When did the U.S. miltary stop using corrosive ammo?

[1KPerDay]

I've been told that the 1942 AP .30-06 I have is corrosive... what about the 1953 Lake City (and other military plant) stuff I have?

Also, if all those WWII garands were fired with corrosive ammo... why are so many of the barrels and gas systems still in excellent condition? GIs weren't trained to use water or windex before cleaning, were they?

 

[USSR]

The first noncorrosive M2 ammo was in 1952 and 1953, depending upon the plant and whether it was M2 AP or M2 ball. So, your '53 M2 ammo is noncorrosive.

Don

 

[TexasRifleman]

They stopped in the early 50's, 1953 Lake City is definitely not corrosive, I've used it before.

As to your question about the guns that survived, the solvent they issued during most of WWII and a little while after would neutralize the corrosive compounds.

They didn't need windex or water. Wish they still made the stuff, probably causes cancer in lab rats or something........

 

[32 Magnum]

NATO standard was all ammo produced in/after 1955 would have non-corrosive primers. Before that it was hit and miss by country and manufacturer.
As to the excellent barrels and gas tubes - over 95% of Garands were rebarrelled after WW2 - starting in 1946 and extending into the mid 1960's. I've seen dated barrels from 1946 up to 1967 on WW2 dated receivers - I've had the opportunity to view several hundred, working for a couple of dealers that dealt exclusively in Garands.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks guys... I'll have to look at the exact headstamps to see where they were made, but I'm pretty sure the ball ammo I have is all 1953-54(ish) (apart from the AP stuff I mentioned above).

Hey, whaddaya know... just found a pic. Can you let me know where these were made and if you think it would be corrosive?





WCC 54
TW 53
LC 52
all ball ammo

 

[TexasRifleman]

TW 53 is Twin Cities.
Twin Cities Arsenal (TW) went non-corrosive starting with lot #19362 in Dec 1950 for ball, and lot #19776 Feb 1952 for AP.

WCC is Western (Winchester) and absolutely non-corrosive.

And finally LC, Lake City. LC 52 is the first year of totally safe LC according to a chart I printed out a while back from the CMP forum.

According to the Garand guys, Lot Number: 13700 Date: June 1951 was the first non-corrosive to come out of LC.

Looks like you're good to go.

Here's the cheatsheet

http://www.jouster.com/Bulletin/primers.htm

 

[Speedo66]

US military M1 Carbine ammo has never been corrosive.

 

[Swampy]

Also, if all those WWII garands were fired with corrosive ammo... why are so many of the barrels and gas systems still in excellent condition?

Actually... they are/were not. The vast majority of M1's that saw combat during WWII were arsenal re-barreled between 1946 and 1949.

GIs weren't trained to use water or windex before cleaning, were they?

No.... the nasty, stinky bore cleaner they were issued was formulated to neutralize corrosive salts.

Best,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[ZeSpectre]

wow, the accumulated knowledge on this board never ceases to amaze me!

 

[Jim Watson]

The gas cylinder and piston on a Garand are stainless steel, the first large volume use I know of. It is easier to clean the bore than the gas system, and you can shoot a rusty barrel if under attack. But the gas system has to work, so they went to the expense of stainless for the less accessible parts.

 

[1KPerDay]

TW 53 is Twin Cities.
Twin Cities Arsenal (TW) went non-corrosive starting with lot #19362 in Dec 1950 for ball, and lot #19776 Feb 1952 for AP.

WCC is Western (Winchester) and absolutely non-corrosive.

And finally LC, Lake City. LC 52 is the first year of totally safe LC according to a chart I printed out a while back from the CMP forum.

According to the Garand guys, Lot Number: 13700 Date: June 1951 was the first non-corrosive to come out of LC.

Looks like you're good to go.

Thank you, sir.

 

[ftierson]

Keep in mind that some 'match ammo' was produced with corrosive primers in, if I'm remembering correctly, 1966...

Probably with an LC headstamp...

If I'm remembering correctly, of course..

Forrest

 

[Swampy]

Keep in mind that some 'match ammo' was produced with corrosive primers in, if I'm remembering correctly, 1966...

Probably with an LC headstamp...
If I'm remembering correctly, of course..

That would be a new one on me..... Never heard of anything like that.

All I've ever heard is what's previously been stated.... The last US 30 ammo with corrosive priming was in the early 50's.

Best regards,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[TexasRifleman]

Keep in mind that some 'match ammo' was produced with corrosive primers in, if I'm remembering correctly, 1966...

Probably with an LC headstamp...

There was some .308 called "international match" that had some corrosive primer compounds but I don't know of any '06.

That was in 1956, not 66 though.