[RobertM1]

I own two M1s, some years ago I used one for hunting. All I had to do was load one round in the chamber with no clip. If you need more than one shot, you have no business hunting. I have no need for a scope, even on the rifle I hunt with now.

Some years ago, I switch to using my 7.65mm Mauser with a light load which is a little more suitable for white tail.

Just so everyone knows, the Marlin 30-30 has brought down the most white tail than any other. It is very affordable and the round is perfect for white tail.

I have one M1 that I shoot, and one I keep "put away" since that one is an International Havester. I use my Springfield for target shooting and only will use military surplus ammo, which is not suitable for hunting since it is non-expanding.

[twtalbot]

Quote:       Originally Posted by mym1a

I don't know if I would shoot a hunting round through a garand, maybe a good reload could be worked up form some one that knows what he's/she's doing?

Reload using IMR 4064, 4895, Win 748, or H335 (there are a few others in the acceptable speed range that I can't remember off the top of my head)
The problem isn't chamber pressure. The Garand easily can handle the pressure of modern, commercial ammo at the chamber. The problem is with slow powders that still have high pressure when the bullet passes the gas port. The operating rod can be damaged if it continues to be under pressure after it's already in the full rearward position. If you don't know how old your recoil spring is, replace it. It's a cheap part that can save you damage to the receiver heel and the op rod. Op rod damage has also been blamed on lubricating with oil instead of grease. Remember, grease in the channel in the receiver the op rod rides in and the bolt lug raceways.

[dmazur]

+1 to adjustable gas nuts (gas cylinder lock screws).

These little things aren't expensive, aren't hard to install, and there's no permanent change to the rifle.

I have both the McCann and Schuster styles, and I prefer the McCann as you can take it off and reinstall it without losing the setting.

I use 46gr of Varget with 150gr Hornady bullets. FMJBT's for target and SST's for hunting.

And, yes, the Garand is a beast to lug around!

[ZombieHunter]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Kodiak32

You can pick up 5 round clips at Cheaper than Dirt. Where I live in Indiana, they don't allow high power rifles, this year they allowed rifles that shot certain pistol rounds for deer hunting. Hunters around me faired pretty well with their cowboy lever guns, I would imagine Garand would do well if we could use it here. It just depends on what your options are.

WTF? People claim my AR is underpowered because it's only a .223, and raise hell because I'm not killing Bambi with a .30-06. Your state says you can't use a rifle that was designed to shoot people?

Our governments have become out of control with this regulation nonsense...

[ZombieHunter]

Quote:       Originally Posted by RobertM1

I own two M1s, some years ago I used one for hunting. All I had to do was load one round in the chamber with no clip. If you need more than one shot, you have no business hunting. I have no need for a scope, even on the rifle I hunt with now. Some years ago, I switch to using my 7.65mm Mauser with a light load which is a little more suitable for white tail. Just so everyone knows, the Marlin 30-30 has brought down the most white tail than any other. It is very affordable and the round is perfect for white tail. I have one M1 that I shoot, and one I keep "put away" since that one is an International Havester. I use my Springfield for target shooting and only will use military surplus ammo, which is not suitable for hunting since it is non-expanding.

What's so special about the Harvester? When dad bought his, I checked up on it. Didn't appear to be anything noteworthy, just a run-of-the-mill production M1 that never saw any combat or anything.

[Kodiak32]

ZombieHunter,

Laws vary from State to State, but in Indiana high power rifles are not allowed for game hunting. I think Ohio has a similar law. You can use them for varmints, but not whitetail.

The law was developed to protect the general public; in many areas Indiana is basically flat farmland where you can see houses miles away.

The hunters in the area have adapted and wait for the game to come with in range of their firearm. I'm not wanting to start a debate on this or that, it's just how it is in this state and the hunters continue too take game.

[SEANinMICH]

I just took this small 10 pointer on Sunday with my Mini-G.

I use an adjustable plug and a buddy loaded up some hunting rounds for me.

EDIT: Oh, and YES - we have to use a 5 round enbloc here.

[Orlando]

Nice, What stock you have on the Mini ?

[SEANinMICH]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Orlando

Nice, What stock you have on the Mini ?

Laminated stock. I picked it up from Fulton at the Perry Matches in 2008. It's a bit oversized, but it's hard as a rock and durable as all hell. I figured if it's going to get stuck in the mud and banged against trees, I wanted something that would hold up and that wouldn't break my heart if it got destroyed.

[Paper]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Kodiak32

Laws vary from State to State, but in Indiana high power rifles are not allowed for game hunting. I think Ohio has a similar law. You can use them for varmints, but not whitetail

Same with IL.. Rifles can't be used for deer.. Slugs, muzzleloaders, larger handgun rounds, or archery..

Step across the state line into Wisconsin, and you can hunt deer with an AR15, with a fully loaded 30 rounder in the mag well.. And much of the season is at the same time.

