Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Mausers and Military Rifles Rifle?

You Men in the know, if you fell into a literal chit-ton of old Lake City ammo in 308 and 30-06, what cool old military rifle would you rec for burning through some?

I have a couple LWRC REPR's, but would look for another 308 and an '06.

Thanks in advance.

30-06 SCREAMS M-1 Garand !!! 🤠

Thanks Buddy, M1A in 308 work for a pair?

Dont know what model/years to buy for great service and dependability, also figuring on the FN's and H&K's too.

Must be 3 thousand 308 and '06 empty cases, very nice annealing is easily visible on the brass, some say 'match' too.

Heck yea! I had one of the rare 80’s mfg Springfield Tanker M-1 in .308. Was an accurate SOB, even with Vietnam era Lake City ammo.
Unfortunately, a good friend offered me way more money than it was worth about 10 years ago. Still kicking myself for selling it. 🤠

LOL Dang, BTDT a few times, couple bags of TZ 77 marked 308, have no idea what that is, appears some sort of fmj bullet.

I would go with a Springfield 03A3 .30/06.

That’d be a great one too !!!

Probably stuff for the M-60

30-06 = 1903 Springfield, 1917 Enfield or M1 Garand.

7.62 NATO, = M1A, FAL, or AR10 type

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle and M60

M1941 Johnson Rifle or if you can't find one of those an M1 will do nicely.

Mine!

10-4, Thanks Buddy.

Thanks to everyone else too, have looked at M1's, see the Springfield and H&R versions, even some cool old M1 match rifles, this will be a fun exploration.

Also found around 1500 lake City 5.56 brass cases.

Garand for sure

Believe the TZ 77 may be Israeli.

Be careful of what surplus you shoot. I have a friend that was shooting "surplus" in his brand spanking new Springfield M1A match grade and on the eighth round it blew up. I wasn't there and don't know the particulars but, the rifle is at Springfield now and when results come in I will post.

Leaning hard that way TBREW401.

Joe, yes sir it is, called an old Buddy, he said the same thing, also said some brass problems have been seen with TZ 80 cases, other than that he said all good, particularly the Lake City match stuff in '06, 7.62 and 5.56.

Hope your Bud's deal pans out in his favor, glad no one lost any parts they were born with.

Got an old big buddy on the case, he's going to offer from American to German wares in '06 and 7.62 for my rifle/rifles when he goes through his stash, hope a Garand is in the offerings!

Not a Garand fan. But I still have a M1903 in the safe.

I inherited some 1973 M118 from my son. Accuracy was nothing to rejoice over. I sold it to a guy who thought the brass was the beans.

Some Wolf “Match” ammo was way too hot for a Kimber I had. They took it back and refunded my money.

Thanks KW and Pappy, not to veer to far off course, but was going through more cans today and found 900+ LC Match 5.56 cases, is that enough to buy a good accurate bolt action rifle in 223? good grief, this is getting out of hand LOL.

A CMP Service Grade M1 Rifle...?


... would be a no-brainer.




GR

Damn, that's nice Garandimal, if not to nosy, what could one expect to pay for a rifle like that?

US Citizen from CMP Service Grade $750 deliver to YOUR door, free ship, free hard case.

Or buy on Gun Broker $1600-1800 plus ship to your local FFL.

I would think the choice was obvious, but; clearly some prefer the high price method.

The CMP is temporary sold out due to crazies and covid. They have 1000's more in storage.

https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/m1-garand/

Or for you a 700 mile read trip to the store. Where a call ahead is advisable given the zombie apocalypse situation.
On a good day, they will have 1903's, A3's and occasional Krag. Perhaps in $800 to $1000 range. When was the last good day?

They used to take the store on the road to some of the sanctioned CMP matches. I saw them in Vermont pre-covid.

Great! Thanks Fourbore, i'll hit the link and try to get on a waiting list Monday.

While you wait they will need some paperwork I believe you can send that ahead and get a buyer number? If not you want to have that ready. Gun orders are don via old fashioned paper and sent USPS. You will need the order form for any guns notarized. You can find a notary at your bank or city hall.

- Birth certificate, or other similar document they list.
- Some proof of shooting like a score card or LTC or over some age limit.
- And you need to be a member of an affiliate club or organization. NRA does not count. Many local clubs are signed up. Or $14 for M1collectors or $25 GrandCollectors. Or $25 join Vermont State Rifle and Pistol Assn.

