surplus 30/06 ?

This hasn't been on the Cdn market for many yrs. You can use either Federal or Hornady ammo which is made specifically for the Garand with propellant having the correct burn rate.

Commercial .30-06 ammo is not a good choice for the Garand as it is made with slower burning propellants which do not generate the correct gas port pressure for the Garand . The best solution is to get into reloading with the following provisos;
-only use 150 - 168 gr bullets
-only use IMR4895, IMR4064 or H4895. In addition to generating the proper pressure pulse for the Garand operating system these also excellent choices for accuracy
- always FL re-size your brass
-seat primers slightly below flush with the case head

Some people choose to use an aftermarket adjustable gas plug/screw to shoot commercial ammo w/o risk of damage to the operating rod
 
Purple-
Why do you say to FL resize your brass? Strictly for reliable chambering?

I neck size for the M-14 and haven't had any problems, so just wondering.:)
 
FL resizing is a safety precaution to ensure full chambering as the bolt closes into bettery. Necksizing does not set back the case shoulder which can expand and move fwd with successive firings over time. A bolt action rifle can close fully on a tight case because of the high camming power resulting from closing the bolt.

In a Garand or M14 type this type of bolt camming power is much reduced because all that is closing the bolt is the tension of the op rod spring. Radial dimension of the case is another issue which could prevent complete chambering. A Garand or M14 can fire with the bolt out of battery due to wear on the safety bridge of the receiver-not a safe situation to say the least.

Some folks are OK with necksizing for a Garand/M14 type. I'm not. Also, I reload and shoot a number of Garands, so FL resizing is the safest way to go.
 
Purple is telling the whole truth there.

Any semi auto/full auto that fires a bottle neck cartridge requires the same type of sizing.

There is another thread here about a lovely Springfield Armory M14 Kaboom.

This could have occurred for a number of reasons but I think Purple's explantion is about as close as it comes.
 
Resize with Small Base Dies also. If you are going to shoot factory ammo in your Garand, stay away from Federal Premium ammo. A few years back I chronoed some at 3,300 fps through my Garand. Extensive use of ammo like this will damage your op rod. The Garand was designed to push bullets downrange in the 2,700 fps category.
 
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