M1 garand loads

As Unclenick stated, and I also read in CCI literature somewhere (I think) the difference in the milspec. CCI primers (34) and standard primers (250) is the anvil. I slightly different "dome and "leg" shape. As far as primer use, my Garand has fired most available primers/manufacturers except Federal, and that's because I don't have any/can't find them. I want to see for my self if a "slam fire" is from "sensitive" primers). I keep my Garand clean and occasionally I'll notice a very small pin indentation on ejected unfired rounds, but nowhere enough to set off a primer. I've only been shooting a Garand (30-06) for a couple years, but know a couple long time Garand shooters that have never had a "slam fire" (I know of the possibility, but you couldn't prove it by me with just type of primers, there has to be other problems that add to the inertia (?)/strike of the firing pin...).

I have used IMR 4064 for 90% of my reloads, mostly with Hornady and Speer 150-155 gr bulets. I have used CCI, Winchester, Remington, and Wolf primers.
With the 150-155 bullets about 47.0 of 4064 is a good load, but I've found Master Po's loads to be on the upper end of my Garand preferences...
 
It's probably not quite correct to think of "type of primer" as being the cause of a slamfire, the cause is from the floating firing pin strike against a primer. But the primer type can be considered to be a contributing factor towards the ease or difficulty of a tentative slamfire but not the actual cause and should not take the blame. But it is more correct to think of the primer type, probably CCIs in particular having the greater influence, as being a preventor of slamfires rather than the cause.
 
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While most have never had a slamfire or knows of someone who has, I have had three or four doubles with the Garand, all I believe with the same rifle, the most recent occuring yesterday on July 5th, the second shot of the doubles no doubt the result of a slam. The recoil from a Garand, due to its weight, is not all that heavy but coupled with a second immediate recoil will wake you up and knock you back a bit. But the most annoying thing about it was that CCI (hard) primers were being used along with maximizing primer pocket depth, the dynamic duo combination for preventing slams (or as I usually say, at least minimizing the possibility). So I guess it is best to think of the bottom line as "minimizing the possibility".
 
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A true double is more likely caused by the hammer hooks failing to properly engage, or (more likely) over-light trigger squeeze (which results in the hooks failing to engage again).

A true SLAMfire on the other hand is a not-to-be-forgotten occurrence. :eek:
 
Thanks for the follow-up:

I'm wondering if you are referring more to an out of battery firing that can be disastrous. Discussions on slams seem to take the attitude that they can happen on almost a ho-hum basis and some even seem to experiment trying to make it happen. Someone was making it happen by single loading individual rounds. A short item or two presented by Fulton Armory has a pretty good discussion on slams and oob's without being overly critical of slams it seems.
 
Condor Bravo said:
are CCI 200/250s the same sensitivity as each other ?
(notwithstanding that both are somewhat more sensitive than milspec 34's)
Click to expand...

I don't know. I suspect they are close. The old James Calhoun article on trying to read pressure from them shows the cups are the same thickness. But you'd need to know if the thickness of the pellets were the same and whether or not the lead styphnate levels were the same. Probably easiest just to call CCI and ask. Actions chambered for standard and magnum rounds usually have the same bolts and strikers and springs, so I'd expect them to be close.

On your doubles, are you sure you aren't getting Garand shoulder bounce? It can happen when the butt moves back far enough into your shoulder to pull the gun back away from the trigger just far enough to let the sear reset, and then when your shoulder bounces back forward it pushes the gun into your trigger finger firing the next shot. It's not all that uncommon. The cure is a tighter sling or using your three remaining trigger hand fingers to pull back on the stock more. Anything that puts the butt more firmly into your shoulder.
 
Well, hadn't considered that but recognize that as a possibility and will keep it in mind. Sling tightness with that particular rifle I guess has been kept a little loose.
 
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