20 Cart. Ball Caliber .30 M2 --- Safe to shoot?

[5string_dean]

Hi,

I was recently given a few dozen old 30-06 cartridges... they were among the things left by a coworker's wife's recently deceased father.

Among them was a plain brown cartridge box that says:

20 Cartridges
Ball
Caliber .30 M2
LOT TW 19900​

These are obviously old military rounds and appear to be in good shape. I'm guessing they have corrosive primers.

What makes me wonder is the "M2" in the label. Are these std. 30-06 rounds or are they for the M2 (Ma Duece?). If they are for the M2 are they loaded higher (like sub gun ammo is compared to standard 9mm) or would they be OK in a regular 30-06?

I have a CZ VZ-24 Mauser actioned custom chambered in 30-06.

If these are doubtful, I could pull the bullets, dump the powder and primers and just re-use the brass and bullets.

Let me know what you think. Thanks.

 

[brentwal]

M2 Ma Duece is a .50 caliber weapon

M2 ball ammo will be safe in any .30-06 cambered rifle.

 

[mrmeval]

You might want to see if there they are collectible. I doubt it but it doesn't hurt to find out.

 

[USSR]

Make sure you check the headstamp on the base of the case for the year they were made. Any earlier than 52 or 53 would be corrosive ammo.

Don

 

[rritter]

The .30 caliber M2 just means the second version of the .30-06 cartridge. The original version in 1906 was the .30 caliber M1 cartridge, and the M2 came out in the '30s (I think).

 

[5string_dean]

The only ones that I wonder if they might be collectible are these 5 rounds held together in a clip:

The headstamp is F A 40

World War II vintage? I wonder what the bullet jacket material is? It is not magnetic and is corrosion free.

 

[Telperion]

FA would be Frankford Arsenal. The jacket looks like cupronickel.

 

[superhornet]

And, it is corrosive....

 

[johnmcl]

Roger That

Hi all,

Yes, FA 40 is in the corrosive primer category.

Google "Corrosive Primer Redux" for a great concise article.

John