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kennethg

Ammo for shooting the 1941

10 posts in this topic

I've been using HXP M2 ball with no issues. That's what was intended for the Johnson to use. I did have feed issues with modern hunting ammo (spent case with a shorter bullet seated) when function testing. I didn't use any for shooting though. Some here have rolled their own, but I'm not sure what loads they used.

Edited by dash

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The Greek HXP M2 Ball, any military loaded M2 ball, any factory 147-150gr FMJ should function just fine.

I have recently used some FreedomMunitions .308Win in my M1A, and wish that they had some .30-06/M2, as I feel it would be ideal. Unfortunately, they are not making that.

https://www.freedommunitions.com/category-s/58005.htm

A word of caution for those who might "roll their own". Make sure that you log into the Manufacturers web site and download the latest load data for whatever powder that you decide to use. I recently ran into a guy who was loading recent manufacture powder using a load data book from about 1984. He was experiencing some case failures. The data from 1984 and 2015 do not exactly match for the same powder number. Reason: as with many things, raw materials change over time, and the manufacturer changes their manufacturing process to yield as close to the same resulting data. However, pressures, and or velocities can change. WORD TO THE WISE. Get the most recent data.

Edited by ArtR

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Jim,

Yes, the IMR/Hodgdon, and others online data, was what I was referring to. I highly recommend using that data.

However, when using current data with older powder, use extreme caution.

For both Hodgdon/IMR data go here:

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

Hercules/Alliant:

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx

Accurate:

http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WP_LoadSpec_1-23-14.pdf

http://blog.westernpowders.com/newest-reloading-data/

 

ArtR

 

 

 

 

 

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My Experience: Very nice condition 1941, except a pretty dark pitted barrel. Bought several brands of "Garand" loaded ammo thinking it would avoid over-stressing the mechanics, but most failed to eject -- actually cycled halfway and re-jammed the spent shell in the chamber.  But, with modern 150 gain hunting ammo it works fine. Didn't want to try anything heavier though.

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I wouldn't recommend using anything heavier than 150 gr. I made that mistake once when i accidentally loaded some 170 gr. in mine while at the range.

After getting kicked really good about 3 times i checked the brass and found a deep dent in the head of the case from the ejector.

After checking the factory box i realized my mistake and down loaded the mag. I was most concerned with cracking or breaking the ejector, a hard to find and expensive part, the kick was nothing nice either.

Ryche

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As the specific characteristics of M2 Ball was used to design the JSAR, this might help those looking for the "sweet" load for their JSAR.

The following,  a quote from the subsequent link. 

Charactaristics of the .30-06 Cartridge

As issued in 1906 the rimless cartridge held a 150-grain spitzer, flat-base cupronickel jacketed bullet with 2700 fps muzzle velocity. In 1926, to improve machine gun effective range, the bullet was replaced by a 172-grain 9-degree boattail design with the same 2700 fps at the muzzle, designated the "Ball, caliber 30, M1." The velocity was reduced for a time to 2640 fps, but in 1938, as the gas-operated Garand came into service, the specs returned to the flat-base 150-grain loading, called the "Ball, caliber 30, M2" round. It was the M2 that accounted for most of the ammunition expended in World War II.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1592564/posts

Most of the load books that I have read that reference the military M2 Ball have load data that hovers in the 2550+fps velocity for starting loads  to 2800+ fps velocity for maximum loads, thus hovering around the 2700 fps muzzle velocity. While the JSAR is a bit different, theM2 ball loads were developed specifically for the M1"Garand" gas operating rod system, Any "Garand" owner knows that you do not want a hot load in your M1 or you are likely to bend an op-rod.

It would be nice if all commercial ammunition would list specs associated with the load. For example: 150gr FMJ spitzer with muzzle velocity 2735 fps from a 22" test barrel.

 

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Actually , the M1 was designed for the 172 gr load . The return to the 150 gr load had nothing to do with the Garand .

We found in WW1 that our 150gr load did not have the long range punch of the other MG ammo , ie , we were out gunned . The 172 gr load was developed so that we could have machine gun " artillery " . The WW1 surplus was so great that the 172 load really was not issued till the mid 30s . By then we had moved on past using the MG for artillery and the need for the M1 round was gone . The M1 round started to be issued . It kicked a lot more and scores dropped . It also went further , and problems of stray rounds leaving the ranges and falling outside of them lead to the M2 development and reintroduction of the 150 gr load . With the lack of need , poor scores , and range problems , the M2 became the issued round  . The M1 was dropped and Garand adjusted his M1 slightly to be reliable with the M2 ammo .

Chris

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