ammunition for Garand

[minte]

Could someone please help me about a question on the M-1 Garand. I just purchased 2 M-1s and was wondering if I could shoot modern 30-06 ammo in them or do I have to use military ammunition. Thank your for any assistance

[Jack]

Well, yes, but.....
Remember that the ammo the Garand was configured for was at slightly lower pressure than modern factory ammo. Modern factory ammo isn't enough hotter to blow up a Garand, or anywhere near it, but I'd suspect over time the wear on the Garand mechanism would be more with modern factory ammo than with military ammo.
There are some good deals out there on military 30-06 ammo in Garand clips and bandoliers. A whole ammo can of it- 384 rounds, can be had for a really low price- and the brass is Boxer primed, so it's reloadable.
Do keep in mind some military stuff is corrosive, so, if you use the military, clean the rifle before putting it away.
Try Cheaperthandirt or Sportsman's Guide- saw one of those ammo can deals in one or the other recently.
So, I guess I'm saying you can use modern factory ammo, but military stuff is better for the gun in the long run.

[gumpokc]

Jack pretty much has it right.

you can fire the civie 30/06 just fine, but you may get slightly more wear and tear on her.

another thing to consider, you "may" have some problems with the civie stuff being slightly higher pressure, and slightly softer brass. this can lead to head seperations.

not saying you will, i've not heard much of the M1's having the same problems as the CETME/G3's do with military and civie brass, but it is possible.

[Adam Helmer]

minte,

Jack got it right. The Garand is a robust arm, but stay with 150 and 165 grain ammo at about Ball M2 pressures. Use powders in the IMR 4895 range and you will do fine. I have seen Garands with bent operating rods from too high pressures with heavy bullets and heavy, near max, loads. I know a fellow who broke several accelerators on his Garand because he had some IMR4831 and used that for near max loads with heavy bullets.

Adam

[Aim to maim]

Originally posted by Adam Helmer
minte,

I know a fellow who broke several accelerators on his Garand because he had some IMR4831 and used that for near max loads with heavy bullets.

Adam

Always good to have an opportunity to learn something new. I'm familiar with the basic components of a Garand (or thought I was). Could you enlighten me regarding the "accelerator", i.e., its appearance and function?

[Adam Helmer]

Aim,

I just checked my NRA "Firearms Assembly" book and the part that broke was the Operating Rod Catch just where the Accelerator Pin goes through to hold the Accelerator. The Follower Rod goes through the Catch and high pressure apparently broke the Catch holding the Accelerator. I suspect there was oscillation of the Follower Rod that broke the catch due to high pressures. I replaced the catch and switching to IMR4895 solved the parts breakage problem.

Adam

[Aim to maim]

Thanks for the reply. Obviously I wasn't as familiar with the Garand as I had thought. What I don't know about firearms would fill a great many large volumes.

[Jack]

The Garand was originally designed before there was such a thing as slow powders like 4350 or slower.
The military load used 4895 or similar, so the rifle is built to deal with powders of burning rates close to 4895.
There are many such powders-4895 is excellent. I like ball powders, so I use AA 2520 in mine- the burning rate is almost identical to 4895. Works very well.

[Gil Martin]

The problem in using factory ammo in an M1 Garand is what we do not know what powder was used to load it. Powders such as IMR4895 and IMR4064 are just fine with sensible loads. Factory ammo may have IMR4350 or IMR4831-type powders and therein lies the problem. I would shoot military ball ammo or reloads.

Just a comment regarding the CETME. I have one and shoot it with reloads. The extraction is violent and commercial brass has worked just fine with moderate loads. All the best...
Gil

[gumpokc]

Your right Gil, moderate loads with commercial brass should be ok, it's just some people aren't aware of the fact that alot of older semi-auto militry rifles, will rip heads off commerical brass, _if_ it is loaded to higher pressures.

[BILLY D.]

i faced this conundrum when i first purchased my m-1. so i said the heck with it bought 500 rounds of brass and the other assorted and sundry stuff and rolled my own. now i don't have to worry.

47.2 grs of 4064 and 168 bthpm puts me on the target at 200 meters and that ain't toooooo bad for an old guy with glaucoma, and thats with iron sights.