M1 Carbine reloading

[Kaldor]

I was approached by a friend about reloading for his M1 Carbine. I told him I dont reload for anyone but myself, but if hes willing to put in the time to do it himself, Ill help him out by letting him use my gear. He would need to provide cases, powder, primer, dies and maybe a trimmer.

I can handle all the powder, bullet, primer, etc portion of reloading this cartridge, but have questions on trimming the cases, or if they even need trimming. Do the cases grow on the 30 carbine like a normal bottle neck case? Or because they are a tapered case much like a 9mm, do the case lengths stay pretty much the same length?

Thanks

 

[rcmodel]

I have never bothered to trim one in 50 years.

rc

 

[cfullgraf]

M1 Carbine cartridges headspace on the case mouth so case length can become significant.

Mine do get longer over several firings so I do check their length and trim the ones over max length.

 

[ssyoumans]

I have to trim mine as it does grow. Most of my brass is Aguilla if that matters. I was surprised that they grew, thought it would be more like 357 Magnum, which I have never had to trim.

 

[ssyoumans]

H110 and AA#9 works real well in 30 Carbine.

 

[carbine85]

The cases will require some trimming once in a while the same as most other cases. The cartridge head spaces on the rim of the case. Some carbines have more head space than others so trimming might not be an issue. I have a Winchester that's very tight and reloaded cases don't always allow the bolt to close properly. The chamber probably needs to be reamed.
The last 2 years I have been using Lil-Gun powder. Seems to work well.

 

[rcmodel]

The cartridge head spaces on the rim of the case.

It has no rim.

It headspaces on the mouth of the case.

rc

 

[carbine85]

I meant case mouth.

 

[Rule3]

Full size them and measure. I doubt they will need trimming. I knew this guy once who measured incorrectly and therefore trimmed incorrectly and ruined a whole mess of cases, man was he miffed!

 

[jcwit]

I trim my cases after a few reloadings.

 

[forestswin]

CMP info

I am not sure who put this paper together, but its from the Civilian Marksmanship Program website

its called
CARBINE SHOOTING WITH ACCURACY
Including How To Deal With Some Specific Problems
February 2007

here's the link

http://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/CMP_Carbine_Notes_2007.pdf

it discusses many issues - such as trimming

 

[USSR]

Do the cases grow on the 30 carbine like a normal bottle neck case?

The .30 Carbine is the "growingest" cartridge I load for. Plan on trimming.

Don

 

[Henry45]

I check mine for trimming after every firing.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I check all my cases each time I reload, that said, I rarely have to trim my .30 carbine casings. AA#9 is excellent powder for the .30 carbine.

 

[LivewireBlanco]

I also have to trim mine after about 5 reloads, sometimes less.

 

[greyling22]

I have to trim. I have used 2400 and h110 with great success. cases also like a little lube. not as much as a bottleneck case, but more than I spritz on my 9mm's.

 

[rondog]

I shoot three carbines, so I always check my cases with calipers and trim the long ones to spec.

 

[Kaldor]

Yep guys, thanks for the info. Ill be sure to let him know that he will need to purchase a trimmer. In the interest of time and money, likely a lee Quick Trim.

I reload for 9mm, 223, 300 BO, will be adding 45 ACP and 308 in the coming months. Have never dealt with straight wall cases in a rifle before. All of mine are bottleneck, and I just use a WFT2 with different trim chambers.

I figured to use either 115gr Hi-Tek coated from Missouri Bullet Co, or 110gr Hornady FMJs over either H110, Win 296, both of which can be bought pretty easily around here. I use Missouri's coated 9mm and they are great!

About how many reloads are you guys getting before you have a case failure, either loose primer pockets or a split case?

forestwins, thanks for the info from CMP!

 

[cfullgraf]

I reload for 9mm, 223, 300 BO, will be adding 45 ACP and 308 in the coming months. Have never dealt with straight wall cases in a rifle before. All of mine are bottleneck, and I just use a WFT2 with different trim chambers.

I figured to use either 115gr Hi-Tek coated from Missouri Bullet Co, or 110gr Hornady FMJs over either H110, Win 296, both of which can be bought pretty easily around here. I use Missouri's coated 9mm and they are great!

About how many reloads are you guys getting before you have a case failure, either loose primer pockets or a split case?

Just a note, 30 Carbine is unusual in that for a pistol sized, straight walled case, it frequently requires trimming. Except for some of the high performance hand gun cartridges, almost nobody trims handgun cartridge cases except maybe one time to get a uniform roll crimp for revolvers.

The M1 Carbine with W296 or H110 will reach velocities approaching 2000 fps. Make sure the coated bullets will not have issues at that speed. I know that not all plated bullets can withstand 2000 fps. I do not know the limitations of coated lead bullets.

I have around 5 reloadings on many of my carbine cases with no signs of failure--yet.

 

[greyling22]

I run a 130 grn hard lead bullet around 1500 fps in mine. I lose cases before they split.

 

[Toprudder]

I asked Donnie Miculek about the coated Bayou Bullets .30 carbine, he said they were good for 2000fps. You may want to double check with him, though.

 

[Sunray]

Only max loads will reach velocities approaching 2000 fps.
IMR4227 is your friend with 110 grain HP's or SP's(way more than 5 with mine.). Tried H110, long ago, but found better accuracy with the IMR4227. Makes a very satisfying BARK!!! sound too.
Coated or plated bullet use cast bullet data.
Can't recall ever needing to trim .30 Carbine either. Subject causes heated discussions on every forum. Might have to do with the different quality of cases these days. Mine are mostly 40 plus year old Winchester cases. Never had any issues with OAL.

 

[rondog]

Keep in mind that although the cases are straight-walled, they're actually tapered too. So they need to be lubed when sizing because they can and will get stuck in a sizing die. Always a good time, that is.....

 

[fatal wound]

I would measure and if not in specs then trim.

 

[Hoss Smith]

My carbines demand sized brass or they will not go back into battery when firing. I have to resize every time I reload them. Some cases grow much more than others. All my brass is from the 60's and I have a lot of it so I don't sweat losing some at the range. I load with IMR 4227 and 110gr FMJ's. The carbines seem to really like that combination as long as I keep the cases trimmed to 1.285".

The only problem I have with reloading is the SS pins getting stuck in the flash hole or wedged inside the case when I wet tumble them. The brass has been in storage since the 60's and needs to be deprimed and then tumbled to clean out the flash holes as well as all the other debris. If I could find a different length pin that would solve the wedging in the cases but I am no knowing what can be done about the pins sticking in the flash holes. Getting the pins out can be very time consuming and aggravating.