M-2 Ball ?

[Irish Mick]

Gentlemen,
I have just come into some M-2 Ball ammo, and I would like to know more about the headstamps.
1. M-2 loose several hundred rnds. marked as follows: KA/73 Shiney & clean.
2 One 400 rnd. case of brand new M72 match in the original mint GI ammo can. Still has the cloth pull tab to remove boxes. Marked as follows: Lot LC 12239.
My neighbor also has quite a few bandoleers of HXP M-2 ball in GI WW2 stripper clips. Since I shoot 03's they are a must have.

Any information would be appreciated.

-The Irish Mick
Arizona Territory

Information

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[U.S.G.I.]

Mick here is the link you need to answer your questions.

Ammunition Identification Page

[snell]

Mick,

That KA73 is Korean and is corrosive. It's fairly good plinking ammo but make sure you swab the bore with a water based cleaner very soon after you're finished shooting. It will rust your bore quickly otherwise. If you use it in an M1 or any other semi-auto make sure you get the gas system swabbed as well. It was pretty inexpensive and readily availble not all that long ago.

Good luck

Art

[Bob S]

The Match ammunition is a carefully crafted version of M1 ball, not M2.

The bullet is Lake Citiy's version of the Frankford Arsenal 172 grain M1 bullet. The Lake City bullet is slightly heavier (173-174 grains) because the lead alloy core has less antimony in the alloy than what was used in the 1930's. Less antimony, more lead, slightly higher density. Your M1903's will really like this stuff; and the M1903 rear sight is graduated for M1 ball, not M2.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[Irish Mick]

Thanks to everyone who answered my questions.

-The Irish Mick
Arizona Territory