M14 Forum

macca4motion

Hello all Friends

I'm here to share with you my first test with my 1945 SA Garand in .30-06. This rifle was overhauled after the war and fitted with a VAR barrel.

Since i live in Italy, IMR powders are not so well diffused, and the best availability, is for VV powders. They are, sadly, the most expensive too.

I've used some once fired RWS case, shot them through my Benelli ARGO for the first time.

- Resizing was done with RCBS standard full size sizing die.
- Primer's pocket was uniformed with the proper RCBS tool ( highly recommended for all of you who have still to start reloading ).
- Bullet seating was done with Hornady custom grade seating die, fantastic turret, I can use it both for .30-06 and .308W, and the floating chamber guides the bullet during seating.
- OAL was set to 84,00 mm.
- Primers are CCI 200.
- Bullets are Hornady A-Max, 168 grs, HPBT, with polymer tip.
- Powder is VV N140, 45,5 grs.

This is the first range report, distance is 50 meters, I've shot sitted without any front rest, cold climate ( -6°C ) and moderate wind from left.



I think this is a good result, considering the weather conditions and the shooting position. I hope to can test again pretty soon on a bench with a front rest.

Have a nice day!

John Coleman

I looked at the Hornady M1 Garand load data and for VV N-140 with the 168 grain A-Max bullet they list 42.0 grains to a maximum of 47.5 grains with a loaded length of 3.240 inches. The length sounds a bit short where 3.30 is usually used but not it's a big difference. The VAR barrels are very good quality. Your load looks to be right in there and working well.

I spent some time in Sicily years go. I did learn some Italian and Sicilian but I've forgotten how to write Italian. When I first arrived in Sicily the Alpini troops were there working anti-Mafia operations and had BM-59's and M1D Garand sniper rifles. I'm guessing their Garands were in 7.62 NATO.

macca4motion

Hello and thanks for your suggestions! I live in Piedmont and I've never been in Sicily, is so far from here, but I plan to have a trip there soon.
With this charge the rifle works well without annoying recoil or so, and the cases have no signs of overpressure, just a little smoked from mouth to shoulder. I hope to reach good accuracy at 100 meters, to use it in competitions, and eventually try with some fine adjustment. You told me about Hornady load data, where I can find them? Which manual do I have to buy?

About our Garands, only a small amount was made in .30-06, so I agree with you, they probably were in .308, and I think too that they were made by Breda, since I know that they used to drill the taped holes for mounting optics, in spite of Beretta's receivers.


If you plan to come again here, let me know! Thanks!

John Coleman

The manual with M1 Garand load data is the Hornady Reloading Manual.

http://www.hornady.com/store/8th-Edi...oading-Manual/

It is now up to number 8, the 8th edition. It is a very new one. I believe it still have has Grand load data in it. I my be able to post the load data for Vhitavuori powders for the 30-06 Garand. It isn't a lot data really. Hornady will email you the load data I think. It does have 150, 155, 168 and 178 grain bullet load data with VV N-135, VV N-140 and I'm not sure if it has any vv N-150 load data. I'll have to check. I think VV N-140 is a good choice. Hornady likes VV N-135 though.

One day I will return to Italy. We do have some Italian TV programs and movies here. Mostly the Italian police TV programs.

1KPerDay

Looks good, macca!

macca4motion

Thanks, I found that Hornady sells directly to Italy, so it's a great deal, will buy it immediately!
To me N-135 seemed too fast for this kind of bullet, and more suitable for lighter bullets.

Italian police programs... I didn't tought that they were exported overseas!!!


Thanks, hope to improve and test with rest!

John Coleman

I can't find where I put the 150 to 155 grain bullet load data but I found 168 and 178 grain bullet load data for the Garand. To me the 178 grin bullet is too heavy but the 168 grain bullets work well in the Garand. If using maximum loads you should make sure the long recoil spring inside the op rod is in excellent condition. They get a bit worn after about 200 rounds and full power loads can then be hard on the rifle.

168 grain Hornady bullets

Loaded to 3.240 inches ( 3.300 to 3.340 inches is normal for the Garand)

VV N-135 - 41.1 to 46.0 grains

VV N-140 - 42.0 to 47.5 grains

VV N-150 - 41.4 to 47.7 grains

I can post the 178 grain bullet load data but havy bullets re bit hard on the Garand. I'll look for the 150 - 155 grain bullet load data.

macca4motion

Thanks, I agree with you, 168 is the max weight I think should be used. Hard loads could damage the op-rod,I bought this rifle some weeks ago and checked all the rifle before starting to shot. I changed the main springs, like the recoil and hammer spring. Safety first!

Thank you!

PhillipM

The M1 Garand was designed for M1 ball ammo, 173 grains with a 9 degree boat tail, and had a muzzle velocity of about 2600 feet per second.

168 is not the maximum, however load what you feel is safe.

With a vented gas plug you can shoot anything.

I bought a pound of VV140 and had good results with it at the local matches but it is very hard to find in my local area and ordering it is expensive due to hazardous material fees. VV powders burn cleaner than IMR because they are gun cotton based instead of nitrocellulose wood fibers. I read it on the internet, it must be true!

John Coleman

Well these days Garand parts are getting old and worn. It's getting difficult to find replacement parts, especially overseas. The 168 grain Hornady A-Max is suppose to be "better" than the 168 grain Sierra Match King, which isn't a "bad" bullet.

It's true the Garand was originally designed in 1936 when 172 grain M1 ammunition was the standard. The first ones weren't delivered to the US Army until September 1937. The 152 grain M2 ammunition came out in 1938. The Garand gas system was completely redesigned in 1939. The earliest Garand manual I've seen is from 1940. It only has shooting tables and sight settings for M2 ammunition. It does state that M1 ammunition can be used, "but M2 ball is considered the standard ammunition." I find it interesting that the 1903 Springfield, M1917 Enfield and 1918 BAR manuals from the 1940's have shooting tables for both M1 and M2 ammunition but I haven't seen any M1 ammunition information in any Garand manuals, other than the short statement in the 1940 manual. M1 ammunition was declared obsolete in August of 1944. M72 match ammunition uses the same bullet as M1 ammunition. I have chronographed M72 ammunition between 2570 and 2590 fps. It was designed for match rifles that got rebuilt often without so much concern for long term service use. The rifles weren't as old back then and parts weren't problem for the military to replace.