Crimp or not. For those loading for the M1 garand, do you crimp your loads?

I don't.

no need

The U.S. Army technical manual of cartridge data TM 43-0001-27 lists the standard M72 Match load, which was specially loaded for match use in the M1 Garand, as 50 grains of IMR 4895 powder with a 173-grain bullet.



Neither the bullet nor the primer was crimped in place in this ammunition, which I believe was manufactured at both the Frankford Arsenal and the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

This loading can be more or less duplicated today using 46-48 grains of IMR 4895, the Federal 210M primer and the Sierra MatchKing 175 grain bullet.

The target muzzle velocity in the M1 should be about 2,650 fps.

Start with 10% less powder and work up. This is an extraordinarily accurate load in a good rifle.

OTOH, all M2 Ball Ammo, which was used by the millions in the M1 Rifle, was crimped. Match ammo forms a very small proportion of any Garand's service life.
I do not bother; we aren't at the Chosin reservoir making sure our bullets don't fall out.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Match ammo forms a very small proportion of any Garand's service life.

Unless of course they are NM models made and fed ammunition made for gilt-edged accuracy.

The M72 match ammunition could reportedly group five rounds into two inches at 600 yards.

It is more than twice as accurate as M2 ball in my M1s.

And the bullets are not crimped.

No crimp for the hand loaded ammo in my Garands.