ammo for M1917

[m14msgt]

Anyone recommend some good .30-06 for putting through the M1917? I tried the CMP Greek surplus, but it seems to generate too much pressure making extraction of spent casing difficult.

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[gunner]

PRVI 180 grs. or BELL 180grs. SP. Both are very good out of my M1917. 1.5"-2" at 100metres.

Regards

Gunner

[jmoore]

The sights are calibrated for 150gr. FMJ flat base, lead core, at 2700 fps muzzle velocity (as measured out of an '03 Springfield). Mine work amazingly well out to 600yd., the farthest I've shot these rifles. If its zeroed properly just "dial in" the range and go. This assumes you are shooting at all ranges using the same technique, i.e. slung or not, prone or sitting, or (horrors!) from the bench.

Hard extraction in a M1917 probably indicates a rough chamber, unless there are considerable pressure signs. This action has loads of primary extraction camming force. Greek ammo isn't known for being particularly "hot", especially considering it was made mostly for M1 Garands.

[Chuckindenver]

iv had customers with the same issue with the Greek 06 ammo in 17,s and 03,s, so i tried some, and it seemed sticky on extaction in my bolt action rifles.
it did work, just had to use more force to get the case out.
i tried it in a couple 03,s one 1917, and a Remington 700. all worked about the same.
felt sticky, and cases looked dirty from what ever type of powder they use, no signs of high pressure.
tried some Federal 150 Grn factory stuff, all worked flawless, and extracted easy, no pressure signs, price last summer at Bass Pro, was 18.00 a box.
tried som others, white box match, Federal Gold Match, Winchester, and green box Remington with Core Loc ammo, only issues with the factorys was price, and the Winchester cases were dirty like the Greek surplus.
the best and hard to find is Sammson NM 178 grn. in my heavy barrel target rifle, shot the best groups, clean cases, smooth operations..
try and find a box of it.. have one box of 7.62 Snipers match ammo for my .308 left and thats all.

[Alfred]

Greece bought modern cartridge manufacturing machinery from Winchester and used a Winchester formula double base propellant.
Every Winchester powder I've tried with handloads has left a lot of fouling.
Their earlier formula Ball powders are known for causing fouling problems and erosion. To reduce the high temperature of the nitroglycerin they add coolants and moderators which don't burn away cleanly. This was why the M-16 jammed so badly when the army switched from IMR single base to Winchester ball.

When double base powders get old the products of nitro decomposition can break it down causing excessive pressures.

The loads used by the M1917 and 03 rifles in WW1 were Pyro-Cellulose single base powder, in WW2 they'd switched to IMR single base powders. Double base ball was seldom used in US rifles till after WW2, its much cheaper to produce because they can use degraded old stock artillery and Naval gun propellants as a source of nitrocellulose.

[jmoore]

Around here, folks like the Greek stuff; I've shot multi-ammo cans of both .30 M2 and 303 w/ no probs. Interesting to see that its not uniformly popular.

[Chuckindenver]

iv heard that it seems to work well in Garands, though i personally havnt tried it.