Plated bullets for M1Carbine

[gatorwade]

Looking for recommendations. I tried some X-treme 110 gr. RN's last year. Loaded up 7 batches of about 20 each to test. Shot them at 100 yards/ 5 round groups, then 3 round groups at 25 yds. The results were inconclusive but no problems.
This year, so far I tested 3 batches, shooting 5 round groups at 50 yards. Using 14.0 gr. and 14.2 gr. of H110. They averaged 2.19" to 2.69" with best groups of 1.73" and 1.75".
I have been getting better results with Sierra 2100 and 2105, with best 50 yard results from .94" to around 1.5".
Lyman and Hodgdon list 14.0 as a starting load. X-treme website says the plated bullets are recommended for less than 1500 fps. H110 is not recommended for soft loads that would yield that low velocity.
Any guidance or comments would be appreciated.

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Haendler & Natermann have published load data for their plated bullets in the .30M1 carbine. Their reloading manual shows starting load data for Alliant Unique, Alliant 2400, IMR 4227 and Vihtavuori N110.

The H&N site shows only the last one:

http://www.hn-sport.de/produkte/gesc...ungsdaten.html

H&N gives the V2 (i.e. velocity measured 2m from the muzzle) as 550 meters/sec with the starting load of 12gn N110. If X-tremes are said to be for a velocity less than 1500 ft/sec (approx. 450 m/s) then maybe they have a thinner plating than the H&Ns?

If you overdrive a plated bullet, the plating will be damaged or torn off, something which you will notice when the bullets start going through the target sideways and grouping worse than a worn-out shotgun!

For this game, I would prefer N110 over anything else. The faster, pistol-type powders mean fiddling around with tiny loads, 1/10 gn tolerances, and an enormously increased chance of something going horribly wrong.

[USGI]

After quite a bit of research and experimenting, I've settled on 14.7 grains of H-110 when using the X-treme plated bullets. With the Remington FMJ bullets, I use 15.0 grains of the H-110. For me, the starting load of 14.0 grains of H-110 would not cycle the action reliably and gave "sooty looking" cases. I use CCI #41 primers with both bullets and a mix of cases, but usually LC. This works for me - I am not responsible for any reloads other than my own. - Bob

Note: This is with the current formulation of H-110 or W296 - the older powders may have been slightly different.

[Wineman]

Do the plated bullets have gas checks? If not you may want to try Alliant 2400 at 11-12 grains. Gas checked bullets should approach jacketed bullet velocities. With plain base 1,500 to 1,600 fps may be better. I just loaded a batch of cast Lyman 311359 (~118 grains) with gas checks and 13.0 grains of W296. I will range report next week. Most of my manuals do not list loads under 11 grains for the H110/W296 powders. Anecdotal Internet ramblings suggest the these powders should remain at close to full charges. Alliant 2400 is much more flexible and can be loaded down without restrictions. The CMP suggested load is a 110 jacketed Win HP with 15.0 grains of W296, Win cases and Win SR primers. This gives 1,970 fps and 36,000 CUP in a pressure barrel (Carbine rated at 40,000 CUP).

thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/CarbineNotes.pdf

Dave

[browningautorifle]

Do the plated bullets have gas checks?

Plated bullets are usually total metal jacket. The whole thing is coated.