GOOD BRASS FOR CMP 308 SPECIAL?

[Seabreeze133]

My new CMP 308 Special looks as if it will be the better of the Garands I have had in the past. Good groups w/FGMM 168's which I use as the control

Been using once fired R-P brass but find that there is a SIGNIFICANTweight variation and would like to do a little better w/out going to the expense of Lapua as these things eat brass.

Have not bought new brass from the same lot yet. Locally I can usually pick up Winchester brass, but in small lots. Also have sml quantity of LC LR once fired and LC NM that has 2 reloads on it.

Any suggestions on brass brand?

Best load so far is 168SMk/the above mentioned R-P brass/WLR primers/42.5 gr IMR4064.
No chronograph so no real idea of the velocity. Like a twit, I loaded 50 of this load but w/210M primers before it dawned on me to check the brass weight

Also am open to other chg wgts w/4064. I have a LOT of it.

Thanks

Don

 

[jhord]

My only Garand experience is with the std. .30-06. In mine I use IMI brass (harvested from the CMP's milsurp) and I have been well pleased with it. 10+ reloads and still going strong, on some of it. The key is to minimally size it, by that I mean don't size it too far beyond what is needed for proper functioning. But I don't see any .308 IMI available in a search. If I were in your shoes, I'd either go with LC or Lapua. In my bolt gun, the Federal and Winchester lose the primer pockets rather quickly, while Lapua just goes and goes. Lapua shot in a Garand will get scratched up and ugly, and you will cry if you lose one, but it should last a long time with proper resizing. Either that or buy a bunch of LC milsurp, shoot it for practice, sort it and reload it for the real deal?

 

[markr]

I have a National Match M1 that is 308. I shoot nothing but Lake City. Buy it in a lot for matches at least keep the years in groups.
Mark

 

[jonbearman]

Since you live in nevada,go to a range where they rent guns and ask if they would sell you some lake city brass from their range.I dont think it would be too hard to come up with several thousand that will last a life time. Or buy winchester brass and quit worrying about them weighing identical bec ause it never made much if any difference in my 3 garands and they arent junkers.They shoot outstanding in cmp 100 meter matches when I competed.

 

[navyrad8r]

Don,
are you going to stay 200 yards or less? this year at nationals i shot 46 gr of 4064 with 110 v maxs. the bullet was gone before the gun cycled. i never tested prior to but just rolled the dice. i was using LC M80 brass that i prepped. cci reg primers. set them to 2.796 coal. my buddy shot a prone rapid 100-7x!! both of us were shooting SECNAV .308 Garands this was better than the year prior when i tried the 125 nosler Ballistic Tips and used 40gr of 4064. the goal was a reduced recoil load. the faster 110s were awesome. the points i dropped were all me. the prior ideas were the 168 amaxs and 42 gr of 4064..but not as much fun. Good Luck to you hope this helps...
cheers,
doc

 

[Seabreeze133]

Gentlemen

Thanks for the quick response and advice.

Ordered some of the TopBrass 7.62 brass and 147 gr pull down bullets for standing practice.

Been a while since I have shot matches plus closest is about 200 miles away. So need lots of practice.

BTW, moved to NW Arkansas a few years ago to retire. Miss Nevada.

Semper Fi

Don


USMCR 1956 to 1962.
USNR Seabee 1987 to 1999.
As a reserve Marine in the late 50's and early 60's, we were taught do not kick in the door, (by WWII marines) u first try a grenade and if that does not seem adequate, a satchel charge may work. If not try to find a tank....