The M1 Garand was one of the most important firearms during World War II for the Allies. Specifically for the Americans. Today, these firearms are known for being great collectibles that carry value but also are still widely shot because of their reliability and accuracy.
With the M1 Garand no longer being manufactured, ammunition for the M1 Garand becomes a hot topic for those that want to continue shooting their collectible firearm. DO NOT just stick any .30-06 rifle ammunition from your local gun shop in the M1 Garand. This can cause serious harm to the rifle!
The M1 Garand takes very specific .30-06 ammunition that should be used to preserve its integrity and operation.There are a wide variety of .30-06 ammunition options that can be used and today we are going to walk you through how to find the best ammo for this historic rifle.
The Importance of Gas Pressure
If anything is going to harm your M1 Garand, it isn’t going to be the grain or manufacturer, it will be the chamber pressure. A round that creates too much pressure for the old M1 Garand, can send it to its grave. Remember that we are talking about a vintage rifle that was made between 60 to 90 years ago. Ammunition has changed drastically since then.
When the U.S. Military originally commissioned the M1 Garand, the .30-06 M2 Ball round that it used was tested for the amount of chamber pressure it would create.
The M2 Ball round was found to have an allowable pressure of 50,000 psi and a maximum proof pressure of 67,500 psi. The breech pressure was around 42,000 psi. These pressures allow the M1 Garand to operate smoothly without putting too much wear and tear on the operation rod, bolt, and spring.
The gas system that operates the M1 Garand is very important. The gas pressure, the port size, operation rod size, and recoil spring strength, all have to be in balance to ensure proper operation of the firearm. If any of these factors are off, the M1 Garand will fail.
Today, SAAMI standards for .30-06 ammunition used in high-powered hunting and competition rifles simply exceed the chamber pressures allowed in the M1 Garand. The allowable pressure of today’s .30-06 ammo is 60,000 psi. The maximum proof pressures are as high as 86,400 psi.
This is why we say not to use just any modern .30-06 ammo in the M1 Garand. This high-powered .30-06 ammo works just fine in modern firearms, but it will cause excess wear and tear on the functioning parts of the M1 Garand and overtime cause operational failure. That is the last thing we want to do with a vintage rifle like the M1 Garand.
Surplus Ammunition
With the M1 Garand being a vintage military firearm, the first logical option for ammunition would be buying surplus ammo. This would be from the same era that the M1 was being used in the military. This has been a very popular route to go in the past, but that well is quickly running dry. Stockpiles have been depleted and overall the age and condition of these rounds probably don’t make them the most reliable options on the market.
With a smaller supply, these rounds, which are also vintage collector items, are likely to cost more than other options. If a truly vintage experience is what you are looking for, or you want matching ammunition that goes with the M1 Garand, by all means, spend the money on surplus ammunition.
There are various places where surplus ammo can be found on the internet. A quick Google search will bring up plenty of options. Many surplus rounds today are coming from overseas. Places like South Korea, Ethiopia, Greece, and Germany have been the biggest sources of surplus ammo in the past few years.
A reputable place to try and find surplus rounds for the M1 Garand will be through the Civilian Marksmanship Program. They have been trying to keep up with the high demand for surplus .30-06 ammunition for the M1 Garand. A membership is needed, but it might be worth it to get a good deal on surplus ammo.
Overall, surplus ammunition is not the long-term solution to ammo needs for the M1 Garand. If you are just looking for ammunition for target practice and actively use the M1 Garand, there are better, cheaper options than going the surplus route.
Reloaded Ammunition
Reloading is always a great option if you are serious about your firearms. With the M1 Garand being a vintage military rifle with special ammunition needs due to its lower chamber pressure tolerances, loading your ammunition could be a great alternative for the long run. Although it will take some time and money to figure out if you aren’t into reloading. Although reloading is usually the go-to method for specialty rounds.
