Load for a 150 grain 30-06 (Garand)

[SingleShotShorty]

I have a good friend that is looking for a good safe load to shoot 150 grain Ballistic Tips in his Garand to hunt with this year. If you have any please post them. I'm thinking 49 grains of IMR 4895 but have not loaded for a garand before.

[jhalcott]

  Reloading for the '06 Garand is a bit different than loading for MOST 30-06's. Do a search for "loading the M1". A partial sized or neck sized case CAN hang up in the chamber,so a small base die should be used. Also brass life is shorter due to all the reworking done to it. As far as the ballistic tips,they should work fine. The powders should be kept to the midrange types as SLOW powders might damage the gas system. Primers are often a problem , IF they are very sensitive OR not seated fully below flush, you can get a "slam fire"
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=reloading+the+M1+Garand&ei=utf-8&fr=b2ie7
  hope this helps.!

[SingleShotShorty]

Thanks for the information, I have been loading since 1970 but have never loaded for a Garand all info is welcome thank you

[rem2035]

Be careful with the Garand.  My understanding these weapons were designed to work at certain pressures. A hot load can bend the op-rod and do other damage. Hornady's 6th Edition has a section for the Garand.

[Larry Gibson]

It is not rocket science to load for the M1 Garand.  One only has to be aware that the slow burning powders are not suitable.  4895 is THE M1 powder as it was loaded by the bajillions of rounds with 150 gr bullets in M2 ammo and with 174 gr bullets in M1/M72 ammo.  Actually the gas system is designed around the M1 ammo which was loaded with 4895.  Depending on the flavor (there are several different makes and also milsurp still around) of 4895 the 49 gr load mentioned is probably about right with a 150 Nosler BT.  However as with all rifles your friend should work up to find what his rifle likes best.  I'd suggest starting at 46 gr and work up in 1/2 gr increments.  I usually find best accuracy with M1s in the 2800 fps range with 150 gr bullets and 4895 (most any flavor).  Another good bullet to use in the M1 for hunting that feeds weel is the 165 Remington CoreLok.  I'd also suggest getting the RCBS X-die (a small base die is not necessary for the M1) as it will give much longer case life and you will not have to trim the cases. 

Larry Gibson