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    1950s LC Ammo

    I have two questions about some old ammo. My dad just gave me two .30 cans of what he called Lake City ammo that he picked up in the late 50's or early 60's. One can has the normal boxes of ammo that are infact marked LC. The other can has what he called machine gun ammo, as it is a very long belt of ammo that every 5th one is marked with orange painted tips. We think this is a tracer round.

    One question is does anyone know or think this is corrosive ammo? Two what is the opinion of shooting this in a M1icon? I have read all the posts I could find on cleaning after shooting corrosive ammo, so I feel comfortable on how to do that. But is there any risk the corrosive bits will get into the gas cylindar?

    The 1903A3 will likely be the receiptant of this ammo, but thougth I would ask the questions.

    Thanks
    Barry
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    Check with your local collector or gun show. You will probably find that the ammo will sell for enough money for you to purchase more modern stuff.

    If you get the lot numbers and/or headstamps you can find where it is in relation to the changeover.

    Both the 1903 and Garandicon were designed and approved when corrosive stuff was all that was available. The gas cylinder of the Garand is stainless. The op rod can become pitted though so should be removed and cleaned.

    Personal opinion: While I have shot corrosive stuff with no bad effects, cleaning is enough of a pita that I don't anymore.
    Ed reluctantly no longer in the Bitterroot

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    You are correct about the linked MG ammo. You do not want to fire the tracers, as they will start brush fires (unless it is raining); in most jurisdictions, starting fires with tracers will get you arrested for arson.

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    I opened some of the boxes and they are all marked L C 52. But the linked rounds in the other can are marked R A 52. Anyway these will not go into my M1icon, I just picked up a 1903A3 shooter that will use these over time. I guess I will just discard the tracers, I don't want to start any fires. And none of the clubs or ranges I shoot at here in MO will allow tracers at all.

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    Don't throw away money. Someone will buy the tracers, and probably pay even more for the complete belt of ammo.

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    1952 was a good year

    Don't fret about the two headstamps you mention. Both are non-corrosive. That ammo was intended for the M1icon and will yield excellent brass for reloading. In fact you can pull the tracers and replace them with any 150 FMJ w/o much anxiety. Then you will be on your way to rolling your own. There may be some collector interest but its a matter of luck.

    This primer info is posted almost everywhere:

    Noncorrosive Priming Information for U.S. Military Small Arms Ammunition

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    Thank you very much George R., I was not aware of the information about when the US stoped using corrosive ammo. I have got to get out to the range and try some of these to see how they shoot.

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