Question about M1 Garand Ammo

[Onmilo]

This is just me speaking but I have been shooting and hunting with Winchester 150 grain PowerPoint .30/06 factory loads for better than twenty years through several Garand rifles with no problems whatsoever.

That is POWERPOINT NOT SILVERTIP ammo which is loaded differently.

I also shoot Winchester Black box 168 grain .30/06 Match ammunition with no problems in an M1 Match rifle.

If you are familiar with reloading, a safe practice to formulate hunting ammunition for the M1 rifle is to pull the bullets from surplus FMJ military ammunition and replace with commercial 150 grain softpoint bullets.

A press mounted collet type bullet puller such as the Forster is best for this practice.

I am personally not a fan of adjustable gas cylinder locking screws.

 

[skidooman603]

Why would ya deal with that pain in the A$$? Just Load some 165 SP over 46Grains of 4895 0r 4064 and be done with it?

 

[lionking]

CMP ammo won't last forever,at some point you will have to find a alternative.Now let me ask,there have been much talk about correct ammo for the M1 but what about the M1903 and M1917 is commercial factory ammo more forgiving in those or is M2 milspec only safe for them also?

 

[dmazur]

...what about the M1903 and M1917 is commercial factory ammo more forgiving in those or is M2 milspec only safe for them also?

Different rifles, different problems.

I've read about the M1903 Springfield and heat treat problems below a certain serial number. Here's a link -

1903 Springfield receiver failures

I don't know anything about the M1917 that says the action is strong enough for modern .30-06 loads. Hopefully they got heat treat figured out and these were OK.

 

[Doug S]

Hi all,

I do appreciate the kind offers, and the additional info. After reading above the gas plug doesn't seem that big of a deal. I'll check into it instead just of ruling out what seems like an easy switch.

45 Guy, I'm very much looking forward to receiving the clips. Thanks!

 

[.45Guy]

I'll throw some ammo in too, so you can get your garand to the range already...

 

[jaholder1971]

Some of y'all seem to think the M1 is a delicate creature. The old M2 ball, tracer and AP loads were loaded with 150-165 grain bullets with 50 grains IMR 4895 that at the time burned closer to IMR 4064. In a heavy milspec case that's a full power load.

Even the WW1 era M1 and newer M72 loads had 48 grains IMR 4895 and a 173 grain FMJ. Check the books, that's full powered load, too.

General rules of thumb on shooting your M1 is simple:

Factory: Anything under 180 grains is OK, except for anything marked "Light Magnum" or to that effect.

Reloading: Keep the burn rate under that of H380, with powders that burn like 4895 and 4064 are ideal.

Also realize that if you shoot heavier bullets/slower powders all you're going to do is bend an op rod, while expensive ($100+) it may take some time to do and won't completely destroy your rifle.

 

[dmazur]

It's not a delicate creature. It's just that op-rods aren't being made anymore, and they are getting more and more expensive to replace.

I hope the trend to adjustable gas nuts continues. This appears to be the way we're going to have to live with the future, after CMP ammo dries up, unless one duplicates M2 with reloaded ammo.

 

[Doug S]

I'll throw some ammo in too, so you can get your garand to the range already...

That would be more than kind! I really do appreciate it. I've got a busy work week ahead, and it would be great to wind down from it with a first range trip with the Garand.

 

[NotSoFast]

I just ordered. The email I got said that my wait would be about 100 days. I also got a letter a while back that said CMP would be limited to 10 cans per customer per year.

 

[Doug S]

It took me a while, but I finally got to shoot my M1 Garand for the first time today. I didn't get to last months gun show, so I still didn't have any ammo or clips. I was talking to a guy at my church the other day who is a WWII reenactor, and he brought up the Garand. He had a bunch of clips sitting around, and I was able to get a box of Federal "American Eagle" M1 Garand ammo at a dealer not far from here. So the two of us went out shooting today, and I was finally able to experience the "ping" for myself. I only shot the 20 rounds, because I don't really plan on making this a shooter (just a part of my collection). That said, I really liked it so I may be shooting it more often than I planned. The gun functioned flawlessly, and I was able to load the clips without busting my thumb. Actually the slide would stay open when I inserted the clip, and I had to tap it forward after loading the clip to close it. No jams, postive extraction and ejection, and the gun was accurate at 100 yards (the length of the range where I am a member). Very satisfied, and becoming a new "Garand Fan".

 

[superpunchy]

M1 Garand "ping" sound

Is there a way to get rid of the annoying "ping" sound that the M1 Garand makes whenever it fires the last shot and the clip is ejected? Has anyone ever made such a modification or know of someone who has? If so how did they do it?

 

[D94R]

You're kidding.








Right???