I was wondering if you guys could tell me your best loads for Your M1 Garand in 30-06 caliber. I realize 1000 yards is pushing it for this rifle but i thought i would ask anyways. Ia m. Currently shooting Federal Gold Medal Match 168 gr for 200, 300 and 600 yards. I was wondering if I could use the 175 gr Ferderal Gold Medal Match for 1000 yards. My preference would be to loads some myself. Thx
M1 Garand 600 and 1000 yard loads
- Thread starter mnm1945
- Start date
I have had this same question, myself. I tried to upload a .pdf of a classic article on reloading for the Garand, but couldn't get it to work. Found the link in another thread. Here it is:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/40852596/Reloading-for-the-M1-Rifle-J-Clarke
I have done some load work with the Sierra Palma (2156) bullets and obtained good results. I think they would work well at the 600 yard line, but wind drift would be tough to handle @ 1000. I am not sure the standard 175 Sierra Matchking would offer much advantage over the 155 Palmas. The 175 Tipped Matchking might be worth a try, though.
Conventional wisdom says to use bullets no heavier than 175 grains, though the above referenced article shows otherwise. I have experimented with Hornady 208's, but I was using a Schuster plug to protect my op rod. For competition use, where the rules may preclude use of the Schuster plug, the 175 grain limit seems sensible. My Garand is bedded, has a Krieger barrel, and the front handguard has been routed out, so it isn't permitted for use in the As Issued type matches. It's still pretty interesting to see what the old war horse is capable of with the right care and feeding.
I have not loaded for my M1 recently (still shooting a stock of FA '62 match) but I'd imagine that any bullet under 180 gns with a medium speed powder would work. I'd look at loads for the 155-ish grain boat tails using 4064, 4895 or Varget. Either that or go to 175s. Of course, you don't want to use slow powders with an unregulated gas system, not if you value your op-rod. I doubt that the M1's barrel will give you the accuracy to justify spending more for Bergers, just IMHO.
There is a kit available with a gas plug with different ported set screws which will allow you to adjust port pressure on the Garand.
That said, the barrel is only 24". And I have no info on action strength, though I have heard the Garand action might not be amenable to high recoil impulses, independent of high port pressures (from slow powders) bending the op rod, cracking the bolt cam ramp on the op rod, etc.
That said, the barrel is only 24". And I have no info on action strength, though I have heard the Garand action might not be amenable to high recoil impulses, independent of high port pressures (from slow powders) bending the op rod, cracking the bolt cam ramp on the op rod, etc.
Back in 1958 I was nearing the end of my Boot Camp in the Navy. We had one day at Camp Elliot shooting the M-1! This after a couple days at an indoor range shooting 22 rifles.
I always see warnings about bent op rods with hot loads, but back at Camp Elliot I was selected by the ordnance man to inspect every receiver with a swipe of grease from my finger and look for signs of a crack in the receiver. Maybe there are more than one reason to not overload the old M-1
I always see warnings about bent op rods with hot loads, but back at Camp Elliot I was selected by the ordnance man to inspect every receiver with a swipe of grease from my finger and look for signs of a crack in the receiver. Maybe there are more than one reason to not overload the old M-1
A 168gr will do fine for 600yd shooting, but the 175 is the better choice. A 175gr over 46-47gr IMR4895 should get you to 1000yds since you're planning to load. I think that Federal only offers 30-06 GMM in a 168gr bullet though.
On an aside:
shooting 168's at 200 is overkill. When I shot an M1A across the course, a lot of folks (me included) shot a 110/125gr bullet at the short line. Recoil was light and it was easy to recover in the rapid fire strings. I only shoot my M1 in as-issued JCG matches nowadays, but my load is Speer 125gr TNT, 47gr IMR4895, WLR primer, 3.1" OAL.
On an aside:
shooting 168's at 200 is overkill. When I shot an M1A across the course, a lot of folks (me included) shot a 110/125gr bullet at the short line. Recoil was light and it was easy to recover in the rapid fire strings. I only shoot my M1 in as-issued JCG matches nowadays, but my load is Speer 125gr TNT, 47gr IMR4895, WLR primer, 3.1" OAL.
The responses I have received on this site have been unbelievable!! As per a conversation above I ordered the Schuster adjustable gas plug for my M1a and M1 Garand. I never considered shooting anything smaller than a 168 at 200 and 300 yards. I will try something in the 125 gr range. I am also going to try the 175 gr SMK with IMR 4895.
While there might be 1000yd elevation markings on a garand sight assy, I cannot imagine the .30-06 with suitable 4895/4064 powder and even the best bullet, being a consistent performer at 1000. Nobody shoots a garand or M14 at 600 anymore in Service Rifle comps, except for a nostalgia shoot or adventure.
