Ammo Advice

I just picked up a Mk. I that the seller acquired from CMP. (No boos and hisses please :p) I bought this as a shooter; I don't have any interest in collecting safe queens. This is my first .30-06 (tho I am in process with an order with CMP for a M1 "Special Grade," which is one of their rebuilts, again I want a shooter). Anyway, as this is my first .30-06 I have absolutely no experience with ammo. I'm hoping to get advice on what brands/versions people use for range time. e.g. is the Greek M2 Ball HXP surplus that is the cheapest option I've run across any good? I'll probably but some higher-end ammo just to have on hand if I have an issue I suspect might be ammo related, but for now I just want to get used to the weapon, using leaf sights for the first time, etc.

So, based upon the middle-of-the-night/early-morning rambling above, what suggestions do you folks have for me for suggest rounds and sources? (BTW, if the mention of the CMP, and not RCMP, and the location listed under my nick weren't noticed, I'm in the States.)

Generally, the M1903 will "eat" just about any type of 30-06 ammunition successfully. (unless they are some exotic reloads or something like that). I have heard some people say it doesn't chamber the HXP ammo well, but I admit I don't have any personal experience with that.

Greek surplus is great ammo...and can be a little tight in a 1903..some rifles have more of an issue then others.

I shot a lot of Greek through a Rock Island 1903 during my CMP days and it shot well......except. Had several rounds that I had to put a little extra effort to close the bolt during the rapid fire prone stage of a match. One round fired and blew gas out. I was wearing shooting glasses and was peppered with hot gas on my left cheek! No other damage thankfully because of the glasses. Found the brass had split from the head halfway up the brass. No damage to the rifle. Rifle did have a hatcher hole which did its' duty for sure

From then on I check the Greek rounds through the 03 working the bolt. Any that are tight to chamber I put to the side and shoot in a Garand. Only found a few more from that same lot, no others.

Greek is good service grade ammunition and I like it.

Thanx for the info guys. So far the Greek ammo is 2 for 2. CMP says it takes 60 days :move eek: to ship (will, they are an extension of the US gov't), but it is the cheapest by far, especially if you take into account the .30 cal ammo boxes assuming they are in good shape.

The next cheapest I've found is Wolf for 20% more per round. Maybe I should just go buy 1000 rounds of the Greek.

Your worry about them being safe queens is unfounded.

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Originally Posted by Johnny Peppers

Your worry about them being safe queens is unfounded.

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Sorry, don't understand your reply. I was just trying to point out that I am not interested in '03s to as an investment or to connect, just for the experience of using the rifle.

The guns you get will be good for use, show use and you'll want to use them. That's all...