I came into a full ammo can of that Greek 06 stuff a few years back. It’s a bit hot. But I keep it around for emergency purposes. 😉

I think it may have been loaded up for Garands and M1919A4’s. It was loose ammo and not in Garand clips. Seem to remember an old acquaintance saying that he tore up a certain rifle with it. And for the life of me I can ot remember the the type of rifle???? And he was killed in a bad car wreck so I can’t ask him.

For some reason an FN 49 sticks in my memory. But they are pretty tough and I don’t think that’s what its was

The Garand requires specific milspec ball ammo. Hot is bad news unless you install a variable gas vent. It is not a matter of tough, the action need proper gas to function and not to much. I believe CMP will include a red letter warning and at the very least that is in the user handbook they provide.

1959 I cooked 2 M-1 Grands, shooting tracers at night, at Ft.Ord, Calif. Crazy night with to much ammo, it was fun. Rio7

Thanks again Fourbore, i can handle a little compliance to save half off on a rifle buy.

LOL KW, i shot three different kinds of bullets from my 16" barreled REPR, got 2560, 2564 and 2600 fps, mild loads indeed, but more than enough for casual plinking, only 0'5 i have is a 24" barreled Sako, haven't fired any of the '06 or 5.56 ammo yet, pulled an orange/red tipped '06 load, it was loaded with ball powder.

Smoke em if you got em Rio, bet that was fun, especially in the case of training.

Gunner 500

We were doing night fire, out 1000 yrds, the targets were huge, tanks,trucks,jeeps, when we were finished this old Sargent , walked up to my pit with a wooden case of tracers, he said shoot them up, I don't want to do the paper work to turn them in, i told him i would but not want to use my rifle, i had a very accurate M-1, that was my baby, the Sargent, walked away and came back with a couple of M-1s, and said shoot this chitt up, being the bad ass 19 year old trooper i was, i went to loading shooting, took me about 20 min. to cook both rifles and shoot up almost a case of tracers, Damn it was fun, best part was i didn't have to pick up the brass. Rio7

LOL, good stuff Rio, especially drawing three hots and a cot, and a paycheck, looked up some load data for the old Garands, seems light loads of around 46gr H or IMR 4895 as well as WW 748 are the powders to beat using 168 to 175gr boat tail hollow point match bullets, i have around 400 sticks of primed LC Match '06 brass that came in this pile, i need to BOLO 8 lbs of those powders.

Well it rained all day, went to the shop counted up the LC primed 30-06 brass, exactly 425 sticks of brass, ordered 500 of the 168gr Nosler custom competition bullets from SPS today, Bud yanked me 4 lbs IMR-4064 powder off his stash to load em with, thinking around 47gr under the 168's at 3.300" to be Garand friendly, now to find a rifle!

gunner, get one from the CMP. They may not be in stock right now, but they were about $800.00 a while back. I know some guys that have bought them and they shoot just fine. I also know some uppity guys from Vancouver and Portland (Attorney's and other big wigs) that have bought some damn nice CMP rifles that they had worked over: Precision barrels, fine tuned triggers and accurized. Those rifles are said to have costed in excess of $3,000.00. We will be having a military rifle shoot this Saturday and I hope they show up again. A couple of those Attorneys like to brag about how well their garands shoot. In practice I've seen them lay down some sub moa 5 shot groups with irons. They would be damn good, if they could do that and put them in the right place (X-ring or even 10 ring) in the event. The funny thing is watching a braggart lawyer fall apart when its time to show what they are made of, when its their turn on the line. I look forward to next Saturday .Incase you hadn't noticed. The only other rifle I am thinking of, that is chambered in 30-06, is an all original m1917. Other than that, what else is there for burning up your ammo? Side note, I shot a garand for the fist time last year at one of our military rifle shoots. I've been a big admirer of them for a long time, as that is what my grandfather qualified with in WWII. To be honest, I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Then I shot an m1A 308 Springfield Armory a few months ago and I really liked that rifle. Go figure???

LOL thanks for the history lesson Buddy, and the story about the Wigs, sometimes they are really comical, have looked into the CMP deal, will have to join a club somewhere, seems my CCW license and passport will meet the other requirements, that said, i have a Buddy that's going through his stash to see what he may find and want to sell me.