I see guys talking about IMR 4350/4831 in .308win for M-1a and AR-10 all the time on forums. Slow curve powders wreck these rifles. Gonna shoot your M1 at 1000? It's an adventure! Have fun! Expect serious precision at that distance? Go with a bolt rifle and maybe an AI'd chamber. Then again, .30/338 or maybe .30/284 is a better choice if its the precision part that matters.
For a gas gun at 1000, there are AR-10 uppers in .260rem and Armalite made the AR-10(T) for a while in .300saum. Again though, got to stay w/Varget, RL-15, 4064 etc powders. The AR-10 multi-lug bolt and carrier offers much more opportunity for precision than any garand action.
I see guys talking about IMR 4350/4831 in .308win for M-1a and AR-10 all the time on forums. Slow curve powders wreck these rifles. Gonna shoot your M1 at 1000? It's an adventure! Have fun! Expect serious precision at that distance? Go with a bolt rifle and maybe an AI'd chamber. Then again, .30/338 or maybe .30/284 is a better choice if its the precision part that matters.
For a gas gun at 1000, there are AR-10 uppers in .260rem and Armalite made the AR-10(T) for a while in .300saum. Again though, got to stay w/Varget, RL-15, 4064 etc powders. The AR-10 multi-lug bolt and carrier offers much more opportunity for precision than any garand action.
I don't think anyone is trying to be competitive at 1,000 with a Garand. It's just that much fun to shoot. Sure, you could just as well throw the bullets as launch 'em with an M1, but it's a lot of fun to see just how close you can get to that little bitty bull with a 75-year-old rifle at over half a mile. Realistically, most of us don't have the time or the money to devote to sufficient practice, load development, and gadget acquisition to be really competitive at long range anyway, so why not have fun with it? I always figured, somebody has to come in last at a match. Better me than someone who would feel bad about it. 
I have a rifle that is very competitive at 1,000 yards (in Palma), but if I'm grabbing a few guns to go shoot for fun, it never makes the cut. My M1 always does. In fact, my Palma rifle and my Cross the Course bolt gun will be coming up for sale before long to fund other projects. I can lose a High Power match just fine with the M1, thank you.
I have a rifle that is very competitive at 1,000 yards (in Palma), but if I'm grabbing a few guns to go shoot for fun, it never makes the cut. My M1 always does. In fact, my Palma rifle and my Cross the Course bolt gun will be coming up for sale before long to fund other projects. I can lose a High Power match just fine with the M1, thank you.
Boy you guys are something else , if the gun cartridge is not designed in the last 20 years it can't possibly be competitive .
The NM garand was successfully used in 1000 yd service rifle competition for years, in fact when the m14 was used for xtc matches, the garand was still used by the Navy and Marines for 1k due to the longer sight radius and barrel, plus in the early days of the m14 before lugs , garands were more accurate. People still use them for 1000yd service rifle but the m110 is slowly taking over.
Loads were in the 180-190 range and were hot. Gas plugs were vented with a drilled hole and brass was not reloaded.
Check over on the m14 forum specifically under Gus Fishers section. He was a USMC armorer at the tail end of the Garand and was trained to build them. You'll find loads and tips.
If your looking for a used gun find a Don McCoy built gun , or contact Issiac Mccaskill with Cassat gun works .
The NM garand was successfully used in 1000 yd service rifle competition for years, in fact when the m14 was used for xtc matches, the garand was still used by the Navy and Marines for 1k due to the longer sight radius and barrel, plus in the early days of the m14 before lugs , garands were more accurate. People still use them for 1000yd service rifle but the m110 is slowly taking over.
Loads were in the 180-190 range and were hot. Gas plugs were vented with a drilled hole and brass was not reloaded.
Check over on the m14 forum specifically under Gus Fishers section. He was a USMC armorer at the tail end of the Garand and was trained to build them. You'll find loads and tips.
If your looking for a used gun find a Don McCoy built gun , or contact Issiac Mccaskill with Cassat gun works .
Just file it with a taper, about 0.008 per minute, close enough. Set the elevation at 3 clicks up and file away till you are in the middle on the MR52 at 200.
Shoot it have fun. The 168 Berger Hybrid will do fine in the 30-06. I shot them through the 14 type at 1K with no problem and that is a 308 and 22 inch barrel, launching them at 2800. In one of my 308 McCoy M1s I shoot the 185 Jugs pushed by 2000 MR, getting 2650, plenty for 1K. You should do well in the 30-06. My M1s have the bored out gas plugs.
Caveat, my LR gas guns are set up for the high pressure loads. Approach the velocities I mentioned with extreme caution.
