Good .30 Carbine Loads You Would Like To Share?

[Maverick223]

Finally decided to begin handoading for the Carbine and secured a small lot of bullets (110gr FMJs and SPHPs) and powder (H110 at least for now). Any recommended loads for a USGI Carbine? My goal is to drive it as fast as is safely possible in the little carbine without the possibility of damage (as always I plan to work up loads slowly) for the HP loads and standard velocity (still fairly fast) for the FMJ loads. Any and all advice is appreciated;

Mav.

 

[GooseGestapo]

14.5gr H110.
Mike Venturino of Rifle/Handloader magazine recently did a series of articles on the .30Carbine. He also liked the above mentioned load.
Duplicates original G.I. ballistics w/110gr bullet.
Be sure that primers are seated fully. Use caution with MilSpec brass as often they have crimped primers and require that the crimp be removed prior to reloading.

H110/Win296 was originally developed for the .30Carbine. Other good powders are Acc#9, and Alliant#2400.
Indications are the Hodgdon Lil'Gun should be good, but I've not seen (or looked for) data for it.

 

[loadedround]

My son and I both have and shoot M1 Carbines. My usual load for both is Speer 110 gr jacketed bullets(either SP or FMJ), 15.0 gr of W-W 296 in GI cases, with a CCI Mag primer. Shoots very accurately upto 100 yds and shows no sign of excess pressure in either carbine. Use caution since this is a maximum load.

 

[closetgunnut]

I've had great results with AA#9. (Min 11.3 /Max 12.6) Start low and work up.
12.2gr behind 110gr fmj. O.A.L. 1.670-1.675

I've tried H110 and IMR4227 but I keep going back to the #9.

Closet

 

[Steve Marshall]

H110 and Winchester 296 are the same powder. 14.5 or so of either duplicates the military load. Hollowpoints are problematical in many carbines. If you are willing to cut costs and boost your fun quotient, lead bullets can be a way to go. Some carbines don't care for lead bullets, they can gum up your gas system. Be sure to use the optimal hardnes such as offered by Missouri Bullet, a frequent poster here. And switch to 2400 powder for lead. I have never seen a crimped primer in 30 Carbine, but anything is possible.

 

[USSR]

I have a cast bullet load and a jacketed bullet load:

105gr LRN bullet
12.5gr 2400 powder

110gr JSP bullet
15.0gr IMR4227 powder

Don

 

[Maverick223]

Thank you for all of the good information, this pretty much confirms what I was thinking about the maximum load in my manual (110gr pushed by 15.5gr of H110), that it was a little high for the USGI Carbines. Looks like I will start with loading up to 15gr. (slowly working up) of H110 and then begin to try other powders later on (when my current stockpile runs low). For now I am going to stick with jacketed bullets, but considering the scarcity of .30 Carbine bullets, I may give HCL a shot. Again, thank you;

Mav.

 

[NuJudge]

The only handloading I've done for the M1 Carbine was 30 years ago, but here's an article from a trustworthy source:
http://www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/CMP_Carbine_Notes_2007.pdf

 

[MichaelK]

I cast my own M1 bullets out of Lyman's 311410 mold (130 grain round nose). I get wonderfully accurate groups with 11.5 grains of H110 with that bullet. Alloy is Lyman #2 made with 19lb of wheelweight lead with 1lb of lead-free plumbing solder.

Only 10.0 grains of H110 is enough to cycle the action, but 11.5 is the most that gives me less than 1" groups at 25 yards.

 

[Maverick223]

...but here's an article from a trustworthy source:

Found that earlier, which is why I was leary of going with the maximum load (15.5gr. of H110) listed in Lyman's 49th Ed.

Michael, thanks for the cast load, but I think I will hold off on lead for now. If bullets get more scarce I will probably go with HCL from Missouri Bullets and look up a few of these loads.

 

[MissouriCrowinMass]

I use 14.2 grains of H110. Fun cartridge to reload.

 

[dogrunner]

Got an M/2 I've owned for way over forty years that seems to love 2400 and hard cast 120 gr gas checked Lyman lubed with alox. Accuracy is all one could ask for and function is 100% full or semi.

I used to drive that bullet with a stiffer charge, but I finally settled at 12.0 grains of 2400.

A friend gave me a couple of boxes of 110 gr. FMJ's by Sierra last year and that same load shoots to nearly the same point of aim with the jacketed stuff and both agree with the GI sight settings.

 

[Maverick223]

Getting ready to load up a few, I think I will load the HPs working up to 15gr., and work up to about 14-14.5 for the FMJs. Thank you all for the assistance and information.