Quick M1 ammo question
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No4Mk1*
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Modern commercial ammo is best assumed too high pressure at the gas port.
dfariswheel
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In addition, the bullets are too heavy.
The M1 was designed to use 150 grain ammo, but CAN shoot bullets as heavy as the 173 grain USGI Match bullet, in a pinch.
But nothing heavier.
If you do shoot heavier than 150 gr bullets, greasing the rifle becomes even more important.
Best advice: Don't shoot the ammo in your M1.
Shooting a box or two of old commercial ammo isn't worth risking damage to an expensive M1.
The M1 was designed to use 150 grain ammo, but CAN shoot bullets as heavy as the 173 grain USGI Match bullet, in a pinch.
But nothing heavier.
If you do shoot heavier than 150 gr bullets, greasing the rifle becomes even more important.
Best advice: Don't shoot the ammo in your M1.
Shooting a box or two of old commercial ammo isn't worth risking damage to an expensive M1.
Thanks yall. I wasn't sure about it so I figured I'd throw it on the table for discussion. I've got a collector's grade International Harvester that I would never forgive myself for screwing up over some freebie ammo.
Happy Holidays,
Mark
Happy Holidays,
Mark
QuarterBoreGunner
Member
We're talking about the M1 carbine, not the M1A correct?
VG
Member
You could buy one of the adjustable gas plugs, but as you don't have a large quantity it's probably not worthwhile.
Just sold a Garand to a friend whose son is Citadel '07....
Just sold a Garand to a friend whose son is Citadel '07....
QuarterBoreGunner
Member
Whoops. Didn't see the 30-06 part of the original post.
Nothing to see here, these are not the droids you're looking for. Move along...
Nothing to see here, these are not the droids you're looking for. Move along...
VG
Member
If you graduated the Citadel in 1999, I was five years older than you when I went through Ranger School (in 1983). So you're not old. Now do pushups.
Plannin' on doing a lot more push ups when I get to Ft. Bragg in two weeks. I'm going to beg, plead, and scream for a slot to Ranger school--but these days it's a long shot in the Signal Corps as they have pretty much excluded all but combat arms on both enlisted and officer side of the house. I'll definitely let it be known I want a shot, though.
Mark
Mark
VG
Member
Sir, most are 150 gr, there are some milsurp loads that range from 147 to 152.
The Match ammo is usually 168 or 173.
Most US M2 is flat based. Some other loadings, such as the Danish milsurp, the Match rounds, and most reloads are boat tailed. So is Federal American Eagle.
The Match ammo is usually 168 or 173.
Most US M2 is flat based. Some other loadings, such as the Danish milsurp, the Match rounds, and most reloads are boat tailed. So is Federal American Eagle.
Grump
Member
Well, gee, almost all the match shooters from the 1950s through the end of the M1's dominance at Perry routinely loaded and shot 180-gr Sierra Match Kings for the longer range windy condition matches. One "standard" load was something like 48 gr. IMR 4064, IIRC.
That's only 7 gr heavier than the 173-gr Match load (try 4-1/2 percent), and the legends I've heard were that it took a few hundred of slow powder-heavy bullet-high port pressure loads to tweak an M1 op rod.
I'd shoot 'em.
*If* the op rod gets a little tweaked, tweak it back. Is your op rod already properly NM tweaked in the first place? Self-centers in the receiver track (with slight inward & downward pressure) and just a hint of contact at the bottom of the barrel when assembled without the bolt & spring, and full-travels open and closed with the bolt when assembled without the spring at less than 60 degrees tilt? If no, then your op rod is ALREADY incorrect and needs tweaking anyway. It's mostly a reliability issue.
That's only 7 gr heavier than the 173-gr Match load (try 4-1/2 percent), and the legends I've heard were that it took a few hundred of slow powder-heavy bullet-high port pressure loads to tweak an M1 op rod.
I'd shoot 'em.
*If* the op rod gets a little tweaked, tweak it back. Is your op rod already properly NM tweaked in the first place? Self-centers in the receiver track (with slight inward & downward pressure) and just a hint of contact at the bottom of the barrel when assembled without the bolt & spring, and full-travels open and closed with the bolt when assembled without the spring at less than 60 degrees tilt? If no, then your op rod is ALREADY incorrect and needs tweaking anyway. It's mostly a reliability issue.
GooseGestapo
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FWIW:
Back in 1973, my brother and I were in a gun club and an elder gent had an honest to goodness National Match M-1, in as issued condition. He let us shoot it with the only '06 ammo we had, some Rem 180gr Cor-lok "round-nose" soft points.
After seeing both my brother and I put 5rds each, into a 6" bull "off-hand" at 100yds with it, he said, let me see that thing, and proceeded to shoot the other 10rds from the box. (He later gave us both a box of "vintage" National Match 173gr ammo- I still have it !!!). He got a 2" group shooting from a "rested" position, but not benched or bagged. He stated he'd shot the gun in competition in the late '40's including the Camp Perry nationals and never seen anything shoot as well through that rifle.
The 180gr RN C-L's are Remingtons "Not so Well-Kept Secret" amoung those who have shot/tried them.
They are loaded the same way they've been loaded for many years, and shouldn't hurt your M-1.
The only commercial ammo I would avoid is the Hornady Lite-Magnum as it possibly could damage the action rod.
All other is SAAMI spec. so shouldn't hurt the M-1.
I would be more concerned about a lot of the old "mil-spec" ammo that is being imported and sold that is not loaded to any known "standards".
My brother now has an M-1 that he's owned since the mid '80's and has shot service rifle with it, and it too shoots the Rem C-L very well. He wouldn't shoot anything in it that he thought that would possibly damage the op-rod. He's convinced that the Remington won't.
But if still in doubt, contact Remington and see what they say and let us know what they said........
Back in 1973, my brother and I were in a gun club and an elder gent had an honest to goodness National Match M-1, in as issued condition. He let us shoot it with the only '06 ammo we had, some Rem 180gr Cor-lok "round-nose" soft points.
After seeing both my brother and I put 5rds each, into a 6" bull "off-hand" at 100yds with it, he said, let me see that thing, and proceeded to shoot the other 10rds from the box. (He later gave us both a box of "vintage" National Match 173gr ammo- I still have it !!!). He got a 2" group shooting from a "rested" position, but not benched or bagged. He stated he'd shot the gun in competition in the late '40's including the Camp Perry nationals and never seen anything shoot as well through that rifle.
The 180gr RN C-L's are Remingtons "Not so Well-Kept Secret" amoung those who have shot/tried them.
They are loaded the same way they've been loaded for many years, and shouldn't hurt your M-1.
The only commercial ammo I would avoid is the Hornady Lite-Magnum as it possibly could damage the action rod.
All other is SAAMI spec. so shouldn't hurt the M-1.
I would be more concerned about a lot of the old "mil-spec" ammo that is being imported and sold that is not loaded to any known "standards".
My brother now has an M-1 that he's owned since the mid '80's and has shot service rifle with it, and it too shoots the Rem C-L very well. He wouldn't shoot anything in it that he thought that would possibly damage the op-rod. He's convinced that the Remington won't.
But if still in doubt, contact Remington and see what they say and let us know what they said........
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