Best ammunition for M1 Garand

[NATO Boy]

Hi everyone:

I recently bought a Springfield Armory M1 Garand at a local gun shop; IMVHO, this thing is a beauty! It's made up on a (possible) Navy receiver, Danish barrel, refinished dark-stained walnut wood throughout and USGI parts for everything else. It's chambered for .30-06 Springfield; not 7.62 NATO or .308 Winchester like the other model SA offers.

My question for any M1 users/owners out there is this: What would be the best "commercial" ammo for this awesome rifle?

I say "commercial" because it's a lot easier for me to go pick up "commercial ammo" than hunting around for "mil-surp" ammo (which is probably the better option) and because ammo with medium-burning powder and a 150 gr. bullet is what's recommended; however, some M1 ethusiasts swear by "reloading" and don't recommend commercial stuff because it's "too hot" for the M1. If this is the case, what is the best option?

Wes, I'm particularly directing this at you...

Cheers,

Mickey

P.S. - I will post some pics when my camera/uploading issues disappear.

 

[NATO Boy]

Ok, here's some gun pRon finally.  ;D

 

[KLAVER]

you lucky devil, she beautiful, so how much did it cost? 

 

[Michael Dorosh]

i've used surplus in my M-1 no problems, but its corrosive, so you're smart to be looking for commercial.  No brand names or #grains come to mind immediately; I had no problems with 150 grain stuff.  I used to work in a gun store and the boss swore by it, so take it for what it is worth.

 

[1feral1]

She's really nice MATE! I got my M1 back in 1978, a SA original Ser 4115XX, made in Dec 41. She is in storage in Saskatchewan, and next year I hope to go 'bark'n' with her.

Now about ammo, well I had used heaps over the yrs, mainly US genuine G1 LC and other good US lots. If you can find it great. Clips are cheap too. Best to buy US mil spec. I have used ammo ranging from wartime to the late 1960s. This 1960s stuff even came clipped in bandoleers (and was from Central America somewhere) I have also used CIL/IVI 180gr KKSP back in my bear hunt'n days in the early 80s too.

I have also used reloads, and another good breed of ammo is the Yugolsavian .30 ball. Its mil spec, and Australia bought milllions of ball from them to feed our Browning 1919A4 upgraded L3A3/A4 .30cals which we use in the T50 turrets on our M113's, along with the M2 .50.

I will confess, be careful what you use, Mike is right, as there is a chance of corrosive primers in some types of ammo, especially berdan primed Euro stuff, so make sure you pull her thru good when your done at the end of the day, and give her a good clean ASAP.

You'll like your M1, its earned a good rep in WW2, Korea, adn VN, considering the Yanks have had it in service since 1936!

Nice poster, eh!

Here's my Grand ole Garand herself.

Good shooting,

Wes

 

[NATO Boy]

"The M1 does my talking."  ;D Good ole Propaganda Remix.

you lucky devil, she beautiful, so how much did it cost? 

$700 - not exactly a "steal" but compared to buying a brand new model (1300-1400 US at SA) or an original USGI that still fires (last good I saw was 1000) it seem like a good alternative.

Corrosive primers are a pain in the @$$ indeed; however, I understand that the US started making Post-War M2 Ball with non-corrosive boxer primers during the late 50s. This seems like the best stuff to get (especially since the US is still clearing out .30-06 war stocks, hence it's abundant.) Unfortunately, I don't know how often I can get to gun shows within my area; school, work and army fill my schedule. But I'll make a point of getting to some and tracking down this ammo.

More pics to follow...

 

[1feral1]

Not a bad price, back in '78 my M1 was bought for $260. Convert that to 2005 dollars, and back then, that was a fair bit of money. Here is another 'take' (SGT Rummy) from that wartime poster! I love it   ;D, plus another genuine M1 poster.

Cheers,

Wes

 

[Craig B]

NATO Boy ,

Finding M2 Ball in blasting quantities is quite hard now , most of its been shot up over the years and surplus is hard to come by for the importers .

You can use commercial 150gr or 165gr ammo but don't shoot heavier bullet weights, it hard on the rifle .

Enjoy and shoot safe 

 

[1feral1]

I do believe PMC, out of South Korea is still making the ball ammo. It too is mil spec, and is good clean ammo.

Try contacting a good dealer, like Wolverine out of Manitoba.

Cheers,

Wes

 

[Craig B]

Wes there's not a lot of ammo choices in Canada . Importing is quite a pain in the @$$ due to Canadian regs and buying in the US can land you in trouble now from the Americians .

NATO Boy , check your local gunshop , ask if they can order you a case of Winchester .30-06 product code USA3006 . Its pretty close to M2 Ball . Around $15/box of 20 .

Craig

 

[1feral1]

I guess times have changed since I left.

Cheers,

Wes

 

[Craig B]

They sure have Wes and not for the better  . Its not as bad as England or Australia ...... yet .


Craig

 

[NATO Boy]

More gun pRon...

 

[MG34]

Bah!! M1 garand is softcore gun porn,how about a modern rifle.

 

[NATO Boy]

Bah!! M1 garand is softcore gun porn,how about a modern rifle.

There's no school better than "old-school"  ....although Kev might have something to say about that.  ;D

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Bah!! M1 garand is softcore gun porn,how about a modern rifle.

So start another thread about one instead of pissing in this one.  ??? :

 

[pegged]

Milsurp's are beautiful. My two favorite guns are my M1 and my Enfield No4mk1. Got my 1911 in the mail yesterday  ;D

Here's my M1. '43 Winchester with a 59 date VAR barrel. It looks much better than in the pics, my camera's strange at times.

 

[1feral1]

Nice M1 Mate, nice!

Wes

 

[NATO Boy]

Nice indeed....is that an apple holding up your Garand? 

Looking for a sling for mine too (is your Canvas sling a Korean-Era model, or is it just a Blancoed WWII sling); thinking of getting a repro M1907 sling and treating it with mink oil (seems appropriate for mine, anyway.)

Wes, my friendly neighbour was kind enough to give me some post-war M2 Ball (dated '56?!? I think); when I get it to a range I'll let you guys know how good it shoots.

 

[x westie]

Any of you fellows who are M1 fans have any info on how the M1 stood up to the winter weather in the Korean War, the Korean winter is alto like a Canadian winter , i know i read that the M1 carbine had problems with stoppages in the cold weather, i don't know if the Yanks were expecting this type of climate when they first landed in Korea, probably didn't have the proper lubricants to keep these weapons firing, I'm' only guessing, i know there are better infomed people than me to answer this one, maybe--" Wes the "AUSSIE Gun Plummer" can help us out on the Korean cold weather problem. thanks :CD: