M1 Garand safe loads in 308/7.62

My Toy · Oct 30, 2016

I'm going to be loading for an M1 Garand in 308. I know there are powder burn rate limitations for the Garand which I have been loading for in 30-06. I'm assuming those same limitations apply to 308 loads also. I've been using H4895 in my 30-06 loads and I have that on hand as well as BL-C2 and 4064.

What is a good source of load data for 308 "M1 Garand safe loads"?
If you load for a Garand in 308 what are you using?

BUFF7MM · Oct 30, 2016

Hornady's 9th edition has a whole M1 section.

Furious George · Oct 30, 2016

85MikeTPI said:
I duplicate the commercial Hornady ammo, direct from the mouth of Hornady:

http://forums.thecmp.org/showpost.php?p=233799&postcount=9

46.5g varget with 168gr A-max

WHOAH!!!!!!!

OP was requesting data for a 308 Winchester M1.

46.5 gr. of Varget for a 168 may be OK in an original '06 Garand but it is WAY over the max for 308 Win.

OP - use a reloading manual. Any published loads for 308 Winchester using Garand suitable powders (H4895, IMR4895, IMR4064, Varget, etc.) will be fine.

85MikeTPI · Oct 30, 2016

retracted

BUFF7MM · Oct 30, 2016

Well I'm sure mine is for 30-06 too but I'll leave t up since it shows no data and it might get attention paid to it. I just jumped on the ole M1=30-06 deal since it was the original flavor and not some watered down ***** version. :innocent0

Let the bickering begin after that bait sentence. :lol2:

Allen65 · Oct 30, 2016

Hornady 9th Edition has a section for .308 milsurp gas guns. Those loads are good for both M-1As, and .308 Garands.

Uncle Duke · Oct 30, 2016

Buff7mm said:
Well I'm sure mine is for 30-06 too but I'll leave t up since it shows no data and it might get attention paid to it. I just jumped on the ole M1=30-06 deal since it was the original flavor and not some watered down ***** version.
Let the bickering begin after that bait sentence.

Oh, you mean like the .308 being just like the venerable 30-06, only with training wheels?

I keed...I keed!

BUFF7MM · Oct 30, 2016

Uncle Duke said:
Oh, you mean like the .308 being just like the venerable 30-06, only with training wheels?

I keed...I keed!

I won't go any further with that one.

Pinecone · Oct 31, 2016

The standard load for the M-1A is 41.5 grains of H4895 behind a Sierra Match King 168 grain. That should work fine in a .308 Garand also.

But you might want to go check out the CMP Forums. LOTS of Garand specific loading info there.

My Toy · Nov 27, 2016

Pinecone said:
The standard load for the M-1A is 41.5 grains of H4895 behind a Sierra Match King 168 grain. That should work fine in a .308 Garand also.

But you might want to go check out the CMP Forums. LOTS of Garand specific loading info there.

Would that load (41.5 grs. H4895/Sierra Match King 168Gr.) be using commercial or military brass?

byf43 · Nov 27, 2016

My Toy said:
Would that load (41.5 grs. H4895/Sierra Match King 168Gr.) be using commercial or military brass?

I've used that load in both.

VERY accurate.

In my M1A, 42.0 grains shoots a little bit tighter.
NOTE: That is in MY rifle.

CSHS · Nov 27, 2016

Pinecone said:
The standard load for the M-1A is 41.5 grains of H4895 behind a Sierra Match King 168 grain. That should work fine in a .308 Garand also.

But you might want to go check out the CMP Forums. LOTS of Garand specific loading info there.

I'd like to hear what some others use for their Garand. I don't want to push it on the pressure. After reading around on the CMP and other forums, I used 45.0g of 4895 with a 168g Hornady Match bullet. That is using military brass (HXP). The chrono had it at ~2500 fps. The surplus HXP ran ~2570. I'm all for saving some powder and wear on the gun.

