"...suitable gas port pressures..." For which there is no gauge to measure said pressure. Never once, in 40 plus years, seen nor heard of a rifle being damaged by the ammo. Never seen any documented proof or tests by a recognised laboratory that proves the ammo can damage one either. Lotta Internet hearsay and anecdotal evidence, but no proof. Been arguing about it for 20 years or more.
Buy a copy of Hatcher's Notebook and Hatcher's Book of the Garand. About $30 each on Amazon.
TM and FM .pdf manuals are here. Note the need for the provided UN & PW.
However, reloading is your best option. Your's only. Not somebody else's reloads, ever. 150 to 180 grain bullets using either if the IMR4895's, IMR4064, Varget or any suitable powder that produces around 2800 fps at ~ 50,000 PSI will do. IMR4064 gives more consistent accuracy than either 4985 with 168 grain match bullets.
Factory ammo comes from Hornady Vintage Match and Federal Gold Medal that has approximately .30 M1 velocities. That's 2700 FPS not the 2800 of .30 M2's 152 grain FMJ. )The rifle was designed and tested for and with .30 M1 ammo with its 174.5 grain bullet at 2640 fps. That ammo was found to have too much range for National Guard ranges so the Ordnance Dept. developed .30 M1906 with its 152 grain bullet at 2700 fps, later, in 1940, to be upped to 2800 fps to match the ballistics of .30 AP's 168 grain ammo. That's what .30 M2 ammo is.)
Federal no longer lists the 150 grain ammo they sold as Garand ammo. No .30-06 Match ammo at all.
Prvi loads "Garand" ammo too. No factory ammo is inexpensive.
The CMP sells 200 rounds of the Greek surplus loose in an ammo can with no clips for $160. 60 days delivery time though. A net search for .30 M2/M1 Ball turns up a bunch of sites too.
