LC vs. Winchester brass in .30-06
I am starting to load some rounds for M1 Garand for local competition for 2011 (200 yd max). I have both LC and Winchester brass available (good supply of both). Having used the LC thicker brass for .308 I am aware of the download aspect for LC, but I will not be max loading so it's not an issue, I assume.
Any advantage to the LC vs. the Winchester that I am not aware of? I would normally use the thinner Winchester since it's easier to work with, unless there's a good reason to use the LC.
Thoughts??
Any advantage to the LC vs. the Winchester that I am not aware of? I would normally use the thinner Winchester since it's easier to work with, unless there's a good reason to use the LC.
Thoughts??
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Your LC brass will last longer due to a greater thickness in the base and web area when shot from a gas gun. I loaded thousands of rounds for the M1 using 46-48 grains of IMR 4895 and the 168 SMK and the 174 FMJ-BT Government match bullet, it shot very well. Many of the LC 67 cases I used are still being used for cast loads in a 1903A3. All I do is keep the necks annealed to prevent splitting from work hardening.
Consistency is going to be the most important factor for you, what ever brass you use; sort them by weight and keep the most consistent for the 600 yard prone reduced target. That X ring is very small at 200 yards.0 -
Until you start talking an accurized M1 and match grade brass, odds are it isn't going to matter- use whichever. As Bpost said, the LC will probably give a little longer case life.
I'd agree; for shooting in matches, after depriming, weigh each case and segregate them into lots. It's a pain, but once done it doesn't need to be done again. Make sure they are trimmed uniformly, and away you go. Still not match brass but it helps.
I also weigh bullets if using pulled or surplus M2s or M80s. Variance in bullet weight from a lot of 1000 M2s ran from 144.1 gr on the light side to 156.9 on the high side. 12.8 gr of difference won't make much change in point of impact at 50 yards but at 200 it could mean the difference between cleaning the target and dumping one in the 9 or 8 ring. OTOH if using commercial bullets they're probably all within 1-2 grains of each other and it won't matter with the M1 so much.0 -
Bpost and Jonk:
Thanks for the info, never thought about weight of the cases (bullets yes). I do also have quite a bit of "match" brass available. But, I am not normally a rifle shooter and have only shot my M1 a few times, so this is just a learning experience and I hope to hit the target, so I didn't think it was "overly" important to use up my good brass at this point in time, but wanted to make sure I wasn't over looking some obvious (to you guys)point. I do have many types of good brass available from "lot" purchases of reloading supplies. Never assumed I'd use the .30-06, but things change.
Again, thanks for the info.0 -
Remember to stay with the mid burn rate powders for the Garand like IMR 4895 or IMR 4064. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by geeguy
Bpost and Jonk:
Thanks for the info, never thought about weight of the cases (bullets yes). I do also have quite a bit of "match" brass available. But, I am not normally a rifle shooter and have only shot my M1 a few times, so this is just a learning experience and I hope to hit the target, so I didn't think it was "overly" important to use up my good brass at this point in time, but wanted to make sure I wasn't over looking some obvious (to you guys)point. I do have many types of good brass available from "lot" purchases of reloading supplies. Never assumed I'd use the .30-06, but things change.
Again, thanks for the info.
You should find that 46 grains of IMR 4895 with a 168 SMK will shoot very well with any brass you choose. Most rifles I have used that load in liked it. I have seldom had to increase the charge more than .3 to .6 to hit an accuracy sweet spot. It also puts the port pressure on the M1 right where it needs to be.0
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