WTK- M2 AP in Garand (and fair price?)

[bczandm]

I have a chance to pick up some AP M2 at 35 cents per round, about 2500 rounds. I'd like to confirm that this is good price in todays market (I am pretty sure it is) but more importantly I want to make sure it's safe to shoot in my Garand and 03A3. I think it is but I know some 30-06 isn't good for my Garand and I think AP is a heavier bullet than most 30-06. Your help and comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

Information

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[Wineman]

Bob,

That is a great deal and about half the going rate for M2 Ball. If it was issued in WW2 it is safe to use in a M1 Garand. You can shoot anything in an M1903 (no low numbers though) even stuff that would not be good for an M1. The AP was a 168 grain bullet, while M1 ammo which the Garand was designed to use is 172 grains (M2 @150). Factory Light Magnum, or 180 grain ammo may be to warm for the M1's op rod.

Dave

[bczandm]

Thank you Dave,
Bob

[no4mk1t]

Check the head stamp to determine if the ammo is corrosive primed or not. (assuming it is USGI ammo) If in doubt, clean the bore using the procedures for corrosive ammo. Modern bore solvent will not dissolve the chlorate salts.

Refer to this chart to determine if your ammo is corrosive.

[Wineman]

Good call #4, I so rarely shoot corrosive 30-06 that it did not cross my mind. The 7.9x57, 7.62x54r and some of the 7.62x39 I have around is corrosive so I am tuned to be wary of it. If in doubt, clean as recommended and then do it again in two days. I may have to respectively disagree that there are several water based bore cleaners such as Hoppes Elite and MPro-7 or even Balistol and water 1:10 that should be able to remove Chlorate salts from corrosive primers. Be sure to oil properly as some my be really good degreasers.

Dave

[Wineman]

Cant beat a nice boiling water bath, but I always manage to get some under the stock and then have to take everything apart. The hardest is the Yugo SKS and some East German white box. Corrosive and not a chrome bore. Take it all apart and clean the nooks and crannies. The bolt rifles not so much but as I said I tried the boiling water trick but needed three hands or a soft vise. Oh for a couple of quarts of USGI bore cleaner...

Dave

[Wireman134]

AP is 163gr

[TDH]

T7 Thompson Center black powder solvent. Boiling hot water. Windex and soap and water.

---------- Post added at 12:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 AM ----------

Oh and for M2 ball I believe anything date stamped after 1950 has non corrosive primers

[browningautorifle]

Also, I believe they issued AP as a standard issue during the Korean war. Of course it will be safe if it's issue... And treat as corrosive when you clean so there's no rust problem and you'll be fine.