Loading for the Garand?

[UVvis]

Anyone here reload for Garand rifles in .30-06? My plan is to try to load something that shoots better than M2 Ball from the CMP in a couple different Garands. I want to avoid working up rifle specific 'match loads', but just a generic all round good performer.

So I'm looking for components people are using in their pet loads. What's worked well in the past, preferred die sets for Garands, tips, suggestions? My rough plan was to try some 155 Amax bullets with IMR 4895, both I have on hand from .308Win loading...

[rat31465]

My pet load for the M1 Garand I use to own was 52.5gr of IMR 4350 behind a Sierra 165gr HPBT using Win LR primers in Win cases.

Load shot well out to 300 yards....

[threefeathers]

Hi, yes, I've loaded thousands of rounds for my Garands and 03's.
For good trigger time I got 2K 150 grain callelured bullets from Golden West. I use Lake City brass, well polished and inspected. Load it with TAC, 4895, or a Chinese powder BL16, and shoot away.
For match loads I use 4064, Varget, and RE-15.
I load these on a Lyman TMAG II as I want to control every station.

[Mark/MO]

I've been loading 46-47 grains of H-4895 with 150 grain FMJBT bullets and cleaned, inspected and trimmed LC brass for quite a while. This load is accurate in my 1945 Springfield Armory M-1.

I started low and worked up to this load, as everyone should. I also watched the chrono results and ejection patterns compared to LC M2 ball and the Greek surplus stuff.

[Steve in PA]

47.0gr of IMR-4895 1ith 150gr FMJ's are the load I use in my Garand.

[nicholst55]

My pet load for the M1 Garand I use to own was 52.5gr of IMR 4350 behind a Sierra 165gr HPBT using Win LR primers in Win cases.

Load shot well out to 300 yards....

IMR-4350 is widely recognized to be too slow a powder for the M1 Garand, and is potentially damaging to the rifle. It creates too high of a gas port pressure and bends the operating rod.

When using IMR powders, use nothing slower than 4320 in the Garand; 4895 and 4064 are about ideal.