Pro2A

I was talking with some PAFOA guys today at a B-day BBQ for one of our members and we got into a discussion about M1 Garands... I was telling a guy at the BBQ how I was planning on getting one at some point in the next 6 months or so. He mentioned something about how you can't use modern .30-06 rounds in a Garand. I was a little skeptical about his comment so I asked him to explain. He said the pressure created with new rounds are too great and can bend the recoil rod or other parts, or even cause the gun to blow up. He said I can only use military surplus rounds...

I was a little skeptical and asked "Well why couldn't I go with a lower grain round to prevent that"?

He responded with "Well I guess you could reload your own".

I was pretty confused as the conversation turned to something else and I was left with more questions then answers.

Has anyone else heard about this with the Garands?

msgt/ret

Never heard such a thing and have shot Garands for many years.

__________________
When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.

"Don't forget, incoming fire has the right of way."

akapjr

Here are a few quotes taken from other sites about garand ammo........If you shoot sporting ammo with slow burning powder, you will likely bend the operating rod, in not too many shots.

This rifle is designed to have gas pressure down to about 5,000 PSI as the rear of the bullet passes the gas port. If the pressure is much lower it will not cycle properly. If the pressure gets much higher, you start damaging the operating rod.Because of the design, Garands need to be fed ammo within a certain pressure curve.

You can buy surplus M2 ball. You can buy Federal American Eagle, made specifically for M1s. You can load your own to match the correct pressure curve. Several loading manuals have loads marked "for M1 Garand".
If you have been shooting garands for a long time you should know this.

akapjr

Go on the CMP discussion forum & search for garand ammo.That should answer your question.

automatic slim

Guess I'll stick with my 1903 Springfield which can shoot anything.

__________________
"First gallant South Carolina nobly made the stand."
Edge of Darkness

F350

My Garand is match grade with fiberglass reinforced stock and chambered for 7.62X51 (308) so I have no problem with current stocks of ammo.

But yes with slow burning modern sporting 30-06 ammo you have problems with over pressure at the gas port.

Superhouse 15

Install one of these and you can adjust the gas system to shoot modern loads:

BROWNELLS : MC CANN INDUSTRIES : M1 GARAND ADJUSTABLE GAS SYSTEM - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

or

BROWNELLS : SCHUSTER : ADJUSTABLE GAS SYSTEM - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

Pro2A

Ok. That clears it up a lot more. I was a little confused with the discussion at the party as to what exactly made one .30-06 round different then another. To me a round is a round is a round. I guess there is more to it then just grains and caliber

shooterX

superhouse, have you tried either of these?