Aaryq,
The M1 rifle is a gas operated weapon. The ACTION of said rifle is as strong as any out there... BUT, and this is a BIG but, the gas system of the M1 rifle is designed to operate ONLY with ammo being made to produce gas port pressure in a very narrow range. M2 ball ammo is what the US military made to fit this requirement.
Unless you are shooting USGI military M2 ball ammo (or foreign equivalent) you are risking damage to not only your rifle but yourself. Commercial hunting ammo is not made to fit the narrow range of gas port pressure that the M1 needs to function reliably without breaking things. Typically, commercial ammo is loaded with powders way too slow for the M1's gas system to tolerate.
Before this thread goes to the "next level"... and all sorts of guys show up saying, "I shoot such and such hunting ammo and ain't nuffin' never happen'd to my M1"..... remember that some ammo, while being only slightly over the limit of recommended gas port pressure may not cause a catastrophic failure of parts... metal fatigue is a CUMULATIVE process. Damage can be happening and you won't know it until it's too late. At that point, parts replacement will be your only recourse.... and M1 op-rods are not cheap and the price is escalating rapidly
Now..... are you a handloader??? If so, then no problem. Just load your ammo to meet the specs of M2 and you are good to go with the M1. The two "Gas system safe load Rules" for the M1 rifle are as follows:
1) NEVER load bullets HEAVIER than 180 grains
2) NEVER load powder that is SLOWER than IMR-4320
Observing both these rules will keep your ammo in the safe range for the M1's gas system.
Note: The above rules were given by the Tech Weenies of Springfield Arsenal, the people who made the M1, to the NRA way back in the 1950's to pass on to civilian Highpower shooters. This was when the M1 was first being made available to civvy shooters for comp purposes. Prior to that it was not an issue cuz' the only people allowed to shoot the M1 were military folk and they only shot the ammo that was issued to them.
Regards,
Swampy
Garands forever