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

[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.

[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.

[browningautorifle]

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.

Exactly. Then you can shoot exactly what you need to.

[1903Collector]

I know where to get M2 and have LOTS of M2 ball ammo acquired years ago, but all are FMJ. Ive never bought from CMP, and my info is probably out of date, but I need to check the CMP site more often and start to take advantage of their sales! (Another future "to do" to add to a long list of outstanding "to dos"...Ill us the CMP links you provided, thanks!)

As I stated, I can not use FMJ at the ranges in my area. Id have to use private or public lands where shooting is legal or travel quite a distance to ranges that dont forbid FMJ at their rifle range.

I confessed earlier in this string that I may be too pedantic or conservative about using only M2 Ball and may need to either install my adjustable gas plug into the Garand I wish to shoot that day, or simply accept the relatively low risk of using modern SP or HP 150 grain ammo for my Garands. However, that does not solve my ammo concerns for the '03s I have. The risks may be low, but if I ever damaged any of my collection it would break my heart. I am conflicted, because I do shoot every rifle in my 104 long arm collection (SA War thru Cold War...of course, it takes months to shoot each one even once!)

---------- Post added at 03:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:13 PM ----------

Damn, why didnt I think of that?! I do have a Dillon Square Deal B and a 550b) and .30-06 die and head, but Ive never even thought to simply change the projectile! :-O
To be honest, they are both in storage and its been 10 years since I last reloaded and that was mostly handgun calibres...yet another TO DO, but I think you have offered the best and a very practical solution. MANY THANKS!

---------- Post added at 03:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:19 PM ----------

noted, I think we were using "blowing up" as a little bit of a tongue and check exaggeration intended to reference simply "causing damage" in exactly the way you mentioned. It just "sounded" more dramatic. ;-)
I have in the past reloaded and I have the correct powder to build M2 "spec" ammo, but I was being lazy and was hoping there is some SP or HP M2 ammo on the market. I think its time for me to pull my presses and sies out of storage and relearn how to use them for .30-06 (its been 10 years since I last used them!)

[old tanker]

The danger is not so much from the gun "blowing up" as it is from battering the parts, particularly the operating rod, from higher that designed pressure at the gas port. Hunting ammo with 150 grain bullets loaded to 2700-2800 fps should be OK. WW2 Cal .30 M2 ball was nominally a 150 grain bullet loaded with a bulk version of IMR 4895. Some reloading manuals even list loads that are safe in "gas guns" i.e loads for 30-06 in the M1 and 7.62 (.308) loads for the M1A. Heavy charges of a relatively slow burning powder, like IMR 4350, under 180 or 200 grain bullets can be safely within normal chamber pressure levels for .30-06 ammo; fine in a Model 70 Winchester, but inadvisable in a Garand

[togor]

The asphalt sealer makes it a putz to clean and resize the neck. If you get good tension without neck sizing, I'd say just shove the new bullet in there and let the residual asphalt do its job.

Handy tip: use a seating die to crack the sealer first, before you grab the projectile with the collet.

[browningautorifle]

The asphalt sealer makes it a putz to clean and resize the neck.

Yes, it can be...

Handy tip: use a seating die to crack the sealer first, before you grab the projectile with the collet.

Good point.

[Jeremy]

Something to remember the garand isn't as fragile as the internet leads you to believe.

The easiest thing to do is just swap projectiles for SP etc.


If you have to buy hunting ammo any you find will be perfectly fine in an inspec and properly greased garand zero worries.

[oldfoneguy]

Something to remember the garand isn't as fragile as the internet leads you to believe. If you have to buy hunting ammo any you find will be perfectly fine in an inspec and properly greased garand zero worries.

I respectfully disagree. I don't know if you've ever heard of op rods being damaged by overpowered hunting ammo but I know someone this happened to. During the covid drought when guys were buying whatever was left on the shelf he picked up some 220gr monster moose ammo that should never have been near a Garand, with or without an adjustable gas plug. One round and his op rod bent in 3 places. The bolt was slammed to the rear of the receiver by popping out of the op rod channel. The front handguard was cracked by the bent rod but he epoxied that. In all it was a very expensive lesson that nearly ruined his 1943 SA.

I had to break down those rounds for him. I added 150gr fmj's and repowdered them to M2 spec. I loaded up those 19 220gr heads for my Krag.

No your not going to blow up the barrel but the gas system can easily be damaged by hunting ammo overpowered beyond the gas systems design specifications. I'm sure his wasn't the only Garand damaged this way.

[Jeremy]

I respectfully disagree. I don't know if you've ever heard of op rods being damaged by overpowered hunting ammo but I know someone this happened to. During the covid drought when guys were buying whatever was left on the shelf he picked up some 220gr monster moose ammo that should never have been near a Garand, with or without an adjustable gas plug. One round and his op rod bent in 3 places. The bolt was slammed to the rear of the receiver by popping out of the op rod channel. The front handguard was cracked by the bent rod but he epoxied that. In all it was a very expensive lesson that nearly ruined his 1943 SA.

I had to break down those rounds for him. I added 150gr fmj's and repowdered them to M2 spec. I loaded up those 19 220gr heads for my Krag.

No your not going to blow up the barrel but the gas system can easily be damaged by hunting ammo overpowered beyond the gas systems design specifications. I'm sure his wasn't the only Garand damaged this way.

Lol...

Surely you have some pics of this rifle nearly destroyed by one round of 220gr "moose ammo"?


Great story however... just not really believable.

PS what brand of 220gr was this?