Affordable powder options besides IMR 4895, for M1 Garand load

[Tere_Hanges]

Does anyone know of or have tried other more affordable powders beside IMR 4895 for an M1 Garand with 150gr FMJ? Was wondering if Ramshot TAC or BL-C(2) would work. I don't care too much about accuracy. Just want a plinking load that is easy on the action.

 

[toro1]

Does anyone know of or have tried other more affordable powders beside IMR 4895 for an M1 Garand with 150gr FMJ? Was wondering if Ramshot TAC or BL-C(2) would work. I don't care too much about accuracy. Just want a plinking load that is easy on the action.

I am not a reloader so can't offer any insight into your question, but have a question. If you used one of the ported gas plugs does the powder you use make any difference? With the ported plug wouldn't the action be protected from the hotter powders? I realize you are trying to find a similar powder, but I'm just curious in case I do start reloading.

 

[Tere_Hanges]

I am not a reloader so can't offer any insight into your question, but have a question. If you used one of the ported gas plugs does the powder you use make any difference? With the ported plug wouldn't the action be protected from the hotter powders? I realize you are trying to find a similar powder, but I'm just curious in case I do start reloading.

I do have the ported gas plugs. But I'm just wondering if there is another powder that is comparable to IMR 4895.

 

[bonesurf]

I dont load 30-06. I do load .308/7.62 nato loads. with BL-C(2) and it works great as a range load. I would think it isnt very different

 

[Radman64]

I have a friend who shoots CMP competition with the Garand & reloads ammo, he tells me it costs more now to reload 150 grain .30 Springfield then to just buy ammo new (he gets it sent to his buddy's home in AZ) because of the crazy price of propellant.
That's not figuring the time spent doing the reloading which can take many hours just to kick out a hundred rounds, cases need to be de-primed and cleaned.

 

[Tere_Hanges]

I found some helpful information in this thread from ar15.com:

Anyone using H322 in 150 grain .30-06 loads (specifically for a Garand)? - AR15.COM

Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear.

www.ar15.com

Seems I have some options to try:
IMR 3031 - 48.0 grains
IMR 4895 - 49.0 grains
IMR 4064 - 50.0 grains
W748 - 48.0 grains
AA2460 - 49.0 grains
AA2520 - 51.0 grains
AA2495 - 50.5 grains
H4895 - 49.0 grains
BLC-2 - 49.0 grains
H335 - 49.0 grains
RL-12 - 48.0 grains

I've also heard Ramshot TAC is a decent option:

Ramshot TAC Powder - CMP Forums

This forum gives you a chance to voice your opinion and questions on the Ammo Sales Program.

forums.thecmp.org

TAC burn rate should be close to IMR 4895:

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Copy-of-2024-Smokeless-Relative-Burn-Rate-Chart-WEBSITE.pdf

 

[Tere_Hanges]

I have a friend who shoots CMP competition with the Garand & reloads ammo, he tells me it costs more now to reload 150 grain .30 Springfield then to just buy ammo new (he gets it sent to his buddy's home in AZ) because of the crazy price of propellant.
That's not figuring the time spent doing the reloading which can take many hours just to kick out a hundred rounds, cases need to be de-primed and cleaned.

Could be true especially if you have to buy brass. But I have a lot of brass.

 

[bonesurf]

I mean the wild card is the time and desire to reload. if you own the components particularly primers at a reasonable cost....the savings are there, but nothing is worth it if you dont have the time and desire.

 

[Rickvs]

I have used IMR4064...49 to 50 gr with a 150 gr bullet. (52.0 gr and a good 150 gr bullet works well in bolt actions and gives close to 3000 FPS with a 24 inch barrel...been using that load for 50 years and it has been accurate in every rifle I have tried it in.)

 

[Tere_Hanges]

If anyone is interested. Last week I picked up a few powders, some TAC, W748 and Varget.

I worked up some M1 loads with the TAC and tested them out today. They all went bang and had a pretty tight group. Two shots were actually touching each other. This was at 100 yds from a bench rest.

Here are my load specs: once fired HXP brass, 150gr Hornady FMJBT, 46gr TAC, CCI #200 primer, OAL 3.2".

I also made one round using once-fired HXP brass, 165gr. Hornady BTSP, 46gr. TAC, CCI#200 primer, OAL 3.253". But I didn't shoot this one in the M1. I tested it in a R700. I might make some more of these to try out in the M1.

 

[Dvsride]

Varget is pretty good; probably the cleanest powder I’ve used for .30-06. I’ve mainly use 4895/4064. W748 & BLC2 both work as I’ve used them before also but the main thing I don’t like it them is they are dirty powders; and I’m lazy when it comes to cleaning guns. But W748/BLC2 is pretty cheap and I use that when I wanna plink .308/.223/.30-06.

 

[Dooder]

TAC is fantastic. I use it to load M193, M2, and M80
I'm sad because I bought many 8# jugs back when this was 100 bucks a jug. Everything is so expensive nowdays, although it's relatively still cheap. But there's a couple TAC clones out there that can be had for $200 a jug delivered.

 

[Enfielder]

I've used 748 and BLc-2 in my M1 with good results. In fact, I use both in 5.56, .308, and .30-06 . BLc-2 has the edge in accuracy.

 

[BigBossman]

BL-C(2) would be my next choice after H/IMR 4895. Reasoning beieng is that it works great, AND is available. Ramshot TAC would be right up there, too.

 

[Tere_Hanges]

Thanks for the recent comments. A few weeks ago Midway had a great deal on IMR 4895 so I picked up 4lbs of it at $53/lb shipped. Now I have a decent supply of IMR 4895 for my needs so I probably won't experiment with other powders except TAC since TAC is consistently more affordable and more available. From what I've researched IMR 4895 is the gold standard when it comes to M1 Garand loads. But since I have open bottles of IMR 4895 and TAC I'll load with those powders to compare performance with the idea of eventually loading all the time with TAC since it is more available, affordable, and way easier to measure than IMR 4895. TAC is a dream to measure. I read people saying that TAC was really dirty. I have not noticed it being any dirtier than IMR 4895, which is to say, not dirty at all. In fact, TAC seems to be pretty clean burning.

 

[BigBossman]

Thanks for the recent comments. A few weeks ago Midway had a great deal on IMR 4895 so I picked up 4lbs of it at $53/lb shipped. ........

At about 150 loads per pound, that's about 600 rounds loaded for 4lbs. I'd feel like I was critically low on powder with only 4lbs.

 

[Tere_Hanges]

At about 150 loads per pound, that's about 600 rounds loaded for 4lbs. I'd feel like I was critically low on powder with only 4lbs.

I hear you but It's still going to take me a long time to use up that powder. I only load up 20rds at a time before I go to the range. And I only have about 700 cases. And when I need more powder, I'll probably buy TAC, once I get more comfortable with it.

 

[BigBossman]

I hear you but It's still going to take me a long time to use up that powder. I only load up 20rds at a time before I go to the range. And I only have about 700 cases. And when I need more powder, I'll probably buy TAC, once I get more comfortable with it.

I was responding tongue and cheek, but I just did a quick calculation on my own consumption. Turns out I shoot about 360 rounds in competition every year, neglecting load development practice, etc. So, 4 lb would be about a 2-year supply for me. I'd still feel naked LOL