M1903 Problems

[Steve762]

Attachment 115057Attachment 115058The new version of the 1909 cal .30 blank supplied by Lake City to the VFW and American Legion is the 6 petal crimped version. The 5 petal crimp was used on USGI grenade cartridges. The use of grenade cartridges in M-1 Rifles with BFA's caused several injuries at military funerals. The VFW has warning info at their web site regarding this issue.

[Rockandroll]

Great info. What were the red cardboard blanks used for?

[Steve762]

The original 1909 cal .30 blank had a slight roll crimp to hold a cardboard wad that was sealed with red lacquer. It was used in rifles and MG's. The 6 petal crimp is the recent Lake City design that best suits their modern manufacturing equipment.

[Parashooter]

There are two different blanks in 30-06, one has a red cardboard plug in the bullet end. The other has a crimped end. Which one are you using?

Note that the cartridges on the right in the attached image are 7.62 NATO blanks, not .30/06, as is the fired blank image attached to post #10 in this topic (note wide extractor groove).

[browningautorifle]

Note that the cartridges on the right in the attached image are 7.62 NATO blanks, not .30/06

So they are. Told that they were .30 cal one doesn't compare. The linked cartridges are indeed 7.62 blanks, post #8. Compare case wall to the shoulder.

Last time OP was on was 7 Feb...we could be waiting.

[ssgross]

Last time OP was on was 7 Feb...we could be waiting.

too bad...I've been awfully curious at what the real problem ended up being....on pins and needles here.

Who knows how long it was when they were last cleaned.

with blanks, and the fact that they extracted after trouble turning the bolt, I'd bet a beer and my pride that the real problem is that there is still plenty of hard baked on carbon from blanks built up that no amount of "regular" cleaning will get rid of.

Oh well. guess I'm drinking alone...again.

[browningautorifle]

no amount of "regular" cleaning

I'd have started with a .45 cal brush on a steel section of rod in a drill. Oil and spin.

[ssgross]

I did similar on a 1903 where the bolt was clearly a bit sticky. I used a 308 AR chamber brush to get behind the lugs. I have an AR "scraper" tool that I haven't had to use yet.

[Rockandroll]

I was wondering if you guys would catch the 7.62 blank. Good eyes.