Greek HXP 30-06 Question

[Mark Mahler]

I'm just starting to reload for the 30-06 (recently acquired a 1903 Springfield) and I purchased some Greek surplus ammo - M2 Ball linked, for the 1919 Machine gun. The cartridges look fine, got them unlinked, and took one and pulled the bullet to see how much powder was in there.

Now from the reloading data I've read (Hornady, Hodgdon,) with a 150 grain bullet and using H4895 powder, it's recommended that you start with 46 grains up to 51 grains. So imagine my surprise when I found the Greek ammo with 55 grains of powder! I then weighed the bullet and empty case, and then weighed 3 other cartridges, and did the math. Average was 54.7 grains of powder. Now, I have no real way of knowing what particular powder the Greeks were using, but being military ball ammo, I would assume it's 4895 or something really close to it. Does this seem like a really hot load to you folks?

My plan at this time is to pull the bullets and use the primed brass to reload. I'm really not comfortable pushing the envelope on chamber pressures with a 100+ year old rifle.

 

[1KPerDay]

It is NOT 4895 and likely nothing available on the open market. Making that assumption is very incorrect. Shoot them and reload the brass. It’s good stuff.

 

[Laphroaig]

HXP 30-06 is M2 Ball ammo that has been stored properly. It is mil-spec, so isn't mild by any stretch but shoots decently well. Don't overthink it!

In fact, I've heard Mark Johnson of the CMP state that its the only ammo that you should consider running in one of their Garands.

 

[1KPerDay]

P.S. if your 1903 is a very early/potentially improperly heat treated example, that’s another issue.

 

[mdi]

I've fired maybe 300 rounds of surplus HXP in my Garand. Being sold (by CMP) as Garand ammo, it is usually below 2,800 fps., and not "hot" by military standards. And like 1k says, the powder can be anything, make no assumptions, shoot and enjoy. Then reload...

 

[GRIZ22]

I've fired a couple thousand rds of HXP in 03s and Garands. It's good ammo and designed for the pressure curve required for Garands. Shoo it as is with no worries.

 

[Mark Mahler]

Thanks for the good info!