M1 Garand and Varget Powder

Mike1972

Mike1972

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There are some other threads on other boards but I was wondering if anyone had any insights on loading Varget on the M1 Garand.

I just loaded 4 sets of 8 loads using 45.0, 45.5, 46.0 and 46.5 grains of Varget in (Remington brass, Winchester primers, 150 grain SSTs) and got Average velocities of 2340, 2459, 2468 and 2558 FPS respectively from them. As an aside the first of each set was markedly faster than the other seven by 50-100 FPS don't know why (forward assist on first, slightly colder barrel, bad scale?).

I believe the design velocity is 2800 FPS but is there any value to working up to that velocity?

Very new to this so any thoughts are welcome.
 
I have not used Varget in a .30-06. I would suggest, though, that the charges you mention would be fine if loaded in .308 cases. What is the recommended range for .30-06?
 
Mike1972 said:
There are some other threads on other boards but I was wondering if anyone had any insights on loading Varget on the M1 Garand.

I just loaded 4 sets of 8 loads using 45.0, 45.5, 46.0 and 46.5 grains of Varget in (Remington brass, Winchester primers, 150 grain SSTs) and got Average velocities of 2340, 2459, 2468 and 2558 FPS respectively from them. As an aside the first of each set was markedly faster than the other seven by 50-100 FPS don't know why (forward assist on first, slightly colder barrel, bad scale?).

I believe the design velocity is 2800 FPS but is there any value to working up to that velocity?

Very new to this so any thoughts are welcome.
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H4350 is better for .30-06.

Varget is over-rated.
 
I am also interested in using Varget in the Garand. I will be following this thread. H414 has been my favorite powder for 30-06 but I am aware of the pressure problems when reloading for the Garand. If I am going to do much shooting with the Garand I think I will consider an adjustable gas plug.
 
Some people like Varget in their M1/M14s, some do not. I am partial to XX95's and IMR 4064.

The Hornady data for .30-06 150gr and Varget is a lot lower than the Speer. I did not see IMR or H 4350 listed in either manual for these types of actions.


It is generally recommended to load between 147-173gr bullets for the M1/M14 using standard jacketed bullet loads.

A powder in the suitable burn rate range for the action of this type of semi auto gas rifle such as IMR 4895, H4895, AA 2495, BL C2, H335, Win 748, IMR 4064 (and there are others).
 
IMR4064 and IMR4895 are the two classic Garand powders. Varget is fairly close to 4064, so it isn't a bad choice for loading for the Garand.

FWIW, I load 165-168gr bullets with ~48.0gr of IMR4064 for my Garand and get MOA accuracy with the combo. This is a light 30-06 load (by bolt action standards), but about right for the Garand and I find no reason to beat the thing up any more than necessary with the way it shoots this combination. The two deer I have shot so far with it did not complain, either.


Mark
 
I have not used varget myself. My current load is 49 grains of IMR4895. Im getting 2840 fps using hornady 150gr FMJ. This is a near max load. IMR4350 has a burn rate that is to slow for the garand creating to much pressure in the gas piston that will result in damage from repeated use. The garand works best with powders that have a medium burn rate like IMR4895, IMR4065, and IMR4320. Varget has a burn rate close to IMR4065.
 
I reload for my Garand using milsurp brass, Imr 4895 @ 47 grns, CCI Large rifle primers and Hornady 150 grn fmjbt.I did a lot of research and Imr 4895 is the closest powder to milspec you can use.Just my humble opinion :)
 
Varget is not recommended for M-14's or Garands, it is a little to slow of a burn rate and as mentioned, puts too much preasure at the gas port, this will bend your op rod and those are getting harder to come by.

I read a great article on this a couple of years ago when I started to experiment to Varget and this was the conclusion the writer came to.

Scott
 
My usual "go to" load for my Garand is 46.5 grs of 4064 and 165 gr Horn SP. I have noticed that nearly every group I fire has one round that is an inch or more away (at 50 yds) from the rest. I've always had a feeling that this was the first round fired BUT never took the time to check. Anyone notice this with their M1's. My thought is that it may have something to do with powder position after cycling. Maybe the cold barrel? It has nothing to do with a clean barrel as it happens with nearly ever group fired on the same day. I do not "ride" the bolt closed with the first round but even letting the bolt slam home is not the same as the rifle cycling the other seven after being fired.
 
gunn69 said:
I have not used varget myself. My current load is 49 grains of IMR4895. Im getting 2840 fps using hornady 150gr FMJ. This is a near max load. IMR4350 has a burn rate that is to slow for the garand creating to much pressure in the gas piston that will result in damage from repeated use. The garand works best with powders that have a medium burn rate like IMR4895, IMR4064, and IMR4320. Varget has a burn rate close to IMR4064.
Click to expand...
fixed.....
 
Look up articles by "Glen Zediker". He's sort of the American version of our "Hungry", done it all, shot it all. He's well respected for his knowledge on the M14/M1 and I'm 92.7% sure he advises NOT to use Varget for M1/M14 rifles. If I recall his recommendation is to stay with IMR/H4895 or at the slowest IMR4064. Hope this helps.
 
Personally, I've been using Varget for over a decade in my .30-06 Garand and it's the only powder I use there. When I started, it was recommended by the experts as an excellent choice and it has excelled in this job, just as it has excelled in my .308 target ammo for my other rifles.

These days, if you check the burning rates, IMR 4064 seems a hair slower than Varget. And 4064, Varget and 4320 are all very, very close in burning speed.

My personal load is to push a 165-grain bullet with 50 grains of Varget. In fact, this is as close to a universal .30-06 load as I can find. It works in everything (bolt, auto-loader, pump, whatever), and usually gives very consistent accuracy. I've put more of this load through my Garand than any other, and I haven't been disappointed.

I also use 51 grains of Varget with a 150 or 155-grain bullet. This has also been excellent for me, and it is wonderfully accurate in my bolt actions, too.

It would be a good idea to start from a few grains below this and work up carefully.

The Garand actually has a very strong lock-up. As people have pointed out, the thing to watch for is port pressure. Since the Garand's gas port is about 2 inches back of the muzzle, you need to use a powder that has expended most of its juice by the time the bullet passes that mark. You want to stay away from high energy powders, heavy bullets and slow burning powders because these all push the pressure curve forward.

However, Varget, the 4895s, 4064 and 4320 are all within the acceptable range. In fact, for decades, the conventional wisdom was to "use powders between 3031 and 4320 in a Garand". That rule still works today.
 
Great, thanks for all the feedback everyone. I think I'll charge it up a bit more and see how it goes. Once I'm out of Varget I may try some 4064.
 
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