2 tins of it. Also, is there anything tricky about the Garand? Just bought a press tonite and the guy I bought it from said reloading for a Garand was a tough way to start.

Click to expand...

Yes, the Greek HXP ammo is boxer primed and reloadable. I havent found anything difficult about reloading 30-06 rounds. They're a rimless bottle neck case. Sizing. priming, charging and seating bullets is pretty straight forward.

My Garand's chamber and the recipe I use don't seem to be too hard on the brass like say an Enfield. I've found the Widener's 308 147 gr milspec bullets work well and are about as accurate as the original Greek loads.

Here are some recomended M1 loads from the NRA.


MASTER PO'S



M1 loads (Courtesy of the NRA)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Recommended .30 caliber M1 loadings from the NRA

147 - 155 grain FMJ or HPBT bullets
IMR 3031 - 48.0 grains
IMR 4895 - 49.0 grains
IMR 4064 - 50.0 grains
W748 - 48.0 grains
AA2460 - 49.0 grains
AA2520 - 51.0 grains
AA2495 - 50.5 grains
H4895 - 49.0 grains
BLC-2 - 49.0 grains
H335 - 49.0 grains
RL-12 - 48.0 grains


165/168 grain FMJ, HP or SP bullets
IMR 4895 - 47.0 grains
IMR 4094 - 48.0 grains
AA2520 - 47.5 grains
AA2495 - 47.0 grains
H4895 - 47.5 grains
BLC-2 - 49.0 grains
H335 - 47.0 grains
RL-12 - 44.5 grains


173/175 grain FMJ or HPBT bullets

IMR 4895 - 46.0 grains
IMR 4064 - 47.0 grains
AA2460 - 46.0 grains
AA2495 - 46.0 grains
H4895 - 47.0 grains
BLC-2 - 48.0 grains

180 grain FMJ, SP or HPBT bullets
IMR 4895 - 43.0 grains
AA2460 - 46.5 grains
AA2495 - 45.5 grains
H4895 - 44.0 grains
BLC-2 - 47.5 grains
RL-12 - 41.5 grains




Master Po's comments
These loads only duplicate military spec. velocities for the given bullet weight, using commercial cases and powders. If you are using military cases, drop all charges by 2 grains.

If you are looking for accuracy, drop all charges by 1 grain and work up .2 grains at a time.


Master Po's Ancient M1 load secret
This is my personal M1 load I use in my CMP M1. It will shoot better than Master Po can. I worked this load up, as you should for your own rifle.

Remington .30/06 cases, flash holes deburred and weighed within 1 grain.
Federal GM210M Primers (Master Po has heard the horror stories of Federal match primers in the M1/M1A rifles. If you're squeamish or new to reloading, use Winchester Large Rifle)
47.0 grains IMR 4064
Sierra 175 grain MatchKing
Overall length 3.340 inches

This load, in my M1, duplicates almost perfectly the M72 match load specification with a very low standard deviation. Groups off the bench run 1 - 1.5 inches with the original 1945 barrel on the rifle. Of course, Grasshopper YMMV.



Back to Master Po's Temple

Just a heads up to Garand reloaders. I noticed these mil spec bullets at Wideners tonight. http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8979&dir=

I have a couple hundred HXP cases cleaned, sized, primed and ready. But rather than use bullets I have on hand I ordered a bag of these to try. Any bullets I've ever ordered from Wideners have shot very well. I expect these will too.

IMR 4895, Wideners 150gr, Korean brass. Yes Korean brass. Good enough to ring a gong at 300. Saving up some more HXP.

I got pulled bullets from a place in Ohio called pollygunbag.com 145gn 1000 ct for $70 shipped.
http://www.polygunbag.com/bullets.html

fourth one down in the .308/30-06 section