Got a chance to go to the range today and test fire some of this winter's handiwork.
Load is 47 gr IMR 4064, SB primer, HXP military brass. Bullet 150 Hornady FMJ, seated to cannelure. Don't have the exact COL written down.
Firing 8 round groups at 100 yards, I was able to hold 2-2.5MOA with issue irons once I got a few downrange to settle things in after a thorough strip and clean over the winter. This is very good for an issue M1 Garand. Did not have a chrono available, but did fire 2 groups with LC
60s mixed M2 ball, and POI was undistinguishable vs. the handload. Function was flawless through 66 rounds, 50 handload and 16 LC military ball.
Moved out to the 400 yard steel and was able to reliably tag the 16" gong with the elevation dialed to just under 400. The 12" gong was about 75% in some nasty wind. I think I would have had issues on that one with my match AR. Had 2 rounds remaining when a guy showed up to spot so I threw 2 at a dirt patch on the 600 yard berm with the elevation set to 600. Both impacted a little high, so it seems the higher BC bullet is outshooting the sight calibration as range increases as one would expect.
I know some folks like to shoot the old M1s and Springfields, and I think this load would give you good service in an affordable package. Accuracy I got was good enough for 100 and 200 yard military matches.
Load is 47 gr IMR 4064, SB primer, HXP military brass. Bullet 150 Hornady FMJ, seated to cannelure. Don't have the exact COL written down.
Firing 8 round groups at 100 yards, I was able to hold 2-2.5MOA with issue irons once I got a few downrange to settle things in after a thorough strip and clean over the winter. This is very good for an issue M1 Garand. Did not have a chrono available, but did fire 2 groups with LC
60s mixed M2 ball, and POI was undistinguishable vs. the handload. Function was flawless through 66 rounds, 50 handload and 16 LC military ball.
Moved out to the 400 yard steel and was able to reliably tag the 16" gong with the elevation dialed to just under 400. The 12" gong was about 75% in some nasty wind. I think I would have had issues on that one with my match AR. Had 2 rounds remaining when a guy showed up to spot so I threw 2 at a dirt patch on the 600 yard berm with the elevation set to 600. Both impacted a little high, so it seems the higher BC bullet is outshooting the sight calibration as range increases as one would expect.
I know some folks like to shoot the old M1s and Springfields, and I think this load would give you good service in an affordable package. Accuracy I got was good enough for 100 and 200 yard military matches.
