I've recently purchased a Garand and a couple of spam cans of ammo from CMP. I would like to get into competitive shooting in the "as issued" Garand matches. Also, I would like to get into reloading. I have received some tech info from Hornady regarding a good load for the Garand (Varget powder, type bullet, etc.) and it looks like a good start. What ammo is allowed in these "as issued" matches? What do most shooters in these matches use that gives them the best results time after time, either in reloading or purchasing? Thanks for any help you can give an old Marine who was issued one of these many moons ago.
Any load that will not damage your rifle is safe to shoot and legal in matches. Commercial ammo as you know, is too high of pressure and can damage your rifle.
I use IMR 4895 and 150 grain bullet. But, I do cheat. The club where I shoot sells m2 ball during the matches.
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Thanks for the info. Sounds like a good starting point on the powder type and grain bullet. Looking forward to trying out reloading and looking for the X's. Thanks again.
Thanks again for all the info. Before getting into reloading, and if I wanted to buy ammo for the Garand besides that that I have from CMP, what and where can I buy/should I buy ready-to-go? I have shot some 150 gr. Remington store bought through the rifle with seemingly no ill effects and I remember way back in the early '60s, stationed way far away and allowed to take our pieces off-base and blast away at the countryside, we just went to the PX and bought up some 180 gr. hunting ammo and route stepped out the front gate into the hills for a day of free fire. Did we get away with using higher loads? And, in the case of present day, am I taking a risk with the commercial Remington ammo? Sounds like I might be. As I said, any info would be appreciated.
The best load I found for the Garand was win or rem cases, win lr primers, 168gn sierra Mks bullets and 43.8gns of imr 4895. That isn't a hot load but do look up a starting load and work up from there.
Load and shoot whatever you like. I try to match chrono'd HXP.
In all of our matches you MUST shoot surplus HXP. 3 boxes and targets as part of the match fee. Range fees (if any) are extra.
Otherwise, there is one guy who would win every stinkin time! Heh-Heh
Regards
Thanks again for all the info. Before getting into reloading, and if I wanted to buy ammo for the Garand besides that that I have from CMP, what and where can I buy/should I buy ready-to-go? I have shot some 150 gr. Remington store bought through the rifle with seemingly no ill effects and I remember way back in the early '60s, stationed way far away and allowed to take our pieces off-base and blast away at the countryside, we just went to the PX and bought up some 180 gr. hunting ammo and route stepped out the front gate into the hills for a day of free fire. Did we get away with using higher loads? And, in the case of present day, am I taking a risk with the commercial Remington ammo? Sounds like I might be. As I said, any info would be appreciated.
Back in those days, the factory loads may have been loaded with faster powder than current ones. It's not an issue of the ammo's peak pressure, or pressure at the chamber so much as it is an issue of how long the pressure stays high, and how high that pressure is at the gas port. The Garand was a pioneering design and Mr. Garand believed that the gas port should be as near the muzzle as possible, making the operating rod very long, slightly curved, and subject to bending when struck with too much force. More modern versions of the Garand action (M14,) have shorter, straighter, therefore stiffer and stronger operating rods.
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Can anyone give me some good, safe loads for the HXP brass with 155 gr Hornady BTs and 168 Speer BTs? I appreciate all the other info so far. Thanks Whoops, forgot to mention that I'm using Varget. Tks again
Last edited by marine6082; 11-19-2009 at 09:35 AM.
Reason: forgot to mention the powder type
.30-06 ammo update - 19 Nov 09 from CMP (Ask Orest)
Quote:
The CMP has been successful in acquiring another large quantity of HXP .30-06 ammo. We expect delivery in Jan 2010 and should have the ammo ready for sale by Feb or Mar. Until we actually receive and inspect the ammo, we will not know what packaging configurations will be available, but expect them to be the same as we have had for the past few years. We do not yet know what our final cost will be. We do know that the quantity is large enough to satisfy our customer needs for several years. We will not accept any pre-orders or establish a waiting list. Thanks for your support and patience.
This should reduce any worries about availability of HXP for the future few years.
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Only draw back, the cost. But, it is another option and from a few guys on the CMP forum that have used it, they're getting great and consistant performance from it.
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Last edited by GlockMeister; 11-19-2009 at 04:02 PM.
