M1 Garand in .308 WIN - just purchased ! LOADS ?

[Pirate69]

I think you will find this reference interesting. Lots of good information.
https://archive.org/details/hatchers...?q=Garand+ammo

As to the source(s) of reloading data, I assume it is developed by powder manufacturers, bullet manufacturers, military, others and makes it way into the printed manuals and other references. I am sure others may have a more definitive answer as to data development and sources.

[DoctorBill]

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I have the 49th Ed of the Lyman Reloading Handbook (2008)

and the LEE Modern Reloading 2nd Edition (2009).

Is it really worth it to spend $30 - $40 on a newer Reloading Handbook ?

If so which is best ?

DoctorBill

[Pirate69]

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I have the 49th Ed of the Lyman Reloading Handbook (2008)

and the LEE Modern Reloading 2nd Edition (2009).

Is it really worth it to spend $30 - $40 on a newer Reloading Handbook ?

If so which is best ?

DoctorBill

This may be all you need.

https://hodgdonreloading.com/rldc/

[DoctorBill]

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Wow....ya, THAT is nice !

I will put THAT website down as an Icon on my Browser.

I'd love to be able to get that program with Data on a DVD !
Then the Data could be updated annually - or so.

DoctorBill

[DoctorBill]

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Well I am the proud owner of an M1 Garand in .308 WIN........
Got it this morning. Got home at 4 PM and passed out in my recliner.
Being 81 may not sound like anything to younger Dudes, but for me
six hours "up town" is about all I can do. It was hot today - 65° !

So - I got it home and put three 'sized' brass cartridges into it and they
fit like a glove and ejected well.

BUT - my sliding safety won't slide back - engage !
Cocked or uncocked (Trigger pulled - firing pin fired).

Am thinking, maybe it won't work until the Enbloc is in place. (?)
Don't want to put live shells in it until at the range.

Am going to run a patch thru it now. It is 65° out today.....been in the 40-50°
with rain and wind - Eastern Washington State weather. Midges are so heavy,
they swarm your head and fly up one's nose ! Ticks are heavy this Spring.
I live in the Palouse Farmland area where they grow Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rye
and Canola plants. The grass and Pine tree pollen can choke an engine filter !
I have 1.2 acres of Yard to mow and it is almost too high to cut. Excuses !

I will disassemble the M1 tomorrow and see what gives with dirt and etc.

The range is a Madhouse on weekends (open 2 - dusk 365 days) with all
the working guys who can't go weekdays. BUT - I am retired, so I go
weekdays when few are there !

I posted pics from the auction. One very beautiful thing. The stock is great !
The action is smooth - but may be better after cleaning and lubing.

I always liked a light coating of Lithium Grease.
I made a rifle Holder for cleaning. Also have a Cabelas' rifle holder from a
garage sale.

So - I'll Be Back ! More tomorrow. Pictures, too.

Any suggestions on that Safety not working would be appreciated.

BTW - The CMP case ( 50"x14"x5") weighs about 2x the rifle. One well made case !
Can one replenish the drying agent in that upper left flat Blue Plate ?

DoctorBill

PS - Hoppies #9 patch came out clean as a whistle.....

[DoctorBill]

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Couldn't wait...

Picture of rifling - camera on Manual Focus. Click the images.



Best I could do right now. Poor Depth of Focus. Need smaller aperture.

Oh well. Nice Barrel - clean. Now if only the Safety would work.....

Here it is in my homemade cleaning Stand on top of a Plastic Barrel.



Wiped the chaos of my work room....disgusting !

DoctorBill

[country gent]

I believe the rifles trigger group has to be in a cocked position for the safety to engage. On some rifles it takes a pretty good "pull" on the safety tang to engage it. The safety actually engages the boss on the side of the hammer and lowers the hammer of the sear and disconnector. The disconnector holds everything actually providing the 2 stage pull. the stop you feel is when the disconnector drops the hammer to the sear and the full spring force is there. When engaging the safety you have to overcome this spring force to engage it. You may have a rough ear on the safety thats gripping more than it should. Or a safety hammer combination thats not quite compatible do to tolerance stack ups. Remember these rifles have been rebuilt tuned up by swapping parts several times. It shouldnt be a tough fix once you get the trigger group out and can see what you have.

These triggers can be setr to a very nice fine pull. Its not recommended to go below 4 1/2 lbs but done right your holding 2 1/2 pounds on the first stage and the release is another 2 lbs added on. Mine is set up like this the second stage break is only about .010 more travel. A good service rifle trigger on the garand feels much lighter than it is. Another plus is these rifles have seen enough use that they are worn in a much better fit than can be achieved by hand. Also the wear patterns are visible now.

One popular conversion was to mill out the one side of the hammer to lighten it and add a heavier spring this sped up lock time of the gun. Usually the trigger needed to be tuned again after this do to the heavier spring. My m14/m1as have this mod but not my garand. This mod is a plus in the offhand stage more so than the sitting and prone. To do this mod you need carbide cutters and a solid mill.

[obssd1958]

Not sure if you got an operations manual or any printed material with your new rifle, but the following link is a great resource for new Garand owners (and some old owners might want a refresher!):
https://www.ialegion.org/wp-content/...and_Manual.pdf
The above has info you won't need, because it is written around maintenance of a rifle with a blank firing device attached, but everything else is pertinent and I like the format they use. The CMP forums also have disassembly and maintenance pages, but I don't think they are as easy to follow:
http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/fieldstrip.html

Hope this helps!!

[DoctorBill]

Thanks obssed1958 for that manual !

DoctorBill

[DoctorBill]

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"...has to be in a cocked position for the safety to engage. On some rifles it takes a pretty good "pull" on the safety tang to engage it." country gent

Ah so !

I cycled the action (cocked the hammer) and pushed back on the "Safety" with vigor !

The safety engaged. One does not expect a safety to require such force to be applied !

Learning more about this rifle ! I was dreading it having a problem right out of the shipping box !

DoctorBill

[country gent]

A light polish on the engaging surface will smooth it some. but having to overcome that hammer spring its going to be stiff. It should come off easier. The other is the thins area of the safety makes it feel harder also.

When you have it apart look at the engaging surface and the pin it set on for wear and roughness. Its an amazing bit of engineering as the hammer spring powers the whole unit thru cams and direct push.

[DoctorBill]

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Was watching YouTube (streaming on our TV) about .308 Win vs 7.62x51mm NATO.


Would I be safe shooting either round in my M1 Garand ?

I don't expect to, but if I were to run into some inexpensive NATO rounds for sale,
could I safely use them in my M1 ? It was said that the NATO rounds are usually
less powerful than .308 WIN.

DoctorBill