Trying to load M2 Ball for M1 Rifle

[Charlie98]

The accuracy guys don't crimp their bullets, for my M1 I taper crimp just a wee bit. If I was loading SMK's or something, I wouldn't.

The CCI 200/250 is already a pretty hard cup, if you can't source #34's, just use the standard CCI's and make sure the primers are at least flush with the case, or better, slightly below.

At standard power levels (for example, my load of 47grn IMR4895) a slight difference in bullet seat depth won't make much difference. You are correct that possibly might affect accuracy, in that respect the only thing you could do is load two batches and see. I find it unlikely that any generic FMJ bullet would show a significant difference, but every rifle is different.

 

[Laphroaig]

I wonder if I should just use my surplus M2 ball (South Korean) to set my bullet depth, regardless of bullet and cannelure?

That's a good idea. Your OAL will be limited by "mag" length, plus you need a little wiggle room in case your rounds are not all exactly in the bottom of the clip. That South Korean Ammo was loaded with those constraints in mind. I've never had to crimp my M1 rounds.

 

[Charlie98]

No, that's not a good idea, unless you are actually talking about measured OAL. If you look at the 3 bullets in my photo, you will notice the bullet ogive profile of each is different, most notably the Hornady. If you set your seating die for the Prvi, for example, the more slender Hornady ogive will actually seat further out, increasing the OAL of the cartridge.

 

[Laphroaig]

Maybe so, but its a good starting point. Adjust as necessary.

A batch of Greek M2 (HXP 69) I have on hand measures 3.325"

 

[dh1633pm]

Its seems Lake City 30-06 shouldn't be too hard to find. I have boat loads of it. I once had a slam fire with my Garand. Two shots with one trigger pull. Startled me. What I hadn't seen is what is the duplicate recipe for M2 ball ammo? For me I use IMR4895, 150 Grain Hornady FMJ's (got 5K of them), Lake City Brass, and CCI White box primers. I would have to look up the specific power amount. Its in my reloading log book in my ipad at home. I keep one ammo can full of "Garand Ammo" which I can shoot with the 1903A3 as well. I have another can with 1903 ammo only.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Its seems Lake City 30-06 shouldn't be too hard to find.

It probably is except I'm up here in Alaska and stuff like that is impossible to find. FedEx/CMP charges an $86 PER CAN (not per order) surcharge to ship ammo to AK, so virtually no one has any of it, and the little bit that might be up here, is stuff that some one brought up the road in their private vehicle.

 

[Dudedog]

Cabelas maybe?
155 W 104th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99515
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shoo...333152280/cci-primers-per/731748.uts?slotId=2
I don't know if Cabelas would ship to you from that store or if it has to come from a warehouse (which is probably in the lower 48 ) Might be worth checking.

If you load pistol Cabelas has S+B pistol primers for $30/k sometime better when they are on sale. (if they will ship to you)
I have used maybe 10000 of them and are quite happy with them.

Cabelas has S+B LR as well but you probably want the NATO spec or MAG LR primers for a M1 but don't know for sure.
I don't own an M1 but do own and AR and MIni14 so for those I usually use Small Rifle Mag because of the thicker primer up.

Did you decide to try some bullets from RMR?
If so and you ordered them was the shipping free to you?
They get good deals on different pulled bullets from time to time so it pays to check their web site if your looking for something.
Most of what I shoot is 9mm and they make their own in house so they always have them Nice 9mm bullets.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Cabelas maybe?
155 W 104th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99515
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shoo...333152280/cci-primers-per/731748.uts?slotId=2
I don't know if Cabelas would ship to you from that store or if it has to come from a warehouse (which is probably in the lower 48 ) Might be worth checking.

If you load pistol Cabelas has S+B pistol primers for $30/k sometime better when they are on sale. (if they will ship to you)
I have used maybe 10000 of them and are quite happy with them.

Cabelas has S+B LR as well but you probably want the NATO spec or MAG LR primers for a M1 but don't know for sure.
I don't own an M1 but do on and AR and MIni14 so for those I usually use Small Rifle Mag because of the thicker primer up.

Did you decide to try some bullets from RMR?
If so and you ordered them was the shipping free to you?
They get good deals on different pulled bullets from time to time so it pays to check their web site if your looking for something.
Most of what I shoot is 9mm and they make their own in house so they always have them Nice 9mm bullets.

I live about a 2 minute drive from that store. (I know this because, during the ammo draught, someone posted a pic on facebook of ammo on the shelf, and I was there, literally, 2 minutes later.) They will transfer ammo they have in other stores or lower 48 warehouses to the store, and I can pick it up. That's how I get my 500 rd ammo can cases of PPU M2 Ball for $409 (82¢/rd). They will also ship ammo from that store out to the rural Alaska "bush" communities (fly-in only villages), but I expect it's likely quite costly. I've spoke to a lot of bush pilots (I used to be an aircraft mechanic) who, every time they're in Anchorage, they go to that Cabela's (it's very close to the airport) and buy up a crap ton of ammo and put it on their plane without telling anyone. Thenthey fly it out to the villages. (You'd be surprised how much native Alaskans like 243 Winchester - they hunt everything with it.)

At any rate, if you scroll down that link you posted, you will notice that the No. 34 CCI (mil spec large rifle) primers are not even listed as an option to buy. Cabela's doesn't carry them in their system anywhere. However, I do buy most of my hazmat components there. (I also bought my press, scale, etc there.) Their stock on projectiles and brass is not "reliable" enough, so it's better to just go online. (It's like that up here for many items; we're not just at the end of the supply chain, we're on the supply rope. You'd be surprised how often the restaurants ru out of tomatoes up here.)

