Tell me about this 30-06 ammo

[Ritchie]

I picked up this ammo many years ago. Learning more about 30-06 development and history, I noticed that this lot was marked M2 ball, but had the silver colored bullets of the earlier loads. Possibly this is a transition, using up stocks of the earlier bullets? The headstamp is FA40.

 

[tcoz]

Developed in 1938, it's .30 cal 152gr flat base lead core jacketed projectile that runs at approximately 2800fps. It's the round used in the M1 Garand. Available from a number of sources as military surplus. The best, most accurate is widely considered to be the Greek HXP, followed by Korean. Generally non corrosive although some lots of Pakistani manufacture M2 ball have been found to be loaded with corrosive primers.

 

[Edarnold]

Dated 1940 manufacture, this would definitely be corrosive primed: everything made before 1952 should be considered corrosive. The silver-colored bullets would indicate use of the early cupro-nickel jacketed type, which is more likely to give problems with metal fouling. Hopefully sure-fire after all these years, but be prepared to use a copper-dissolving solvent and care in cleaning.

 

[tcoz]

You're correct and I should have been clearer. When I stated it was non-corrosive, I was referring to Greek HXP and Korean which I had just mentioned. I wasn't referring to the specific box of ammo pictured by the OP. Thanks for catching it.