safe FACTORY AMMO replacement for M2 ball in M1 Garand

[the old gringo]

i am sure i have overlooked the info but i have a nice nice M1 and i am almost out of M2 ball, shortages as they are , is there any safe factory ammo available ? i was told never shoot any thing but M2 ball if so why ?

Information

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[browningautorifle]

There have to be about half a dozen threads here on that... Question about modern ammo Garand adjusble gas plug m1 garand gas plug Shooting commercial? Start with these...

I better add this discussion in action, it's to the point... powder for M1 Garand reloads

[Orlando]

You can buy M2 Ball from CMP
Federal, Hornady make a safe commercial rd or use a adjustable gas screw and shoot ammo of choice

[Col. Colt]

Commercial Loads in M1 Answer, from a serious writer's work with the M1 Garand:

I doubt any Commercial load you find will be worse than a 220 [/B][/B]gr: (This from a previous thread on this Forum on the same topic. Use the Search function!)

Jim Thompson, who wrote two books on the Garand and did extensive research and personal range time with them did a test of how "damaging" the wrong commercial load could be. He purchased a case of Winchester .30-06 220 grain round nosed "Bear Loads" from a dealer in California who strangely enough could not find anyone to buy them! He used a well-worn but serviceable M1 in his test. Lubing the M1 according to the GI manual with Rifle Grease, he proceeded to fire over 470 rounds of this 500 round case through this M1. No excessive wear or battering was evident, period. He then washed off the Rifle Grease and lubed with just Oil. The rifle seized up in less than ten rounds.

So if you are inclined to experiment with "unknown pressure curve rounds", make sure the gun is properly lubed with "Grease, Rifle" - and it may just prevent a problem. I'll have to find the book to give you the name and page number, but he was convinced the problem was more improper lubrication than the particular load. CC

So long as you lube an M1 with Grease, Rifle - or a modern equivalent that meets GI specs - it does not look to me that any of the 150-180 grain loads should be a concern. CC

Final, Scientific Pressure Data Commercial Loads in M1 Rifle Answer - See this underlined "M1 Garand" URL for a definitive article, with pressure curves, charts and graphs on current .30-06 loads and an available commercial gas plug that works with M2 Ball and yet lowers pressures 30%.


M1 Garand - The greatest single battle implement ever devised. The M1 Garand.


(I have no connection nor personal or financial interest in the garandgear website or it’s products. CC)

[arado]

All US commercial 30-06 loaded to Sammi spec is safe for the M1.

[Orlando]

Meatl fatigue is accumalative and doesnt happen overnight. Who knows how much stress has already been put on these old warhorses. You coukd fire thousands of rds of commercial ammo and not have any issues or it could happen on the very first rd . Do ya feel lucky????

[Col. Colt]

If you are worried about metal fatigue, I suggest you not fire one with ANY Ammo!

50,000 PSI is the same, regardless. I know of NO reports of an M1 Garand catastrophically failing that could be traced to "metal fatigue". Malfunctions due to worn out parts, yes. The weapon is grossly overbuilt, as most US equipment was during WWII and back, and if that was a cause, the M1903 Springfields (those with correct "high numbers" and heat treat) should have been grounded long ago. CC

[Orlando]

I never said ne word about a Garand having a catastrophic faliure due to commercial ammo,
I have personally seen rifles Op Rods dismount when firing commercila rds and cylce fine with 2 ball
Was Op Rod tab slightly out of soec? Possibly but facts are it cylcled fine wityh Ball ammo and dismounted with commercial due to the rifle cylcing faster/harder than with ball.
Its the rate of burn of powder not the pressures
My opinion yours may vary

[Patrick Chadwick]

Sammi spec

O please, please please, it is NOT Sammi but SAAMI.

http://www.saami.org/

Or is Sammi an insider joke???

[arado]

O please, please please, it is NOT Sammi but SAAMI.

http://www.saami.org/

Or is Sammi an insider joke???

saami is a joke. I trust CIP.