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Santa Margarita Gun Club Competitive Shooting Sports for Active and Retired Military, civilians and juniors

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Old 04-12-2012, 9:20 PM
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bubbapug1 bubbapug1 is offline
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Default noodling around with starting garand and M1A loads

I shot a couple matches with the club and was impressed with the amount of M1as and Garands on the line. I had a CMP special Garand I bought in 2007 and I also picked up a NM M1A a few weeks back. I decided to noodle around with some loads to prepare for some garand matches, and I also checked out the velocities on some HXP Greek surplus CMP stuff. Here is what I started with...on the low side to be safe.


Burro 4/12/12 - 10 to 13.5 mph - 55 F ----chrony distance 8 feet to muzzle.

30-06 test Loads for Garands (slower powders) and greek/CPM chrony data

43.5 grains IMR 4895 - 168 Grain SMK - 2400 (fps), 2380, 2376, 2407, 2415

45.2 grains TAC - 168 Grain SMK - 2532 (fps), 2592, 2557, 2589, 2585

HXP (Greek CPM vintage) 2721, 2739, 2713, 2757, 2699, 2712, 2694

308 test Load for M1A (slower powder)

39.4 grains TAC 168 grain SMK M1A rifle 2414, 2336, 2452, 2414, 2429, 2407

The 168 grain SMK garand loads allowed for better groupings than the HXP, but all were shot off a bald eagle rest in windy conditions. Results vary depending on my bad habits and form.

I am going to crank the velocities up a bit and re-post the results in a month or two.
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Last edited by bubbapug1; 04-12-2012 at 9:24 PM..
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Old 04-13-2012, 10:59 AM
JHermsen JHermsen is offline
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You're on the right track there Pugmiester!

You want those 168 SMKs to 2660 FPS and the 175 SMKs at 2580-2600 FPS, that'll assure you don't beat the crap out of your rifle and keep wear to the minimum.

The HXP is just standard Ball ammo w/ about a 2 MOA cone of fire. You're looking to get 1 MOA or better for ammo useful at 600 yds. Also, keep in mind that the HXP is a 150 gr. flat based projectile and will be moving faster "safer", thus the ~ 2700 FPS on your Chronograph.

The heavier the Projo the slower it will need to be moving to avoid problems with your old warhorses. BTW, don't go over 175 grs., you won't need it and the juice ain't worth the squeeze, as they say.

Once you are in the "speed range", shoot for groups with variations of powder in 0.2 gr increments from low to high. Measure groups and look for round patterns on the paper. Avoid loads that group in strings high to low, side to side or oblong; you want round ones. Take that load to the Range and shoot it across the course, if it still works, that's that rifle's "custom" or accuracy load.

This is also assuming you have all the same brass, prepped the same way. Consistency is the key. Do all your testing with one Lot of the same powder, different Lots of the same powder will have variations too.

Last edited by JHermsen; 04-13-2012 at 11:09 AM.. Reason: Addl info
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Old 04-13-2012, 9:10 PM
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Thanks for the input.

I only reload to give me an excuse to go to the range to test my loads!!! Especially with 50 bmg...although I am very fond of my garand. Plus, most stores are always out of 50 bmg AP.

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Old 04-15-2012, 1:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbapug1 View Post
Thanks for the input.

I only reload to give me an excuse to go to the range to test my loads!!! Especially with 50 bmg...although I am very fond of my garand. Plus, most stores are always out of 50 bmg AP.

No more than 10 rounds linked together.
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