M2 Ball Reloading Concerns
- Thread starter Ponder_MD
- Start date
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Man, I am drowning in myth vs. fact.
The whole reason I'm looking at reloading, is to attempt to reproduce M2 ball to ensure that I don't damage the rifle. This 2019 article from the Garand Collector's Assoc. seems to indicate that commercial ammo is not the boogeyman that people make it out to be. The article seems to indicate that properly lubrication of parts (op rod) is more critical and that commercial ammunition with a bullet around 180 grains is perfectly safe without bothering with adjustable gas plugs.
https://thegca.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/M2-Ball-Facts-vs-Myth.pdf
The whole reason I'm looking at reloading, is to attempt to reproduce M2 ball to ensure that I don't damage the rifle. This 2019 article from the Garand Collector's Assoc. seems to indicate that commercial ammo is not the boogeyman that people make it out to be. The article seems to indicate that properly lubrication of parts (op rod) is more critical and that commercial ammunition with a bullet around 180 grains is perfectly safe without bothering with adjustable gas plugs.
https://thegca.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/M2-Ball-Facts-vs-Myth.pdf
Nanook
F-notso-NG-anymore
What they said. I'm just glad to hear Charlie is still kicking. National treasure right there.
I use mine all the time just keep it to what it called for. I use nothing but 150 gr bullets, IMR4895 and IMR4064. Keep it simple stupid, ain't that hard.
Old school, points, plugs and condenser on a 283/327 Chevy. Not rocket science.
Old school, points, plugs and condenser on a 283/327 Chevy. Not rocket science.
She had good recoil so I doubt it was a squib.
Well, he was certainly cogent and had no problems tearing down my rifle. If anything, I was the "slow" guy in the room. He does seem up in years though.
It was certainly interesting to watch him work. Part science, part dark arts and spells.
I used IMR4895 also for my M1 reloads several years ago. I recall the charge was around 40 gr. or so, with 165 gr bt bullets. I don't have my reloading log book with me since I'm overseas now, but I never had any problem with IMR4895. OP, you can save yourself lots of worry by changing powder.
Having shot thousands of reloads using 4895 and 4064, I don't see reloading for the M1 as an issue. Today, vs 50 years ago, you have adjustable gas plugs for the Grand that give more flexibility. I did make a home made adjustable gas plug and it worked when I came into a large amount of 4320 powder.
Interesting.... before and after pics??? Are you still using it?
A lot of you guys seem to "just do it" without overthinking it. I'm a network engineer so I may be overthinking this a bit.
If I put careless reloads in my M1 that is unmaintained and out of spec, expect problems. If the rifle is well maintained and in spec, Very minor imperfections may be tolerated. Just for fun, I think I'll break out my calipers and take some measurements between my hand loads and some Greek HXP that I have, and also check out how the primers are seated.
If I put careless reloads in my M1 that is unmaintained and out of spec, expect problems. If the rifle is well maintained and in spec, Very minor imperfections may be tolerated. Just for fun, I think I'll break out my calipers and take some measurements between my hand loads and some Greek HXP that I have, and also check out how the primers are seated.
I don't think you can say that.
She cleared a cartridge or a case. I did not read the comments but after round 6 clearly goes off she moves the gun just like a novice shooter would when they pull the trigger but it does not go bang. 90 something percent sure, she pulled the trigger and then when pulling it again did not go off she cleared the chamber but not checking for squib, she loaded another round.
I'm putting my donuts on a squib 7th round
EVERY shooter should learn to recognize squibs and what to do as well as over pressure.
you can get a squibs and hangfires on surplus more likely than factory
Doco Overboard
Ultimate Member
You got it, just remember you don’t have to worry so much about damage From wrong powder too much powder gas plugs too heavy bullets and all that stuff if a cartridge lights off before the bolt is Fully in battery.
Thinking through those things comes after the loading/ feeding sequence is done.
High primers in ammo that’s not carefully prepared or wrong can and does become problematic when built in safety margins / specs are overlooked or not understood.
Thinking through those things comes after the loading/ feeding sequence is done.
High primers in ammo that’s not carefully prepared or wrong can and does become problematic when built in safety margins / specs are overlooked or not understood.
jr355
Active Member
Here is a good article about loading for the Garand. By the way Ray Parkinson who was one of Charlies mentors and in charge of Fort Meade armory had no problem with reloading for the Garand or the M1A. He even gave me some suggested loads when I picked up my M1-A that he built for me back in the 80's.
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2018/2/1/tips-on-how-to-duplicate-1950s-era-30-06-m72-match-load/
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2018/2/1/tips-on-how-to-duplicate-1950s-era-30-06-m72-match-load/
No, I quit shooting high power about 10 years ago. The rifle, is still in use by a nephew and it is still shooting well although he doesn't reload so it doesn't have the adjustable gas plug anymore. Come to think of it, I don't know what happened to it. I probably gave it to one of the young kids at my club and forgot all about it.
Park ranger
Ultimate Member
- Dec 6, 2015
- 2,327
Careless reloads in any gun will be problematic to kaboom. Its not an issue to just an m1. They are not made of bubble gum. Best shooting load i have is a 175 grain bullet.
Blacksmith101
Grumpy Old Man
- Jun 22, 2012
- 22,267
Yes the circle-X is on the chamber drawing and at that same location on the cartridge drawing is the cartridge dimension which is 2.0526 - .0070 and gives you the loaded cartridge range of 2.0456 to 2.0526 which will fit in the circle-X chamber dimensions range of 2.0487 to 2.0587. A maximum cartridge in a minimum chamber will actually be compressed by just under four thousandths of an inch and a minimum cartridge in a maximum chamber will have just over thirteen thousandths play.
Blacksmith101
Grumpy Old Man
- Jun 22, 2012
- 22,267
It looked to me as it kicked as advertised. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Count her rounds six kick then something is not right she looks like she tried to shoot and then she manually manipulates the bolt and when she tries again it explodes. The seventh was a squib and did not recoil or eject properly and the eighth which she manually loaded did the damage.
The 6th did throw smoke out the barrel as it should have. A squib wouldn't do that.
look, look again, then look a 3rd time.
He said
meaning the 1-6th kicked.
right after the 6th, look for the rifle to bob right about the 14 second mark. That the tell tale sign of a novice pulling the trigger and no bang/recoil.
She also looks like she is pulling the trigger so fast that she is not even aiming 6th round (that goes bang) is so fast that I be she did not really aim and was just tring to keep pace.
NOW, counter point to my hunch, what does look suspicious is that when she pulls the round, she looks like she keeps hold of it in her left hand (look at 2 fingers are clinched like she is holding onto a case/cartridge as she takes the shot with the final round. Notice that she does NOT release the bolt to slingshot home, she follows it forward which may also support that the bolt was not fully closed when she fired. Would she hold it cause its a loaded cartridge. Or since dad reloads, would she hold onto the empty case cause she knows she has to pick up the cases after she shoots and this is saving time and effort letting it drop?
In either case, he did not ask her what was going on. If She was shooting his reloads, an experienced reloader SHOULD have stopped her right there. Even if not a reloader, an experienced shooter should have inquired and stopped her as well if he did not know what was going on and she was NOT an experienced shooter
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