[Kodiak32]

For anyone who is curious here's a summary of Indiana Deer Hunting Equiptment:
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files..._Equipment.pdf


Thanks for posting the pick SEANinMICH.

[Silvertip44]

I rekon that it is good that Georgia has no magazine capacity regs for rifles. Only shotguns.
I use the 8 round in my M1's and 10 round in M1A's.
This year I have taken two deer with the M1A and nothing with the M1.
For hunting and most shooting, I load my own. I have found the 168 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip to be super accurate in the M1A's and will load it for the M1's for both target and hunting.
I wouldn't use commercial in the Garand or the M1A without an adjustable plug or reload to the specs listed in various manuals, especially Hornady.
I would like to take just one deer with the Garand and I hunt with either a 1944 Winchester or 1944 Springfield. Both have been accurized by Ol Hook.

[Joe Brainard]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Paper

Same with IL.. Rifles can't be used for deer.. Slugs, muzzleloaders, larger handgun rounds, or archery.. Step across the state line into Wisconsin, and you can hunt deer with an AR15, with a fully loaded 30 rounder in the mag well.. And much of the season is at the same time.

That's true in most of Wisconsin, but there are a number of counties and areas that where rifles are banned. See page 18 of the 2009 deer regs.

[Paper]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Joe Brainard

That's true in most of Wisconsin, but there are a number of counties and areas that where rifles are banned. See page 18 of the 2009 deer regs.

Damn you Joe!! You made me get up and actually check my regs!!

I see it's mostly Fox River valley, Fondle My Crack, down through Milleywalkee, and the La Crosse area..

The entire Southern Wisconsin area has been slug hunting for as long as I can remember, up until 3 years ago.. Now it's rifle.. When I was a "kid" (ok, 20's) I got around the slug gun law by using a pistol.. Granted, it was a 30-30 Contender with a 14" barrel and a 4x Leopold scope, but it was a legal pistol.. It was also a pain in the ass to hunt with.. I managed to get a couple nice bucks with it, one at over 225 yards, but it wasn't any picnic..

Now, I'm hunting the same area with a Remington 710 in 7mm Mag, sighted in 1.5" high at 100 yards, putting it dead on at 200 yards.. When I was a kid, 75 yards was a long shot with a smooth bore slug gun, which was all that was available.

[gunadvocate]

I took my M1 Garand hunting yesterday morning for the first time and it worked flawlessly. A set of four does walked out in a clearing about 110 yards away and I took 2 of the 4 with back to back shots with it. The iron sights were not a problem (they were in the plush green field at the bottom of this hill in the picture). The M1 performed over expectations as usual- Definitely worth bringing.

[roverboy]

Quote:       Originally Posted by gunadvocate

I took my M1 Garand hunting yesterday morning for the first time and it worked flawlessly. A set of four does walked out in a clearing about 110 yards away and I took 2 of the 4 with back to back shots with it. The iron sights were not a problem (they were in the plush green field at the bottom of this hill in the picture). The M1 performed over expectations as usual- Definitely worth bringing.

Nice Garand. Mine's not that nice. It's a 1944 Winchester.
Looks very used. The stock has a lot of small dings. Metal's
not to bad though. I've not shot it yet. I've got some older
corrosive ammo. I just don't want to shoot that stuff.
Glad you had a good hunt.

[twtalbot]

Quote:       Originally Posted by rfc357

Commercial hunting ammunition will not blow up a Garand. The pressure generated by huting ammunition may be too much for the gas system, and can cause damage to the operating rod. This is annoying, and expensive, but not dangerous. As mentioned above, handloads with hunting bullets can be made. In my opinion, there are better rifles for hunting than the M1.

The problem with commercial ammo isn't chamber pressure. The Garand can handle as much chamber pressure as new sporting rifles. The problem is that long, slightly curved operating rod. It can be bent when using slow burning powders that have too much pressure remaining at the gas port. The M14's gas system is almost identical except for a much shorter, stiffer, sturdier operating rod. Some commercial loads may be within the port pressure limits and some may not. You just don't have any way to tell. Handloads using powders with burning rates between IMR 3031 and Vihta Vouri N140 or IMR 4220 at the very slowest. These powders drop down from their pressure peaks rapidly enough to keep port pressure within the Garand's limits. Proper lubrication is also important. Remember to use grease, not oil as shown here: M1 Garand Grease Points

[gunadvocate]

McCann gas adjuster is the way to go- just go through the assorted gauges to find one that cycles the ammo you intend to use. Start with it off and work your way from the largest hole to the one that works for your gun. Easy as that and worry-free. Thank you Roverboy, that gun caught my eye at the cmp south store about a year back and I couldn't leave with out it.

[blu97]

Remember seeing a kid with a M1 hunting elk in sw Colorado near Cortez, he was only a little taller than the rifle

[rl69]

what about having a hunting with a garand sticky ???


here is my entry using 180 gr barnes trippel shock with 45 gr of imr 4895