Best 30-06 brass for 1903, Garand, etc. accuracy

[lukester]

Like many who shoot 30-06 milsurp rifles, I have thousands of surplus rounds of HXP, Lake City, etc. to shoot, and of course I save that brass. But, as I start to look at reloading for optimal accuracy out of these rifles (Garands, 1903a3, 1903, 1917), I'm wondering what others have seen with regards to the commercial brass choices that are out there.

I'm familiar w/ Lapua from my f-class days, but that's not available, and I'm guessing could be overkill anyway for these rifles anyway. Nosler, Peterson, Hornady, Winchester, Remington ?

Would love to hear others' experience on this subject.

Thanks,
Luke

 

[Charliemac]

In my experience I don’t think it matters much in terms of accuracy in the rifles that you mentioned. I use LC and Winchester with Speer 125gr. TNT bullets. Those bullets work pretty good for 200yd target shooting at the club fun matches.

 

[Kalitrazescapee]

Surplus military brass hxp is Greek,lc I prefer,wcc ok,most high-power shooters preferred mil brass,claimed tighter spec than civilian, don't know if still true

 

[Walt Krafft]

Sort what you have. First by headstamp. Start with a lot size you are comfortable with and completly prep them, anneal, size, trim, chamfer, remove primer pocket crimp and uniform depth, deburr the flash holes, and clean. Now weight sort them. A uniform group will be as good as anything you could buy.

 

[GotRDid]

Sort what you have. First by headstamp. Start with a lot size you are comfortable with and completly prep them, anneal, size, trim, chamfer, remove primer pocket crimp and uniform depth, deburr the flash holes, and clean. Now weight sort them. A uniform group will be as good as anything you could buy.

Excellent advice. Given the specs on most Military Rifles from the group listed above, I believe the uniformity of your cases is more important than the brand. The choice of a high quality bullet that a particular rifle may like is of the greatest importance in on-target performance.
Likewise, if you are shooting with iron sights, your “input” becomes the defining element to the combined effort.
I have a few Criterion barrels on my Garands and from a rest, the mechanical accuracy exceeds my ability to drive them as well from my Prone, Sitting, and Offhand Position shooting. I am the limiting factor.

 

[Beruisis]

Shoot matches out to 500 meters with Garand & 1903 A4; sort brass by head stamp, use IMR 4064 & top off with Berger 168 grs. It's a combo that works for me.