If you are new to reloading, don’t be worried about doing something new. There are plenty of resources and equipment out there to help you.The nice thing is, it is a skill that can be used for a variety of firearms, not just your M1 Garand. Although there are a few loading tips you’ll want to know specifically for the M1 Garand.
M1 Garand Reloading Tips
For the best-performing M1 Garand loads in .30-06, keep the chamber pressures light. This ensures that you don’t put excess wear and tear on the operating parts of the firearm. Also, be sure to keep your brass trimmed and use bullets that are 180 grains or less. A 150 grain bullet is still the most popular and the safest bet for reloading.
Hornady has a great reloading manual that has a section specifically for service rifles that includes the M1 Garand. This would be a great source of information to ensure that the reloads are adequate and safe for use. Reloads might not be the most popular option to some, but it is a far more long-term solution to M1 Garand ammunition than buying surplus ammo where the supply will eventually dry up.
Factory Ammunition
When surplus ammo supplies started to dwindle, some of the large ammunition manufacturers decided to start making specialized ammunition to fill the market void. They manufactured ammo for very specific firearms that have seemingly stayed popular throughout the years. The M1 Garand quickly fell into that category!
Federal was one of the first companies to come out with a 150 grain load in their American Eagle line of ammunition. Other companies quickly followed suit and started making rounds that were specifically designed for the M1 Garand and the lower chamber pressures that are needed for safe and effective firearm operation.
Some of the other manufacturers outside of Federal, that have jumped into making lower-pressure M1 Garand ammo, are Hornady, Black Hills, Privi Partizan, Sellier & Bellot, Sig Sauer, Steinel, and Winchester. Each of these are a little bit different from the other and have their nuances.
Federal: American Eagle AE3006M1
The Federal is the first round we suggest. That is only if you are shooting an M1 Garand with a new barrel. Unfortunately, these bullets do not perform well with original, G.I. barrels. That is mostly due to the shorter length of the overall round because the bullet is seated a bit deeper into the casing than standard .30-06 rounds.
Black Hills .30-06
While Black Hills .30-06 does not show that it is specifically made for the M1 Garand. However, the manufacturer states that it works with the M1 and has been tested in the M1. In tests, it is one of the most accurate .30-06 rounds shot out of an all original M1 Garand. It has the tightest grouping pattern compared to the other factory ammunition in this section. The one downside to getting ammunition that performs well in a vintage rifle is the cost. Currently, Black Hills .30-06 ammo is running about $2.50 per round.
Hornady 168 Grain ELD Match
This round from Hornady is probably one of the best factory rounds on the market for the M1 Garand. It is one of the most accurate rounds that were tested and also has the best price to accuracy ratio on the list. It averaged a 1.33-inch spread on a five shot grouping which is great for a round that costs about $2. It may not perform as well as the Black Hills, but it is close enough and slightly less expensive.
Other M1 Garand Ammo Manufacturers
The other manufacturers listed above have cheaper ammo than the Federal, Black Hills, and Hornady, but this is a case of “you get what you pay for”, or “not worth the money” status. Sig Sauer is expensive, but accurate and Prvi Partizan is cheap, but not as accurate. We would suggest sticking with one of the well-known factory brands if you chose manufactured ammo for your M1 Garand.
Choices & More Choices
The M1 Garand can not use just any 30-06 ammo on the market. You need a round that produces around 50,000 psi of chamber pressure or less. You can find surplus ammo that was made during the same era as the M1 Garand, but those supplies are running out and it is getting more expensive.
Your best bet for the long term is to learn how to reload your own rounds. There are plenty of guides for reloading specifically for the M1 Garand, and this is a cheaper option in the long run, especially if you already have a basic reloading setup.
Your last option is to buy modern ammo that is made specially for older firearms; sometimes specifically for the M1 Garand. We mentioned some well known brands that make 30-06 for the M1, like Black Hills, Hornady, and Federal, but there are plenty of options out there. No matter what ammo you go with, make sure its pressure ratings are compliant with the M1 Garand’s specifications, or else that vintage rifle may not last very long.
