I was given some WW II US milsurp 30-06. Most has DM 42 (Des Moines) headstamp with a few others. Shoots fine but some primers didn't go bang. 150 gr FMJ and a nominal 52 grs. of extruded powder. Any idea what powder was commonly used in these? I'm guessing IMR 4895 or 4064 or 4320, little short for 3031.
Ww ii 30-06
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loadedround
Member
Probably was IMR4895 but just a guess. However I believe those old '06 cases may have corrosive primers in them. Make sure you clean your rifle well afer shooting them.
Yeah I'd guess 4895 as that's the closest in the book. Thanks, I knew they were corrosive primers but it never hurts to remind someone, can save a lot of grief.
I've pulled 'em down and reloaded them in other brass with new primers, 100 rds of 06 for the price of a box of primers. Powder looked fine, they were from an Army armory. Not bad if I do say so.
I'll deprime that brass and swage the primer pockets=another 100 rds of brass.
I've pulled 'em down and reloaded them in other brass with new primers, 100 rds of 06 for the price of a box of primers. Powder looked fine, they were from an Army armory. Not bad if I do say so.
I'll deprime that brass and swage the primer pockets=another 100 rds of brass.
Army used non corrosive primers from the get go on the M1 carbine cartridge. But they insisted on the old corrosive primers during WWII due to concerns about ignition. Then GIs and Marines got concerns about barrels rotting during humid campaigns like in the Pacific Islands.
Bet machine gunners had a real problem here. Anybody know?
Tom
Bet machine gunners had a real problem here. Anybody know?
Tom
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
.50 cal MG barrels were Stellite lined as early as 1942 to prevent damage from erosion / corrosion. Stellite is pretty much impervious to everything.
.30 cal MG's guns didn't get it until the war was almost over however.
But:
During the fighting, I doubt they had time to rust.
When they weren't fighting, they cleaned them.
If you imagine jumping off a landing craft into salt water up to your eyebrows, I doubt corrosive priming was the biggest rust problem they had to worry about.
rc
.30 cal MG's guns didn't get it until the war was almost over however.
But:
During the fighting, I doubt they had time to rust.
When they weren't fighting, they cleaned them.
If you imagine jumping off a landing craft into salt water up to your eyebrows, I doubt corrosive priming was the biggest rust problem they had to worry about.
rc
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Maj Dad
Member
Keep It
I agree with rondog - hang onto it for its historical value. In the early 70's I was shooting a bunch of PS (Pyrotecnica Sevilla) 1912 stuff I found in a junk shop in Denison, TX. Some of it fired, some of it click-banged, and some didn't even pass gas, but I wish I hadn't shot it. It was the same age as my parents! Plus, shooting corrosive ammo in a bolt or chrome bore gun is not a big deal (I must have a zillion rounds of Portuguese, Turk, Yugo and Combloc stuff), but in a gas gun, especially the Garand it gets in the gas system and you have to really, conscientiously clean it. In the army, we cleaned our weapons (M14s & everything else) for three consecutive days after firing, per the old brown-shoe routine for corrosive stuff even though everything was non-corrosive then (mid-late 60's). Finally slacked off in the 70's; don't know about now (my Matty Mattel is corrosion resistant, I think
).
I agree with rondog - hang onto it for its historical value. In the early 70's I was shooting a bunch of PS (Pyrotecnica Sevilla) 1912 stuff I found in a junk shop in Denison, TX. Some of it fired, some of it click-banged, and some didn't even pass gas, but I wish I hadn't shot it. It was the same age as my parents! Plus, shooting corrosive ammo in a bolt or chrome bore gun is not a big deal (I must have a zillion rounds of Portuguese, Turk, Yugo and Combloc stuff), but in a gas gun, especially the Garand it gets in the gas system and you have to really, conscientiously clean it. In the army, we cleaned our weapons (M14s & everything else) for three consecutive days after firing, per the old brown-shoe routine for corrosive stuff even though everything was non-corrosive then (mid-late 60's). Finally slacked off in the 70's; don't know about now (my Matty Mattel is corrosion resistant, I think
).snuffy
Member
Water based cleaner
Everybody is beating around the bush, the answer is in the middle! Some newbie will see this, then think he can clean his rifle with today's nitro solvents and be alright.
You MUST use some sort of water based cleaner to remove those corrosive salts that were in those old primers. OR use some of that horrible smelling G.I. cleaner in the little green cans. If you don't, you'll have rust. Not just any old rust, but rust that pits the barrel.
Everybody is beating around the bush, the answer is in the middle! Some newbie will see this, then think he can clean his rifle with today's nitro solvents and be alright.
You MUST use some sort of water based cleaner to remove those corrosive salts that were in those old primers. OR use some of that horrible smelling G.I. cleaner in the little green cans. If you don't, you'll have rust. Not just any old rust, but rust that pits the barrel.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
You are correct... They switched in 1953 so anything marked 52 and earlier is corrosive so take the appropriate steps to protect your barrel after firing that ammo. Also, the primers are not only corrosive but I think they are also dangerous if touched or inhaled. Be careful with those buggers...
medalguy
Member
Dates for switchover to NC priming varied by arsenal and type of ammunition. Here's a link to a chart showing initial production lots of NC primed ammunition.
http://www.survivalblog.com/noncorrosive.html
And remember, the very best way to clean a weapon that has fired corrosive primers is the old GI bore cleaner. There's someone selling it on the 1919A4 forums by the case, pretty good prices and it's in full cases. Check them out if you need it.
http://www.survivalblog.com/noncorrosive.html
And remember, the very best way to clean a weapon that has fired corrosive primers is the old GI bore cleaner. There's someone selling it on the 1919A4 forums by the case, pretty good prices and it's in full cases. Check them out if you need it.
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