M1 Garand Ammo

[jimrbto]

Somewhere I read that today's 30-06 ammo should not be used in the M1 and that only ammo marked "30-06 Springfield" should be used else there could be damage to the M1 rifle.
Any truth to this?
Thanks for your input
Jim

 

[FlyinBryan]

well, yes and no.

todays commercial hunting ammo in many cases uses powder with a burn rate that is hard on the garand oprod. this is not to say you cant shoot hot loads in a garand, it just needs to be the right powder.

as far as the ammo needing to be marked 30-06, no, it doesnt have to literally be marked 30-06, they just mean it has to BE 30-06.

the cmp sell ammo for the garand and its called m2 ball.

the actual ammo does not say 30-06 on it anywhere.

it says "hxp" and whatever year it was made.

 

[FlyinBryan]

that being said, i should add that if you want to shoot commercial hunting ammo in a garand, they make an adjustable gas lock screw that anyone can install, and then it will shoot any 30-06 ammo.

i handload everything for our garands. and sometimes shoot cmp m2 ball ammo.

 

[irishsquid]

I concur with FlyinBryan on both of his posts.

I'd add that you should stick to ammo that close in specs to GI .30-06 M2 Ball.

 

[alde]

Besides, the CMP surplus ammo is the best deal around. And it shoots good too.

 

[jpwilly]

that being said, i should add that if you want to shoot commercial hunting ammo in a garand, they make an adjustable gas lock screw that anyone can install, and then it will shoot any 30-06 ammo.

Here's a link. http://www.midwayusa.com/Search/Default.aspx#m1 garand schuster____-_1-2-4_8-16-32
The Schuster Valve is the way to go OR shoot only M2 Ball.

 

[COMPNOR]

So I get that M2 and similar ammo is meant for the M1 Garand, though other ammo can be shot through it. So I got my CMP Garand, and looking at the booklet it talks about ammo, and says if you're going to shoot commercial loads, they should be no heavier than 180 gr. So the Winchester 180 gr Power Point(SP) and Remington Express Core-Lokt would be acceptable to shoot, yes?

I get that this may speed up the wear and tear on the gun, and I did order an adjustable gas valve and some of the M2 ball from CMP.

 

[skidooman603]

Figure on at least 90 days prolly more on the CMP ammo. The gas block is the way to go if you dont reload

 

[USSR]

So I get that M2 and similar ammo is meant for the M1 Garand, though other ammo can be shot through it. So I got my CMP Garand, and looking at the booklet it talks about ammo, and says if you're going to shoot commercial loads, they should be no heavier than 180 gr. So the Winchester 180 gr Power Point(SP) and Remington Express Core-Lokt would be acceptable to shoot, yes?

No. It's the powder used as well as the bullet weight. For more than 50 years it's been the standard rule to use no bullet heavier than 180gr AND a powder no faster than IMR3031 and no slower than IMR4320. Those two commercial loads fail the powder rule.

I get that this may speed up the wear and tear on the gun, and I did order an adjustable gas valve and some of the M2 ball from CMP.

If you intend to shoot commercial ammo, that's the thing to do.

Don

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If you handload, stick to 150 to 180 grain bullets, and use a powder like 4895 (Hodgdon or IMR) or 4064. Us the recommended starting load in your manual, and you'll be all right.

 

[hamourkiller]

If you want to use the Standard M2 Ball and every once in a while shoot a deer with a 150gr factory load, the Garand will take it. A steady diet will bend the op rod at some point.

If you are having bent op rod night mares, another aproach is to pull a ball bullet from the HXP and seat a Soft Point of the same weight and shape in it place. Works like a champ.

 

[COMPNOR]

Thanks. And I've got my shipping confirm for my ammo, so it'll probably be here tomorrow.

 

[nathan]

CMP has them.

 

[lencac]

I installed the Schuster on my Kreiger NM M1 Garand in 7.62 x 51. I adjusted it to just allow the thing to operate properly with my favorite handload. It not only helps make it very consistent and accurate by is very gentle to the brass also and flips the brass in the same place each shot. I give the Schuster a big thumbs up