Reloading for the Garand; dies needed etc?

fat tony

fat tony

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I already have an RCBS press kit, what dies do you suggest, how many decapping pins should I have, should I get one of those Lee Factory Crimp dies, what bullets are good, what brass is available/good, I plan on using regular primers, seated deep, I also plan on using IMR 4895 for now, am leaning towards 150 plus or minus grain bullets, as right now I don't know if CCI 34 primers are available in any quantity anywhere in Canada. also what reloading manual do you suggest I get that has lots of loads listed for the Garand, and where is a good place to get it all?
 
4895 is a good powder.

150gr flat base soft point bullets are very good. So are 165. Try both and see if your rifle has a preference. Unless you need real precision, the 147gr military FMJ work well and are cheaper.

Any 3006 die set will work. I find the Lee to be the strongest with respect breaking pins. never broken a Lee.

Higginson sells bullets, powder and Lee stuff.

Start at 46 gr and work up to 50, in half grain increments, loading 8 of each, and see what works best.

You will need a few clips so you can laod the rifle.
 
I'd like to chime in and share praise for Lee as well haha. I've never had any broken depriming pins on either of my dies (9mm and .223). I also bought a Factory crimp die to ensure my OAL would not change from the time I seated the bullet to when I'm out in the field shooting gongs and it hasn't let me down. I use it in a bolt-action for that reason alone, in a semi like a Garand I think it would be well worth the <$20 that it will cost you. Call JD's if you're looking for dies, he often has Lee products kickin' around.

Bringing the M1 out to the MVRRC for Feb. 1st? :D
 
loading for the garrand

I was using hornady dies but had problems resizing cases fired in my garrand
switched to small base rcbs dies crimped after bullet seating and have not had any more trouble. i load 147 fmj and 168 grain hornady hpbt match with 45.6 grains of h-380 orAA-2495br which i can`t find anymore.
tornado
 
You must full length resize every time for any semi-auto. An M1 isn't any different. Make sure the cases are all the same length to start with and chamfer and deburr the case mouth. The OAL is important too.
Regular large rifle primers are fine. CCI #34's are a marketing gimmick for magnum primers.
Hornady's manual has a chapter for the M1. However, any manual will do. 150and/or 165 grain hunting bullets and/or 168 or 175 grain match bullets with IMR4064, IMR4895 or Varget will give you good ammo.
The rifle loves 165 grain hunting bullets and 168 grain match bullets with IMR4064(it gives more consistent accuracy than IMR4895. IMR4895 will be fine though.). Mind you, if you plan on shooting past 600 yards in a match, work up a load with the 175 grain match bullets.
A crimp is not required.
 
I have been using regular old RCBS dies for my Garand reloads for 20 years now and don't remember ever breaking a decapping pin and the seating die puts a good enough crimp on the cartridges.
 
Loading for a friend who was competiting with a Garand... I recommend a Redding Body Sizing Die and a Lee Factory Collet Die... for powder, 50 grains of 4064.. bullets weights used...

155 grain A MAX and Nosler Match
168 Grain Nosler Match, Sierra Match and A Max
175 grain Sierra Match
180 grain Sierra Match, and A Max...

same charge 50 grains for all bullet weights...
large rifle primer used.. both Fed and CCI...

with any of these loads, this Garand was cleaning up...

4064 proved to be more accurate than IMr 4895...at least in this rifle...
 
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