[R.H. Lee]

that would match the rear sight ranges on a P-17 Enfield? I think the original cartridge used a 150 gr flat base bullet at about 2700fps, correct?

[30Cal]

Both M1 (173gr FMJ--2550fps) and M2 ball (150gr FMJ--2750fps) should be close enough for minute-of-badguy. The 7.62mmNATO M80 147gr FMJBT bullet will work as well at 2750.

[Johnny Guest]

- -I'm in the process of moving and my copy of Crossman's Book of the Springfield is packed away already. He gives a lot of data for both loads, but I don't recall which one was in common use during WW-I. I tend to think it was the 150 at 2750, though . . .

Best,
Johnny

[Grump]

Didn't we fight WWI with 173-gr M1 Ball, 173-gr bullet with cupronickel jackets?

IIRC, M2 Ball came about just after the war, to recoil a bit less for our hammered troops.

If it's M1 Ball, you're looking for about 2650 fps at 78 feet, or about 2700 near the muzzle.

Isn't M2 Ball closer to 2800-2850 fps? What about 7.62 M80?

Interestingly enough, the M80 Ball tracks trajectory of the better 173-gr bullet quite closely out past 600 yards, because of its higher velocity. Wind resistance and staying supersonic past 700, though, is another matter for M80.

[R.H. Lee]

Y'all have probably seen this, but here is some historical info:

http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/3006s.html

[30Cal]

From the actual mil-specs:

M80 is 2750fps at 78'
M2 is 2740fps at 78'

I can't find a mil spec for M1 ball (go figure).