Are hollow or soft point M2 Ball ammo available in the market

[1903Collector]

Here comes yet another, hopefully not stupid or unclear question.

Are there any hollow or soft point M2 Ball spec ammo available in the market?

Most ranges in my area do not allow FMJ bullets used on their rifle range.

I found no info on this on MilSurp, nor the internet, at least none that I could find. I even called my local outdoor range, but they dont know what their M1 Garand and 1903 Springfield rifle shooting customers use at their range.

I much prefer to limit the ammo I use for my M1 Garands and 1903 Springfields to the 150 grain M2 spec powder ammo. It was my understanding that many collectors books warn that there is a potential of damage if modern powder and higher grain bullets are used on either (I am not referring to the so-called "low number '03s, and I prefer not to install the pressure regulated gas plug on my M1 Garands, but I may have to rethink that).

Is my understanding about using only M2 ball spec ammo out of date or incorrect, or am I just being too conservative about the ammo I use with these particular rifles?

[browningautorifle]

There IS a particular M2 ammo available named for cycling through Garand rifles without hurting them. Federal Cartridge made an American Eagle for the M1 rifle with the label so marked. You'll get mixed reviews. I loaded my own and even tried the Schuster adjustable gas cylinder lock screw with good results. You can also get correct ammo from CMP for consumption.

Here's a thread you might want to consume, we also have info here in forum.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/th...esutls.385009/

[Sapper740]

Ball ammunition by definition has a full metal jacket so I think the question you're asking is if there is commercial ammunition with hollow point of soft nose bullets suitable for the M1 Garand?

[browningautorifle]

I think the question you're asking is if there is commercial ammunition with hollow point of soft nose bullets suitable for the M1 Garand?

I know guys that shoot whatever comes to hand without issue. I know one that shot a steady diet of 150 gr soft point from Canadian Tire, Winchester...it was cheapest. Back in the '70s we shot anything because the internet hadn't been invented yet so we didn't know our rifles would blow up shooting sporting ammo...oh, wait they DIDN'T...

[ssgross]

the question you're asking is if there is commercial ammunition with hollow point of soft nose bullets suitable for the M1 Garand?

PPU makes soft point ammo in 30-06. They also make a "For the M1 Garand" version. I have only seen this or the AE garand ammo on a store shelf once in the last 5 years. Many/Most 30-06 suppliers have a soft point offering for hunters and readily available now. I highly recommend the adjustable gas screws, but I haven't seen them in stock anywhere for a year or more. When I shoot just for target practice, I'm in the habit of opening up the gas plug to prevent my brass from ejecting, converting the rifle to a single shot. It is much easier to save my brass, especially at ranges where it isn't easy or is impossible to call a ceasefire to retrieve in front of the firing line. If you can't find an adjustable plug, you can easily make such an "open" gas plug. The adjustable ones work by adjusting the tension on the port spring with a set screw to make it easier for the port to open allowing more gas to escape.

Here is a non-adjustable replacement plug, but with port tuned to lower peak pressures. There is a chart at the bottom showing the effects compared to M2 Ball, both LC and HXP versions.
https://www.garandgear.com/product/ported-gas-plug/

Surprising to hear of ranges that don't allow FMJ. The only restrictions I have ever encountered (other than large caliber restrictions) is incendiary, AP, or steel core. Signs clearly posted, and all range staff have a magnet on hand to spot check. However, my current outdoor range does have have such a projectile restriction, but only according to distance when shooting steel targets, e.g. lead projectiles only, no jackets of any kind, on steel targets < 100yds.

EDIT: Garandgear has a whole article on the development of their ported gas plug, with pressure curves for many different commercial loads.
https://www.garandgear.com/the-m1-ga...al-ammunition/

[browningautorifle]

Here's the PPU. They don't have SP or HP though.

[1903Collector]

This is my dilemma. I only want to use M2 ball for my Garands and '03s, and I have M2 ball ammo from virtually every supplier that produce them, but Ive found NONE that offer a SP or HP version. They are all FMJ and that is a non-starter for use on most, if not all local ranges here. So I have to restrict my Garand and '03 time to when I shooting on private or public lands where shooting is legal. (Each year it seems we have to go further and further away from the Dallas/Ft Worth area to find such land!) Though we have some small low rolling hills here or there, the issue is the general flat topography. Ranges well situated in hilly or mountainous areas do mot generally restrict FMJ.

---------- Post added at 03:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:02 PM ----------

I have an adjustable gas plug, but I only want to use M2 ball for my Garands and '03s. This is my dilemma, and one I may have to reconsider, but it doesnt apply to my '03 rifles.
I have M2 ball ammo from virtually every supplier that produce them, but Ive found NONE that offer a SP or HP version.

They are all FMJ and that is a non-starter for use on most, if not all local ranges around here. So I have to restrict my Garand and '03 time to when I can shoot on private or public lands where shooting is legal. Each year it seems we have to go further and further away from the Dallas/Ft Worth area to find such land!

As for ranges, though we have some small low rolling hills here or there in the DFW area, the restriction of FMJ is due to the general flat topography that changes only SW of here near Austin or in SW Arkansas. Ranges well situated in hilly or mountainous areas do not generally restrict FMJ.

[1903Collector]

No Jim, they didnt blow-up, or become damaged. But then again, neither has any of my so-called "low-number" '03s that I have been shooting M2 ball with for years.

However, regarding the use of modern .30-06 ammo with Garands and "high-number" (for argument sake) '03s, there is a chance that they could be damaged due to the higher pressure profile of modern .30-06 ammo. It is my understanding that the risk increases with higher grain bullets, but I agree, that in reality damage due to use of modern .30-06 ammo is rare and/or of low probability. I have actually never heard of such a case.

Perhaps I am being too conservative, or a stubborn purist when it comes to shooting these old soldiers. I cant even imagine how Id feel if I "blew-one-up"! I may just be too risk averse. The one thing to consider is that back in the day, the availability of surplus Garands and '03s was higher and the costs much lower then. Were one to blow up back then, the loss may not have been considered as severe as it might today and replacement far easier!

[browningautorifle]

No Jim, they didnt blow-up, or become damaged. But then again, neither has any of my so-called "low-number" '03s that I have been shooting M2 ball with for years.

Exactly...

I'm getting the picture that you can't do any bullet pulling and seating SP bullets. You'd recover cost after by selling the FMJ to online buyers. It's not that hard to do...

I cant even imagine how Id feel if I "blew-one-up"! I may just be too risk averse

I broke the firing pin in a '73 Winchester SRC once from metal fatigue. I can tell you exactly how it feels. I was able to fix that one though...lucky...

[ssgross]

I only want to use M2 ball for my Garands and '03s

Once a year CMP sells up to some specific amount of surplus - with a limit of 1 can per customer, per year. Get yourself on their email list. If your info, and qualifying CMP affiliate (e.g. GCA) membership is up to date in their system, you can add to cart and check out immediately. The last couple years the supply released has lasted about a week. For the last 4 years or more, I have only ever received LC ball with late 60's through mid 70's stamps.

My advise would be to start hand loading. Even with the premium on components, you can still save a small fortune loading 30-06 over factory ammo, and get exactly what you want with better quality control.
Yes the PPU stuff labeled "garand" is only in FMJ. The 150gr SP is only 150fps faster - and looks like it is only loaded that way to make the downrange ballistics the same with the smaller BC. Here is the PPU catalog. You would likely get a bigger than 150fps swing with different manufacturers 150gr bullets over the same charge. I know this from my own experiments and data. So, in my opinion, fretting over whether the PPU SP is labeled "garand" or not is not worth it.