Recommended 30-06 powder and primers?

[Gashira]

Hello,

It's great to see everyone from GT again. Quick question:

My Dad had a moment of clarity and realized that I can reload all of his 30-06 brass for his M1 Garand on my Dillon 550B. I ordered all of the necessary gear but wasn't sure what powder and primers to use. Does anyone have any recommendations? This will be 100% on the range.

[BigSlick]

IMR or H4895 and 150gr surplus bullet from HiTech or Pat's for the most part.

Or, here are a few Garand specific options :

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b349/BigSlick10MM/load_data/Garand_Data.jpg

[Gashira]

Heya Slick,

Thanks for the info. Good to see you again too.

[Washington,D.C.]

In 30-06 for the Garand IMR-4895 is the most forgiving as far as load variation and pressure. Most accurate is IMR-4064. Niether of these powders will measure in a Dillon. The Dillon powder measure can be modified to work fairly well with IMR-4895 but this requires serious machining. I think somebody might sell modified part(s). IMR-4064 is about impossible to use in a Dillon. Now very close to these is Varget. I'm not a huge fan of Varget but it does measure easily.

Here is some Varget load data for the Garand. Data will look like starting loads from Hodgdon.

155gr SMK - 43.0 to 48.0 grains in commercial cases. (reduce by one grain for military cases)

168gr SMK - 42.0 to 47.0 is commercial cases. (reduce by one grain for military cases)

I don't recommend 175 grain or heavier bullets in the Garand as they hard on the action. Loaded hot enough they only help beyond 300 yards. When loaded gentle enough for the Garand they aren't better than the 168 grain Sierra Match Kings. I'll include the data if somebody wants to try them.

175gr SMK - 41.5 to 46.5 grains (use with caution, inspect rifle iften)

180gr SMK - 40.0 to 45.0 grains (not recommended, velocity low, use w/caution)

The safest primers by far are the CCI (Blount) #34 "mil spec" primers.

Standard Winchester LR primers increase pressure and increase velocity by 45fps.

Remington 9 1/2 primers work well.

CCI-200 primers might be okay in the Garand.

Most accurate with Varget are CCI-BR2 bench rest primers.

Remington 9 1/2 is most accurate with IMR powders.

Not normally a huge difference in accuracy between primers though.

DO NOT USE FEDERAL PRIMERS IN THE GARAND !!!

[Washington,D.C.]

Ball powders measure easily but the ball powders with the correct burning rates for the Garand leave too much space in the 30-06 case and can become position sensitive.

[AlPackin]

hey Washington,D.C., nice to see you here.
Welcome :thumbsup:

[Washington,D.C.]

Hey Al. Thanks.

[creophus]

Any load info for Winchester 748 that you guys can throw in?

[Washington,D.C.]

W-748 is more primer sensitive than IMR powders. CCI #34 primer is a magnum primer. Winchester standard LR primer acts like a magnum primer. Much hotter than other standard primers. Here are my best Garand loads with W-748.

150gr bullet - 48.0 grains W-748

168gr bullet - 46.0 grains W-748

175gr bullet - 44.0 grains W-748

These loads are one grain below max Garand loads with W-748.

Chamber pressure and gas port pressure go up quickly in 30-06 with W-748 as bullet weight increases. Most accurate with hot primer and changes point of impact from mild primers more than with IMR powders.

[kidcop]

Ha! Slicks been to the NJ High Power page and reloading stuph.

I'm going to be looking at Varget in both 308 and '06 for my M-1's. I shot a few with Varget and 168 SMK's last year with my 308 M-1 and it made bug holes. (several bullets through the same hole) I've been waiting for better weather and will ring out the Varget. I also think I'm going to try out some Re-15 as well.

[K218]

I am using Varget and CCI BR2's for .308 in my Rem 700 PSS SS and should have equal performance for the for 30-06 also..........J

[creophus]

W-748 is more primer sensitive than IMR powders. CCI #34 primer is a magnum primer. Winchester standard LR primer acts like a magnum primer. Much hotter than other standard primers. Here are my best Garand loads with W-748.

150gr bullet - 48.0 grains W-748

168gr bullet - 46.0 grains W-748

175gr bullet - 44.0 grains W-748

These loads are one grain below max Garand loads with W-748.

Chamber pressure and gas port pressure go up quickly in 30-06 with W-748 as bullet weight increases. Most accurate with hot primer and changes point of impact from mild primers more than with IMR powders.Thanks are these loads with CCI or with Winchester primers?

[Washington,D.C.]

Thanks are these loads with CCI or with Winchester primers?

The W-748 loads were originally used with Winchester LR primers. They are accurate with CCI-250 magnum primers or Winchester LR. The CCI primers are called "magnum" but velodities are higher with the standard Winchester LR primer. W-748 has a steep pressure curve. These loads are one full grain below max. You can fine tune them by working up half to one grain more.