Yesterday I had the opportunity to take the Garand to 1000 yards. I had the come ups from many years ago with a different Garand so I thought I would start there. The "old" come ups was 44 clicks from a 100 yard zero. The Garand that I shot yesterday had a 200 yard zero so I put 40 clicks in it. I figured that low would be better than shooting over the target. The target I used was a repair center with the 44" aiming black which are available at Cheaper than dirt. The ammo I used to get on paper was some 1957 M72 Match 30-06 that I had seated the bullets .020 deeper so as to break the seal. The first 3 rds. were just about where I was aiming. I used a 6 o'clock hold with just a little white between the top of the front sight and the bottom of the target. Yup, I forgot to raise the sights so that the rounds would land in the black. Without changing the sight setting I shot my handloads which were 47.2 grs. IMR 4895 with 175 SMK's. The handloads landed in amongst the M72 hits. I was a happy camper. I gave the sights 3 clicks of elevation & fired 3 rounds of 47.2 grs. IMR 4895. The elevation was right on with (1)x & (2) 10's. The 10's were about as far apart as you could get & still be in the 10 ring. I colored the bullets with a red magic marker on the 47.6 grs. IMR 4064 w/175 SMK's. They were in the same general area but right in the 8 ring. When I pulled the bolt back to clear the weapon the bullet stuck in the rifling & dumped powder in the action. I didn't have a cleaning rod so back in the case it went.
I pulled out the other Garand which is a Springfield Armory of 1955 vintage. Again I used M72 to get on paper. The 1st 3 rounds were on paper. The next 3 rds. were in the black after a sight correction. I did the same test with my handloads of 47.2 grs. IMR 4895 & 175 SMK's & got about the same results. I next sent 3rds. of 46.5 grs. IMR 4064 w/155 SMK's. No Joy. No hits what so ever on a 8'x8' area with paper on it. I went back to another kind of ammo. This time I tried some factory Hornady 168 gr. 30-06. One of their loadings specifically for the M1 Garand. The 1st 3 rds. went into a vertical group of 5.250" with an x, 10 & 9. I am really really happy! When we get back to the firing line I load 5 rds. of the Hornady & shoot those. I have a vertical group about 18" to the right. The 5 shot group measures a hair under 18", all vertical again.
That is the best that this 61 year old can do with GI issue iron sights.