Fair rices required, he may have an M1 and M1A, my REPR's will easily smoke all that 7.62 Nato ammo, i quit counting at 4 thousand sticks of brass on that stuff, holy damn!

Also squirreled away and separated another 200 rounds of brand new WW-Super 308 Winchester brass, i'll load that to 2750 fps with the 150gr E-tips over CFE-223 for the house, truck and tractor guns.

Pretty cool. Sounds like you hit the jackpot.

Yes Sir, was trying to claim living right, but that shlt wont fly.

Old Buddy got me 4lbs of imr-4064 boxed up and saved today, i'll load those 425 cases whether i can lay my hands on a Garand or not, heck, maybe sell them to someone in need.

Every time I get 4 pounds of powder, I turn around and its gone..!!!!

My P17 if it was heavy ball. An A3-03 if not. Then again an FN-49 comes to mind.

Condition means a lot on collector military Springfields, as far as price goes but more important is how good is the barrel if your buying to shoot. 03,-03A3 or p-17 and garands seem to go up in value all the time that are in great shape collecter wise. I'm a shooter, I like the bolt guns that been bubba sporterized a bit so that I can buy and use them as shooters for damn little money. Mb

LOL, Buddy BSA same/same.

Thanks ANF, these bullets i'll load will be 168gr Noslers, the old Garand should handle them with ease at 26-2700 fps.

Than you too MB, bud has a Springfield Garand in the works for me, cant remember if the serial number is 141xxx or 161xxx, most likely an early one, he says it's all bone stock and correct as far as the numbers go, and, it hasn't seen much service/shooting, says he may let me have it for 7 or 8 hundred bucks, now he's after my damn ammo, always a catch, huh?

All this "P17" talk makes me want to go and shoot my m1917 Enfield. Just sayin.. Reminds me of my buddy shooting his all original military rifle. Damn guy was boiling the oil/cosmoline right out of the stock with that hot barrel. One right after the other and the stock actually wept. The side of his face was brown.. The damnedest thing I ever saw..

That is a little hard on the gun. I dont abuse my rifles like that. The next owner down the line may appreciate a good barrel.

Good lord BSA, i agree with Fourbore, those old rifles have already earned their keep, i'll NEVER run mine like that, hell my modern day REPR's have never had more than 4 rounds fired without a cool down break, not like we're in a damn war or something, not yet anyway!

You think?

I get it. I been a member for a long time, but; cannot remember who is who. So; yea, stating the obvious. No need in this case.

I loaded 225 of the 425 sticks of primed brass today with 47gr imr-4064 under the 168gr Nosler custom competitions, debured necks to make sure they were smooth, dumped powder, seated bullets at 3.310" and bumped primers when raising ram to make sure they were good and seated, 'll load the rest tomorrow.

Wish bud would hurry up and give me a price on that damn rifle!

Maybe you guys aren't understanding what I said? My buddy is the dumbass that was running his rifle like that. I don't do that, as I have a little more respect for my equipment. I'm getting ready for an AR shoot this saturday and ran these 20:


one right after the other, but I always keep an eye on the temperature of the barrel. Most of what I shoot is what they call "slow fire". 1 shot per minute.. Unless the dumbfu cks from Portland and Vancouver want to do another "fast fire" event. That was laughable last time... Just sayin..

M1 Garand hands down!

Hey Gunner, I saw a bad azzed M1A today. Oh boy was it nice. $1,600.00. I'd damn near trade my Armalite AR10T for the bastid. I wished I knew more about them, or I'd probably be buying it. I have an Airborne Ranger buddy that uses one in local comps that I might drag along to check it out. Let us know when you get your M1 Garand buddy. Those M1's are the most popular rifles at our local military rifle shoots. Guys love the hell out of them, but they don't compete well against some A-holes swedish mauser and another club members swiss k31.

LOL Buddy, no confusion here, i knew you were talking about someone else.

Dang, it had to be nice for you to consider trading that AR-10T, they're great rifles, i had a heavy 24 inch rifle just like yours, i know nothing about the M1A's, M-14's other than they're door saws ; ] or the Garand, speaking of, i'm going to pick it up tomorrow and carry it over to my 'Smith to give it a good looking over, he's a Garand freak too, said he did had an M1A he'd sell, but would not sell his Garand.

I cant wait to shoot my 47grs of 4064 under the 168gr bthp's over the chrono, hope like hell i didn't under load it.

