I am new to reloading for my Garand. The CMP forums talk about using Varget. I don’t see it mentioned in the sources above.
I am new to reloading for my Garand. The CMP forums talk about using Varget. I don’t see it mentioned in the sources above.
The 6th did throw smoke out the barrel as it should have. A squib wouldn't do that.
I am new to reloading for my Garand. The CMP forums talk about using Varget. I don’t see it mentioned in the sources above.
I use Varget exclusively in all my GSM CMP matches since 2008.
Shot thousands of rounds with it.
Garand & 1903
155 NOS CC, 48.0 Varget, CCI 34, 3.285
1917
168, 46.8 Varget, CCI 34, 3.285
Follow reloading your reloading manual of choice and use standard powder (IMR 4064, I or H 4895, Varget, etc) standard bullet weights (People usually go between 125 and 168gr) and watch out for pressure signs. It's fudd lore that correctly assembled hand loads will destroy an M1 garand.
I got the same lecture from Charlie Maloney when I took guns to him over the past summer. The words I underlined are the key issue == correctly assembled. Actually, I don't think he'd have a problem as long as the handloads truly were "correctly assembled". His main point is that handloaders can be more prone to "incorrectly loaded" ammo than that coming from a factory set up manufacture millions of rounds within the original specifications. That's not to say that no rounds ever leave in an out-of-spec situation, but the probabilities are much, much lower.
JoeR
Just like most accidents, it takes two or three mistakes to end up with a bad outcome.Right. I like I said earlier, it sounds more that Charlie's problem is a lack of faith in the people who assemble the hand loads, not that "hand loads bad" so his default advice is: Don't shoot hand loads.
Here I am, a first-time reloader paired up with his fairly experienced buddy but we didn't check the bullet headspace. Now we're shopping for a case gauge. I'm seeing two types- One type will only check an empty case, another type will check empty cases or fully assembled bullets.
Everything you say makes sense. Military cases are thicker hence less internal volume.
Right, I'm starting to understand this now.
Let me clarify: My friend measured more than just COAL after we put the bullet on, there was another measurement in the Hornady book that helped us trim the brass to the proper length. I believe this was just a more "manual" method of getting the proper headspace than using the case gauge.
I've emailed him to confirm.
Man, I am drowning in myth vs. fact.
The whole reason I'm looking at reloading, is to attempt to reproduce M2 ball to ensure that I don't damage the rifle. This 2019 article from the Garand Collector's Assoc. seems to indicate that commercial ammo is not the boogeyman that people make it out to be. The article seems to indicate that properly lubrication of parts (op rod) is more critical and that commercial ammunition with a bullet around 180 grains is perfectly safe without bothering with adjustable gas plugs.
Here I am, a first-time reloader paired up with his fairly experienced buddy but we didn't check the bullet headspace. Now we're shopping for a case gauge. I'm seeing two types- One type will only check an empty case, another type will check empty cases or fully assembled bullets.
I have never heard that of .30-06 brass.
And it is NOT true of 5.56 brass.
The problem is, bullet weight is not the only parameter.
Yes, heavier bullets are problematic, as they are typically loaded with slower powders that raise the port pressure to dangerous levels. But you don't know, with a factory hunting round if it is faster or slower powder.
I would not fire any commercial ammo that is not marked as being loaded for the M1 Garand in mine.
I will shoot military surplus ammo, or ammo I have reloaded FOR THE GARAND.
NO.
Headspace has NOTHING to do with COAL or case length, for bottle neck rounds. You need to do more reading before you do much reloading.
COAL and case length ARE important, as is headspace.
Headspace, for a bottle neck cartridge is the relationship between the chamber and the cartridge, based on the distance from the base to the shoulder.
Case gauges can measure all 3 parameters, plus things like case diameter.