Rifles

The .30-06 became America's first-line small-arms chambering in 1906 and served gallantly for more than a half-century until it was superseded by adoption of the .308 in 1957.

Shortly after the end of World War I, the .30-06 rose to dominance along with the 1903 Springfield in high-power competition. Although other chamberings nudged it aside in 1,000-yard events, the .30-06 remained competitive at shorter ranges and dominated service-rifle competition until the .308 gradually superseded it. Since then, a small but loyal following has continued to compete using the .30-06 chambered in Model 1903s and National Match M1 Garands. More recently, interest in the .30-06 as a match cartridge surged when the Civilian Marksmanship Program began selling surplus M1s, but only to buyers who could show membership in a CMP-affiliated club and a high-power-rifle competition classification.

Virtually overnight, CMP-affiliated clubs around the country began hosting high-power classification matches intended to qualify those who wanted to buy an M1. Having had a taste of competition, many of these buyers naturally wanted to use their new Garands in matches. As a result, competition with standard-issue M1s is one of today's most popular events.

This has generated a surge of interest in handloading .30-06 match ammo. But loading for a semiautomatic rifle is a more complex matter than cranking out hunting ammo for a bolt action. A few additional steps and precautions are necessary in handloading for an M1, and this makes all the difference in loading ammo that is accurate, reliable and safe. Having said that--don't worry, it isn't hard to do.

The M1exerts considerable force in stripping a cartridge out of the clip and transporting it into the chamber. In most cases the firing pin is spring-loaded and free to move to some extent by its own inertia. Combine this with poorly assembled ammo, and you risk a slam fire--an accidental discharge as the bolt closes. Several factors contribute to this possibility. For example, a floating firing pin as described above can move forward in its channel and strike the primer lightly. If the primer has a relatively thick cup, this causes no problems. If the cup is thin or soft, it's possible for the cartridge to discharge. A protruding primer can also cause a slam fire.

Here's how to minimize this risk First, use primers by such makers as CCI, Winchester and Remington. Some other brands use softer cups that may contribute to a slam fire. Second, use a uniforming tool to ensure that the primer pocket is cut to the correct depth. A uniforming tool is machined with a preset stop that prevents cutting the pocket too deep and will also remove any accumulated fouling that might prevent seating the primer to the bottom of the pocket.

Full-length resizing is essential. To ensure proper functioning in an M1, the cartridge must chamber without the slightest resistance. However, you must take care not to set the shoulder back, creating excessive headspace. It's not enough merely to neck-size cases, as is often done to obtain top accuracy with a benchrest rifle. This can result in balky feeding--even cause the rifle to fire out-of-battery. This could inflict serious injury to the shooter or bystanders or, if you're lucky, simply cause a stoppage that is very difficult to clear.

New or once-fired name-brand brass is a good choice for match loads, but remember to sort cases by headstamp. As you use the cases, separate them according to the number of times they've been fired. After two firings it's a good idea to use them for practice ammo only. I used the recently introduced Nosler Custom brass, which is made to exceptionally high standards. Military surplus cases--except for match brass fired in a service rifle--may be more trouble than they're worth. Non-match military cases have a primer crimp that must be removed by reaming or swaging before they can be reloaded. Also, if the cases were fired in a machine gun, they may be stretched or bulged, making them unsafe to reload.