Garand Hunting Ammo

[Matthew]

Those of you that have Garands, what ammunition do you use to hunt with? Of course you need something that won't bend the op rod, but will still bring down the game. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[jim]

No experience on this, but I hear the Remington Bronze Points and any "ballistic tips" in the 150 gr,. weight will work well. Try and find something in that weight that doesn't go over 2700 to 2800 fps. Lower is better.

jim

[Rick]

I've been researching this myself, w/o a lot of success (yet).

I do have the option of reloading -- basically mimicing the M2 load using IMR 4895 powder and keeping the bullet weight between 150 or 168 grains (using a good hunting type bullet).

In addition to the bullet weight and muzzle velocity, a person has to be cognizant of how fast the powder is burning, the gasses have to hit the cycling port in the barrel at the correct time.

This issue of ammunition compatibility is the only thing I dislike about the Garand. Don't get me wrong, I still love my M-1; but if it weren't so dang picky about ammo, I'd probably sleep with it under my pillow.

;D

[Matthew]

I'm not familiar with reloading, but could you pull the bullet out of some M2 Ball rounds and replace it with a 150 grain hunting bullet?

[Bearfootfarm]

I'm not familiar with reloading, but could you pull the bullet out of some M2 Ball rounds and replace it with a 150 grain hunting bullet?

You COULD do that but it wouldnt be a good idea. Any time you change a component you run the risk of getting too much pressure. And youd still need reloading equipment and some basic knowledge to do it correctly. Just experiment with some standard factory rounds in the 150 -165 weights and youll find a good load. Deer arent that hard to kill

[huntershaven]

You COULD do that but it wouldnt be a good idea. Any time you change a component you run the risk of getting too much pressure. And youd still need reloading equipment and some basic knowledge to do it correctly. Just experiment with some standard factory rounds in the 150 -165 weights and youll find a good load. Deer arent that hard to kill


It's not that standard factory rounds won't work in a Garand, it's that they might work ONCE to break or bend yoru operating rod if you are lucky or sent the bolt through the back of the receiver and through your head if you aren't so lucky. The receiver and bolt on a Garand rifle can take the pressure up to a .338 Winchester Magnum without a hitch, but the op rod can only handle a certain burn curve and function properly.

If you use a faster than designed powder you won't cycle the action enough to eject the cartridge brass and load the next round. If you use a powder that burns slower than it was designed for then you can have too much pressure and damage the rifle.

I have heard it rumored that you can use Federal Gold Match ammuntion through a Garand without a hitch, but I have not done it and am prone to not believe something someone says regarding these rifles until I have researched it myself.

Two options I can suggest, both of which I have done myself. First, buy an adjustable gas nut/plug from a company called Schuster or Smith Enterprises. Both can be found in the online Brownell's Gun Parts catalog. I use the former on my Garand and I can vent the extra pressure from the commercial ammunition, leaving just enough to cycle the action and at a slightly slower rate.

The second option is to handload your ammunition following the specifications from the Hornady reloading manual which has a special entry for the M-1 Garand rifle due to it's unique design limitations. I have also pulled the bullets and powder out of mil-spec M2 ball ammo then put in my own powder charge and a hunting bullet to make disposable loads for the hunting fields when I might lose the brass when it ejects.

The first solution is faster as you just order the part, replace the issue gas nut/plug and follow the instructions that come with the part. I started out with the gun on full vent and turned it in a quarter turn until it barely cycled the commercial ammunition, then turned it in another eight of a turn and left it for that particular load. Since I reload my own ammo now I leave the nut on there for when I might have to use commerical ammo in a pinch.

I hope this has been helpful for you.

[Matthew]

Thanks Huntershaven. Great information.

[kawalekm]

I routinely shoot Remington 150 grain softpoints in my Garand. I load it with 48grains of IMR 4320, which has about the same buring rate as 4895 and 4064. I've not yet gotten around to shooting a deer with it yet, but I'll get around to it.

[HPshooter]

The latest (December 2006 or January 2007) NRA Hunter magazine has an advertisement from the DCM for 240 rounds of M2 Ball for $55, and something like 175 (that can't be right - not a multiple of 8) rounds in M1Garand clips for about that price.

[HPshooter]

Hmmm! my numeral eight turned into 8)

[Matthew]

Yes, I buy all my M2 Ball Ammo through CMP. Can't beat the price or service. Problem is though, the full metal jacket M2 load isn't the greatest hunting load.