I haven't yet ordered from RMR. I just completed an order at Graf N Sons for 30-06 and 243 Win dies and 30 cal FMJ projectiles from PPU and Hornady, as well as two new disks for my LCT press. Orders to RMR and Missouri Bullet Co. are next. I'll let you know about the RMR shipping when it's done. (Missouri uses USPS flat rate boxes, and that's the best we can hope for up here.

On that note, I think Graf N Sons is my new go-to for reloading stuff, as opposed to Midway. Midway will ONLY ship via UPS (2nd most expensive to AK) AND they charge their own, in-house, AK and HI additional shipping charge. So, unless I'm buying something that only they have, I'm done with them.

 

[Havok7416]

Have you checked Powder Valley (www.powdervalleyinc) for primers/bullets/shipping? I checked their site but it doesn't mention anything specifically about AK.

 

[Charlie98]

Dumb question... do they not have gun shows up in Alaska? Here in TX, there is one every weekend somewhere, it seems. I went to one last weekend, a fairly small one, and the single reloading vendor had about 5 cases of #34's... along with 8# of H335, which is why I went in the first place.

And, again, I would point out that as long as you practice proper reloading technique, and have a serviceable rifle, using standard primers will work. I used standard CCI LR primers for years until I just happened to buy some #34's for my M1a, and that was shooting them in my clapped-out FedOrd rebuild M1... never a problem.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Dumb question... do they not have gun shows up in Alaska?

That's funny. We do have gun shows, once in a while. A few times per year. Usually quite small. Nothing at all like the large gun shows we had in the south in the 80's. I went to one at the state fairgrounds just before Christmas. I was in and out in about an hour. Saw everything. Walked every row. Some rows twice. 60 minutes and done. The best thing I saw there was the local DU group had a couple labrador retrievers I got to pet. The premier gun show each year is at one of the local high schools. The school funds their sports team with it. I spent about 3 hours there once.

 

[Dudedog]

Oooppsss, I thought I saw #34 on Cabela's site but I am getting blind. (and senile)
You are right, they don't have them.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I am getting blind. (and senile)

Me too.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Hey guys. That box of goodies from Grafs arrived yesterday. The PPU 150 grn FMJ projectiles came in a bag marked "145 grain FMJ." I haven't opened the bag yet to verify. Does this sound like a mislabeled package? (Plausible as my 243 Win dies came marked 243 Remington in the same package.) I am debating whether or not to try to return them or open them up and weigh them.

Interesting side note, the base of those bullets are not jacketed. Exposed lead and copper jacket just curls back on itself at the base.

 

[ray15]

I would imagine Grafs will take care of you whether or not you've opened the bag. You could always ask them first. I've not had to return anything to them but my impression is they are a stand-up operation.

 

[Dudedog]

Exposed lead and copper jacket just curls back on itself at the base.

That is normal for "FMJs" So they are not really a "full metal jacket"

Possibly mislabeled, checking PPUs site they do make a 145 FMJ-BT. They list is as PN B-009, the 150gr FMJ-BTs are listed as PN B-436. I would open them and see.
I am sure Grafs would make it right but unless you bought a bunch I would be tempted to just load and shoot them and see how they work for you.
Who knows, maybe the bullet faries knew they would work better for you than the 150s and switched them when nobody was looking

 

[Charlie98]

No, they are 145's. I've bought them, too, for my M1a and M1, and it's what they use in their factory ammo.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

No, they are 145's. I've bought them, too, for my M1a and M1, and it's what they use in their factory ammo.

Seriously!? That's a little upsetting that they're essentially false advertising. I buy their factory ammo and like it, but they should be more accurate in their data.

 

[Dudedog]

As I mentioned earlier it looks like PPU makes different .30 FMJ-BTs
So it appears either Grafs sent the wrong ones or advertised them wrong. (if they are 145gr)
Not PPU fault since they do make both 145s (2 different ones) and 150s.

 

[Dudedog]

If the bag has a PPU PN you can check the list above

 

[D.B. Cooper]

If the bag has a PPU PN you can check the list above

Thanks for the heads up on this. I found a very small "B099" on the bag, and they weigh in at 150 or .1 - .2 under.

Guess I'm a little jumpy.

 

[Dudedog]

Cool, right ones!
Aahhh FMJ, non boattail, for some reason I was thinking FMJ-BT, opppsss.

Note: snip says ammo but the list is bullets-not loaded ammo.

 

[illinoisburt]

Not sure the age of your PPU surplus. I got a few cases of their 1970s and 80s headstamped M2 ball in Garrand clips/bandoliers. All of it turned out to be corrosive so if yours is the same vintage I would treat it as such until you can confirm otherwise. (By the way it does shoot well and the brass cleans up nice for reloading once the primer crimp is swaged or reamed off.)

 

[Charlie98]

Square base bullets??? Sweet!

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Not sure the age of your PPU surplus. I got a few cases of their 1970s and 80s headstamped M2 ball in Garrand clips/bandoliers. All of it turned out to be corrosive so if yours is the same vintage I would treat it as such until you can confirm otherwise. (By the way it does shoot well and the brass cleans up nice for reloading once the primer crimp is swaged or reamed off.)

The PPU loaded ammo I have bought was not surplus. It was new production.