Warning from CMP

[hso]

Don't use ammunition the weapons aren't designed for.





WARNING!


Dear CMP Family,

The CMP advises to not use .30/06 ammunition in M1 Garands, 1903s, and 1903A3s that is loaded beyond 50,000 CUP and has a bullet weight more than 172-174gr. These rifles are at least 70 years old and were not designed for max loads and super heavy bullets. Always wear hearing and eye protection when firing an M1 Garand, 1903 and/or 1903A3 rifle.

This warning is an update/addition to the Ammunition section in the Read This First manual enclosed with each rifle shipment (M1 Garand manual-page 6 and M1903 manual-page 10).

Civilian Marksmanship Program

 

[Swampman]

Interesting that they didn't include the M1917 "Enfield" in the warning. They've sold quite a few over the years.

 

[Nature Boy]

I’m surprised they mentioned the 03A3. How many 10’s of thousands of sporterized versions have been out there killing deer for decades with ammo that exceeds their stated limit?

Every dang one of them.

 

[edwardware]

Ok, show of hands! Which one of you is the idiot that spoiled his M1 and then went and whinged at CMP about the results of your own stupidity?

No one leaves until someone admits it!

 

[earlthegoat2]

I guess it’s just like a manufacturer CYAing.

 

[DukeConnor]

Ok, show of hands! Which one of you is the idiot that spoiled his M1 and then went and whinged at CMP about the results of your own stupidity?

No one leaves until someone admits it!

I was wondering what caused this email. It is generally common knowledge. I'm thinking someone blew up a rifle.

 

[Risky buisness]

Perhaps it was a way of saying dont turn an M1 into a .458 win mag, as some poster alluded to several days ago of doing.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Interesting that they didn't include the M1917 "Enfield" in the warning. They've sold quite a few over the years.

1917s can take it, and much more, have been used in many sporter builds with belted magnums. Very strong action.

 

[Jeremy2171]

Perhaps it was a way of saying dont turn an M1 into a .458 win mag, as some poster alluded to several days ago of doing.

already been done and perfectly safe.

 

[Nature Boy]

I get the consideration on the Garand with the limitations on its reciprocating gas driven system.

The concern over the 03A3 is a head scratcher though

 

[MachIVshooter]

already been done and perfectly safe.

Already done, yes. Perfectly safe, not so much. A belted magnum operating at 60 KSI generates 75% more bolt thrust than a .30-06 @ 50 KSI.

 

[Jeremy2171]

Already done, yes. Perfectly safe, not so much. A belted magnum operating at 60 KSI generates 75% more bolt thrust than a .30-06 @ 50 KSI.

Have any of those rifles failed?

 

[Garandimal]

I’m surprised they mentioned the 03A3. How many 10’s of thousands of sporterized versions have been out there killing deer for decades with ammo that exceeds their stated limit?

Every dang one of them.

Obviously a mistake - made in haste, or out of ignorance.

Wondering what event prompted this memo, and then edited update.

Beware the clerical staff and phone idiots of any organization.




GR

 

[Jeremy2171]

Obviously a mistake - made in haste, or out of ignorance.

Wondering what event prompted this memo, and then edited update.

Beware the clerical staff and phone idiots of any organization.




GR

Mark Johnson wrote it....the COO... just saying.

 

[Garandimal]

Mark Johnson wrote it....the COO... just saying.

So he's not Orest, who would have not made, or caught, the mistake.

The CMP - has become a country club organization.


So... what was the event that inflamed the CMP Lawyers?




GR

 

[Jeremy2171]

So he's not Orest, who would have not made, or caught, the mistake.

The CMP - has become a country club organization.


So... what was the event that inflamed the CMP Lawyers?




GR

No clue...

 

[Carl N. Brown]

The Garand gas system was designed for the muzzle pressure level of the standard issue 1930s .30-06 cartridge (Cartridge, Ball, Caliber .30 M2, aka .30-06 Springfield)
_ Thou shalt fire no other cartridge than M2 spec in thy as-issued Garand. _
That was one of the commandments lost when Moses (Mel Brooks) dropped the third tablet coming off Mt Sinai (trust me. it's true, I saw the movie).

Many .30-06 big game loads for bolt action rifles generate more pressure at the muzzle than the military spec .30-06 cartridge. They can over gas the operating rod and beat the heck out of the action.

Load data to match M2 spec is out there: learn it and use it OR buy an adjustable gas regulator for the M1 Garand and learn how to use it.
OR block off the gas port and use the Garand as a straight pull bolt action.

But, yeah, extending the commercial .30-06 ammo warning from Garand to 1903 Springfield and 1917 Enfield is, well, duh.

 

[earlthegoat2]

How many new gun owners were there in the last year?

 

[Jeremy2171]

The Garand gas system was designed for the muzzle pressure level of the standard issue 1930s .30-06 cartridge (Cartridge, Ball, Caliber .30 M2, aka .30-06 Springfield)
_ Thou shalt fire no other cartridge than M2 spec in thy as-issued Garand. _
That was one of the commandments lost when Moses (Mel Brooks) dropped the third tablet coming off Mt Sinai (trust me. it's true, I saw the movie).

Many .30-06 big game loads for bolt action rifles generate more pressure at the muzzle than the military spec .30-06 cartridge. They can over gas the operating rod and beat the heck out of the action.

Load data to match M2 spec is out there: learn it and use it OR buy an adjustable gas regulator for the M1 Garand and learn how to use it.
OR block off the gas port and use the Garand as a straight pull bolt action.

But, yeah, extending the commercial .30-06 ammo warning from Garand to 1903 Springfield and 1917 Enfield is, well, duh.

Except you're wrong...

It wasn't designed for M2 ball....it was designed for M1 ball...174grn at 2700+ at the muzzle

 

[Garandimal]

Except you're wrong...

It wasn't designed for M2 ball....it was designed for M1 ball...174grn at 2700+ at the muzzle

You use the "wrong" word a lot.

From Hatcher's Notebook, pages 29-30:

Type
Cal. .30 M1
Bullet weight, grains
174.5
Muzzle velocity, f.p.s.
2647
Measured velocity @ 53 feet
2620
Measured velocity @ 78 feet
2600
Muzzle Energy, Ft. lbs.
2675




GR

 

[Jeremy2171]

You use the "wrong" word a lot.

From Hatcher's Notebook, pages 29-30:

Type
Cal. .30 M1
Bullet weight, grains
174.5
Muzzle velocity, f.p.s.
2647
Measured velocity @ 53 feet
2620
Measured velocity @ 78 feet
2600
Muzzle Energy, Ft. lbs.
2675




GR

However.. actual testing shows it's faster than "book" numbers.

On average it's closer to 2740 at the muzzle.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

the pressure in the barrel at the Garand gas port is the issue, not the muzzle velocity

 

[Jeremy2171]

the pressure in the barrel at the Garand gas port is the issue, not the muzzle velocity

We know... however pretty much all commercial ammo shows similar port pressure compared to garand safe ammo

 

[Nature Boy]

From Hatcher's Notebook, pages 29-30:

I just happen to have a 1st Edition copy sitting on my desk. (Yes, that makes me special )

 

[Swampman]

@ Jeremy2171.

Could you please provide some sort of reputable source for your statements that:

However.. actual testing shows it's faster than "book" numbers.
On average it's closer to 2740 at the muzzle.

And:

We know... however pretty much all commercial ammo shows similar port pressure compared to garand safe ammo