I’ve yet to buy any of the federal so I don’t have personal experience and I tend to lean towards internet assertions being a little over exaggerated, but considering costs are pretty comparable last time I checked I would just go with PPU or S&B.
I have had 100% success with both of those.
10 years to retirement! Just waiting!
Posts: 6877 | Location: Georgia | Registered: August 10, 2009
Federal is/was making a 30-06 FMJ especially for Garand match shooters. Powder calibrated for that gas system, and hopefully mil-spec primer cups. I have seen ads for it, probably in American Rifleman. I shot the M-1 in DCM matches for many years, always with my reloads, and never had a problem. Won a bunch of local matches, too. I mostly used either Federal or Remington primers. Reloading is the way to go.
Posts: 1652 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: June 16, 2004
Originally posted by Watergoat: Powder calibrated for that gas system ....
Isn’t that the concern about using “standard” 30-06 ammunition in Garands? I.e., if it’s not GI spec or otherwise specifically intended for use in Garands it can damage the rifle—?
► 6.4/93.6
“ Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed nonage. Nonage is the inability to use one’s own understanding without another’s guidance. This nonage is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one’s own mind without another’s guidance.” — Immanuel Kant
Posts: 48028 | Location: 10,150 Feet Above Sea Level in Colorado | Registered: April 04, 2002
Yup, most '06 hunting ammo is charged with something a bit slower burning, probably since most rifles in this caliber are bolt guns. The M-1 gas system is carefully timed for the service load at the time it was designed, in the 30's. The only powder used at that time was IMR 4895. Slower burning powder lets the action start to open when the pressure in the barrel is still too high, beating the various parts to death. Another advantage of reloading is that you can do a ladder of loads from starting to max, and see what your rifle likes. My main rifle preferred a load just a bit above starting loads. My secondary rifle wanted max loads, didn't like the mild ones at all.
Posts: 1652 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: June 16, 2004
With most Garands in the ~1200-1500 range, I would be hesitant to shoot anything in there not specifically made for the Garand.
I think it was mentioned, something about the speed of the powder burn and overpressure. Some swear it doesn't matter, but it is cheap insurance to just buy the right stuff
The Garand gas system has a certain powder speed range that is good for the rifle. H4895 and IMR4895 are probably the two most common used powders for the Garand. Varget is good and within the powder range. I have used two other powder that is in the “burn range” IMR3031 for light for caliber bullets and IMR4064 for the heavier range bullets. 110 grain Sierra bullet and IMR3031 is a light recoiling and accurate load out to 300 yards. People have won matches w/ that load. IMR4064 and 168 grain bullets make an awesome Garand combo and shoot well out past 300 yards. I wouldn’t go over 172 grain bullet weight in the Garand. The op rod will eventually bend and then break. That is the big issue w/ non specific Garand ammo. Too heavy of a bullet and/or too slow or fast of a powder.
I use CCI34 mil-spec primers in my Garands or WLR. There are cases out there w/ Garands and M1A’s having out of battery firings using Federal primers. Some cases of this happening is before the age of internet blown out of proportionism. Even Lee progressive or turret press instructions tell you to avoid Federal primers because of detonations. So Federal soft primer scuttlebutt must have some truth behind it.
Federal did/does make specific M1 ammo. Look for the red box w/ a M1 on it. S&B along with PPU make Garand specific ammo as well. Go to the CMP. They sell Garand specific commercial ammo along w/ surplus military Garand fodder. Enjoy your rifle.