Started out with an M14, then they gave us M16s. I missed the rifle, but I didn't miss the weight. Still have and shoot the M1 that I bought in the late 80s, paid right around $375 for it IIRC.

Semper Fi.

10-4 Craigster, that'll work, and Thanks for Your Service, i just had to fork over 8 bills for mine, that's okay, definitely sounds like they're built to last.

Well Gunner it's 8:00 am here in SD what's the report on your Garand before or after breakfast? Mb

Agree the Greek 06 stuff is a tad hot. Following a recipe that John Barsness used, I use 48.4 grains of Varget for just over 2700 fps. It is also very accurate out of my 1903A3 with either a 150 FMJ or SP.
kwg

Jerry, I've owned 200-300 rifles in my lifetime, and been down almost every road their is to explore in firearms; double rifles, LR rifles, African rifles, varmint rifles....you name it. But other then a couple AR-15 and AR-10 rifles, and my father's old 30-40 Krag sporter, I've never gotten into military weaponry. The M1 Garand intrigues me for some reason; perhaps beyond its time, but a true battle rifle. I think you've talked me into one.

Try it, you'll like it !

My local dealer is ex-military, and has 7-10 of them; some collectors and some shooters. I'll pick one up from him.

Welp, i got hung up here at the farm all day MB, did have a bud go over to the bud that's selling me the rifle, pay him and drop rifle off to our old 'Smith buddy on the way north, he has it and say he'll strip it down for a good cleaning and inspection, said he has the parts to completely rebuild one if he found something worn out of broken, i'll try to shake loose and go see him Thursday.

Good stuff Biebs, my rifle came with 20 eight round clips, a man could have lots of fun walking and gunning around with coat pockets full of those.

Lawsy, well the 168 gr BTHP's went 2640 fps av on chrono, i guess that's M1 Garand safe? the cool old Warhorse has no recoil, what a Cadillac Beast it is, hope i didn't under load it, that said, and loading everything balls to the wall fast, i certainly would NOT want to catch one of those rounds, i can see the effectiveness as staying on the sight for fast followup shots is cake, what a cool rifle.

My 89 year old stepdad was a medic in the Korean war, i'm going to bring the rifle over for him to see, he may go back 69 years right before my eyes, i'll also have some ammo and head phones, i'd be thrilled beyond belief if he asks to fire it.

That would be cool gunner.

Gunner, I have the 308 covered with my AR-10, but it doesn't have the nostalgia and history of the M1 Garand and the "30 Government".

It damns ure was cool Buddy BSA, and it happened today, [Twice] at the same time,my Mom has a 78 year old cousin, she's a widow, today at Moms house she married the latest member to our extended family, an 80 year old cat named Ronnie that's a widower, he was an Army Ranger in 'nam, stepdad being a medic in Korea, i went to the wedding, after the service i went to the truck with them both pulled the Garand and four loaded clips out, my stepdad's eyes watered up, he knew instantly what that was, i handed it to him, with watered eyes he shouldered the rifle, then said damn, these things werent this heave 70 years ago!

He also said, i didn't think i'd ever see a US rifle caliber 30 model M1 again, the old Army Ranger knew what it was too, i brought along a bottle of scotch, us three had a hard swig as we passed the bottle, shook each others hand then went back inside with the chickens and had lunch! a damn cool day my Friend.

That'll work Biebs, not a better farm and house gun right there.

That is very cool man. You'll cherish that memory, for sure...

Glad to hear you went with the Garand, Gunner!
Hope you enjoy it. I’m betting you’ll be surprised and pleased with the accuracy.
I got Dad one before he passed. Completed his collection of WW-II Rifles. He was very pleased with it.

Yes Sir i will Big Buddy BSA, it was cool as hell to see those two old Warhorses go back in time, i was honored to simply be there in their presence, a lot of damn Good Americans still clinging to life Sir, when they, and we are gone, this country is straight to the cshitter, and so goes the rest of the world!

Thanks buddy Neal, my old 'Smith gave me the number rundown on my rifle, it's a March 1943 Springfield receiver with a May 1967 Winchester barrel, he couldn't read the re-import? date as it was poorly stamped, all good though, i'll zero it +2 at 100 and watch it land at 200, ill also shoot a buck with it this season, i wont concern myself whether the 168gr BTHP bullets at 2640 fps will work, i think that'll be a plenty, cool deal on getting your Paps rounded out too!