Seabee · Nov 27, 2016

My M-1A likes 42.0 gr of TAC with 150 gr SST which I use for hunting load.
on page 421 of Hornady's 9th edition reloading manual is data for the 308 service rifle. Their test rifle was a M1A and 11 different powders are listed.

dist1646 · Nov 27, 2016

CSHS said:
I'd like to hear what some others use for their Garand. I don't want to push it on the pressure. After reading around on the CMP and other forums, I used 45.0g of 4895 with a 168g Hornady Match bullet. That is using military brass (HXP). The chrono had it at ~2500 fps. The surplus HXP ran ~2570. I'm all for saving some powder and wear on the gun.

That load is for the .30-06. It is way over pressure for a .308.

For the .308, 41.5 gr. 4895 with a 168 is a standard load.
For the .30-06, I use 46 gr. 4895 with a 168.
Both loads are with LC brass and both are capable of holding the spotting disc., if the rifle is good and the shooter is up to it.

byf43 · Nov 27, 2016

CSHS said:
I'd like to hear what some others use for their Garand. I don't want to push it on the pressure. After reading around on the CMP and other forums, I used 45.0g of 4895 with a 168g Hornady Match bullet. That is using military brass (HXP). The chrono had it at ~2500 fps. The surplus HXP ran ~2570. I'm all for saving some powder and wear on the gun.

I don't have my books handy, but, that load is WAAAAAAAAAY too much in .308 for the Garand.

If you reduce that powder charge back down, where we've suggested, you'll keep that Garand intact a LOT longer.

Get at least TWO loading manuals and READ them.

It is not my intent to be, or sound nasty, but, you really can't just 'throw powder charges' and think you are going to be safe.

Many of us here, have been loading/reloading for decades.

I'm walking away from this thread, before YOU get hurt.

Pinecone · Nov 27, 2016

My Toy said:
Would that load (41.5 grs. H4895/Sierra Match King 168Gr.) be using commercial or military brass?

That is with mil brass.

CSHS · Nov 27, 2016

CSHS said:
I'd like to hear what some others use for their Garand. I don't want to push it on the pressure. After reading around on the CMP and other forums, I used 45.0g of 4895 with a 168g Hornady Match bullet. That is using military brass (HXP). The chrono had it at ~2500 fps. The surplus HXP ran ~2570. I'm all for saving some powder and wear on the gun.

Sorry for the confusion. The above is for 30-06. I was going to use 47g, but I read to subtract 2g if using military brass. Does the braintrust agree with this?

good guy 176 · Nov 27, 2016

I read these posts with tongue in cheek. Have owned over 120 Garands and will never ever load for one. Wouldn't it just be cheaper, and SAFER, to just shoot a good grade military round in these old timers. The Lake City, Greek HXP and PPU stuff should suffice.

Lew-Ranger63
US Army (Ret-'84)

CSHS · Nov 27, 2016

good guy 176 said:
I read these posts with tongue in cheek. Have owned over 120 Garands and will never ever load for one. Wouldn't it just be cheaper, and SAFER, to just shoot a good grade military round in these old timers. The Lake City, Greek HXP and PPU stuff should suffice.

Lew-Ranger63
US Army (Ret-'84)

I can understand where you're coming from. I like to reload because it gets me more involved in the overall shooting process and I enjoy that. It's a hobby. Similarly, I could save money by buying burger at Safeway, but I prefer to kill and eat venison. From a cost standpoint, HXP from CMP runs $.68 each. I can reload for about $.45. Of course there's equipment costs. As far as safety, you have to be smart about your reloading. But I'll take my reloads over old Greek surplus any day.

Blacksmith101 · Nov 28, 2016

Shoot Greek HXP and save the brass until there isn't any more HXP then reload. For 68 cents you get a round including a never fired piece of brass. With the 45 cent reload you get a round and to add one more firing to the brass life countdown. How much is the reload if you buy new brass?

M1 Garand safe loads in 308/7.62

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