It’s a decades old myth that longer sight radius enables better accuracy or precision. The distance the front sight is from the rear sight does not change how much the rifle wobbles hand held without artificial support. Doesn’t matter if its 28.5" or about 2.5" less or 50" more. If the sight’s LOS visually aligns 2 MOA off center on the target image, the center of the front sight post will appear the same distance off the target center regardless if it’s 1 yard in front of the rear sight or another range to infinity. Remember the front sight must appear dead center in the rear sight aperture for consistency; off to the edge means bullets will strike opposite where it’s seen on the target; the bore is pointing that way.
The US Navy and US Air Force rifle teams used Garands for all ranges after the first M14NM rifles were built. Army and Marine Corps teams used M14's thereafter. But the USN Match Conditioning Unit in San Diego built the most accurate ones. Moreso with the 7.62 conversions that shot better groups from accuracy cradles than the rebuilt M14NM rifles for a short time, then the Army and Marine Corp shops finally fixed all the bugs in their new rifles. The best of both 7.62 M1's and M14NM’s would shoot commercial match ammo from Federal or Remington into 4 inches at 600 yards. That’s better than what the best 30-06 match bolt action rifles would do with Sierra match bullets in the mid 1960's.
Three 1000 yard loads were popular for the 30-06 M1's correctly rebuilt with good barrels that tested a bit over MOA at 600 yards and about 1.6 MOA at 1000. The 600 yard “B” target had a 2 MOA V ring, 3.3 MOA 5 ring; 1000 yard “C” target had 2 MOA V ring and 3.6 MOA 5 ring....
* M72 30-06 match ammo’s 173-gr FMJBT bullet was pulled then replaced with a Sierra 180 Match King; the FMJBT original. This load shot test groups half the size or better than what M72 arsenal match ammo would; it had only one lot of very good bullets whereas M72 (and later, M118 7.62 match ammo) had bullets from 3 or 4 different bullet making machines. Four levels of bullet quality that limited bolt gun test barrels to shoot them no better than about 2 to 3 MOA at 600 yards in arsenal tests.
* Commerial Western Cartridge Company 180-grain FMJBT match ammo loaded about 1/10th longer for single round loading; boxes were labeled “For Single Round Loading Only” because they usually wouldn’t fit in Garands when clipped up
* Any good new case and primer with a Sierra or WCC 180-gr. match bullet over 48 grains of IMR4064. This one was typically the best of these three loads. This powder had the best track accuracy record in 30-06 M1's with 165 through 180 grain bullets, but charges had to be weighed to at least a 2/10ths grain spread as it didn’t meter to uniformly.
Best long range loads for rebuilt 7.62 Garands follow:
* The US Air Force developed the best; new M118 match case and primer, 44 grains of IMR4320 under a Sierra 190 HPMK bullet. Easily shot under 4 inches at 600, under 10 at 1000 yards. The USN shop also used Lapua D46 185-gr. FMJRB .3092" diameter match bullets that shot a little better in barrels with slightly larger groove diameters of .3082" to .3084". The USN shop built the USAF team rifles and all their Springfield Armory arsenal 7.62 barrels were air gauged for uniformity and those at .3078" or less were set aside for match use.
* New commercial case with 43 grains of IMR4064 under Sierra 180 MK bullets
None of the consistently best scores used resized cases; only new ones. Garand (and M14NM) bolt faces were never squared up so fired cases from them had out of square bolt faces. That caused shots to string 90 degrees from the bolt lug in-battery axis; 7 to 1 o-clock. Case head smacked bolt faces off center and that changed the barrel whip axis to 90 degrees from the 10 to 4 o-clock bolt lug axis. It made only ½ to 2/3 MOA difference at range, but the best marksmen could see it easily.
Note that the military team best 5.56 NATO rifles shooting heavy bullets never shot consistently good 1000 yard scores compared to what good M1A and M1 7.62 rifles did. Which is why the US Army AMU got the NRA to allow AR10's be classified as “service rifles” for long range matches starting in 2012 at the Nationals. They no longer had any M14NM’s worth using.
Other ‘smiths at the USN Match Conditioning Unit built rifles after it closed down. Ray Kerbs for one; he’s in Florida now but no longer rebuilds Garands.
I give Charlie Frazier (USN CPO, Retired) credit for figuring out how to make Garands shoot as accurate (precise) as they do as well as develop some of the best loads for them. He first managed the USN Match Conditioning Unit for years after it was established and his best rifle ‘smiths were also retired USN CPO’s; Don McCoy, Ray Kerbs and John Lovric. John Lovric rebarreled a worn out 7.62 M1 barrel for me over 20 minutes time. Took it to a match the next day, sighted in with two sighter shots standing then went on to win the match.
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