Your favorite/best Garand loads

[photrod2000]

What are some of your favorite or best M1 Garand reloading loads?

I finally got my press and dies

[Warlock]

Sir,
All rifles are just a little different. My best load for the M-1's around my house may not be good for yours. I load 46.7 grns of H4895 in military (HXP) brass with a LRP and a 150 grn FMJ. Impact and pressure are very close to original HXP. Very good grouping when I do my job. As everybody that reloads will tell you to buy a reloading manual, start low and work your way up. Choose components that will be easy to get when you need it and work up your own favorite load. Good luck.

[lapriester]

The most accurate load I've ever used in my Garands and 1903's is 46.5 gr IMR 4064, a Nosler 155 gr Custom Competition HPBT bullet, CCI200 primer, no crimp and 3.31" OAL in HXP or Remington commercial brass. I Just loaded this round up the night before a match last year to have enough ammo to use using mid range Garand loading data. I shot it in both my M1903 Remington and my match Garand that day and cleaned the target in slow prone with both rifles (never done that before) with 4X's with the Garand and 6X's with the M1903. Then I scored my best strings ever in rapids. Needless to say, it's been my "go to" load in my match rifles ever since. We'll see this year how it shoots in my new Krieger barreled match Garand.

Larry

[E-7Ret.]

Depends, on VAR-barrelled rifles I've found the faster you push the bullet the more accurate they shoot with 2800fps being the ceiling. In my rifles that's 47.4 grains of IMR4895, a 150gr.pulldown(LC), and a WLR primer. OAL 3.330, no crimp. Chrono's at 2775fps ave.

My other rifles, notably my HRA, like 47 grains even(2740fps,ave), rest is the same.

My Long-Range load is 46.7 grains of IMR 4064, with a 168SMK, WLR primer, 3.340"OAL, again no crimp(2655fps,ave).

Do not try to duplicate these loads, they are safe in my rifles. Your rifle is different, start at least 10% below and work up, watching your ejection pattern and distance.

[lapriester]

Thanks for posting the start low work up disclaimer E-7. I forgot to do it in my post.

Larry

[ceresco]

I use the 110gr Hornady spire point, 3.09" OAL and enough 3031, 4895. VarGet or benchMark to get around 2900fps for 1-200yd match shooting. Recoil will be lowered enough to matter and the load's accuracy is excellent. You can start with 50grs Varget and since this is a very mid level load--you don;t need to work up to it. You can also use other 100-125gr bullets--these loads are mild enough that minor variations in bullets, seating depth etc won't affect safety. I'm going to write down Lap's 155gr load and try it--but I shot 9x in SP with mine and the only one out occured when the buttplate shipped on my shoulder (100yd 03A3). Good Shooting.......

[photrod2000]

Well, considering that I have over 30 rifles, I am looking more for a 'basic' load formula rather than one tailored to each rifle.

[cast1903]

Not to split hairs but the beauty of reloading is tailoring a load to a rifle. A basic 147-150 weight bullet load that works well in most of my Garands is 46 grains of IMR4895. If you are going for top accuracy do not skimp on the bullet that is the heart of your load. The most accurate bullet I have shot in my Garand is the 155 Sierra Palma Match. Caveat you will go broke shooting these...lol

[ceresco]

Tayloring loads to rifles is over rated. Good rifles typically shoot everything better. Even the AMU has one load for it's team. I have found that almost any decent bullet can be loaded to enough accuracy for 1-200yd CMP match shooting. I do not worry about big changes going from the M1 to the 03A3 or 1917 with my handloads--and the Hornady AMAX and Federal Gold medal ammo wasn't taylored to a specific rifle. Take the time to refine loads if you want, but once you've got 2-3moa, you are good enough for CMP games. Then it's time to get out and improve your offhand. Good Shooting......

[DaveHH]

My good M1 an SA 12/65 rebuild with new 11/65 barrel likes 48gr of 4064 and the 168gr Sierra MK. To show you how loads change accuracy, this load with 45gr of 4064 shot teacup sized groups at 100 yds. Adding 3 grains to 48 brought group sizes down to a US quarter (5 shots, dead center X covered with a quarter). I cannot emphasize enough the need for a quality bullet. It is the single most important component if you really want small groups. Hand selecting, weighing, measuring lesser quality bullets helps, but in the end being made on new machines such as Sierra, Hornady, Nosler etc is the key to the kingdom. If you are satisfied with modest accuracy then using pull downs, Yugo made etc is the way to go. Make sure the primers are properly seated and don't even think about getting into the Milspec primer argument, the regulars are just fine.