.30-06 M2 ball equivalent in a current commercial load?

[bigwhiteguy_27]

I just ordered my first M1 Garand, and while I'm waiting for it to get here, I was wondering if there is any commercial load currently manufactured that is equivalent to the M2 ball round? I know I can buy the Greek M2 from CMP for fairly cheap, but even the good folks at CMP admit that 5-15% of the ammo will be corroded or otherwise unshootable. I don't mind paying a little extra for current production ammo that I won't have to question when I take it out of the box.

[tankerman]

Even with the loss to corrosion, the surplus ammo will still be much less expensive than buying newly manufactured ammo.

[ocabj]

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=775

[Mssr. Eleganté]

I know I can buy the Greek M2 from CMP for fairly cheap, but even the good folks at CMP admit that 5-15% of the ammo will be corroded or otherwise unshootable.

The CMP just gives that 5%-15% number to stop the whiners. The real number of problem rounds is nowhere near that high. It is actully 0% for me, but I've only used the stuff in enbloc clips. I think the boxed stuff was more likely to have slight corrosion problems on some brass.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

Basically there is NO commercial equivelant for GI ball (except for the VERRY expensive Hornady ammo ocabj linked and Federal Gold Medal, expensive as well, ammo)... All Commercial FMJ 30-06 ammo will NOT have the correct pressure curve required for Garands.. Now.. that doesn't mean it will break down after shooting a 20rnd box of PMC or other brands.. BUT you shouldn't shoot a regualr diet of commercial ammo through a Garand.

[xrMike]

I know I can buy the Greek M2 from CMP for fairly cheap, but even the good folks at CMP admit that 5-15% of the ammo will be corroded or otherwise unshootable.

I've gone through about 3 tins of CMP ammo and not seen a SINGLE corroded round. I think they put that info out to the public in order to cover their asses for the 1-in-a-million times that actually happens.

[AaronHorrocks]

If you're shooting an M1 Garand, then commercial ammo should do just fine. Now if you're like me and have an M1919A4, you're really out of luck. The 1919 requires the overall cartridge length to be in specs with the M1906 standard, which NONE of the commercial ammo is. The Greek stuff shoots fine, since it's surplus, but I haven't found any other stuff to use.

[ocabj]

If you're shooting an M1 Garand, and commercial ammo should do just fine.

No, it won't be. Unless you know what the pressure curve / burn rate is for the powder used in that lot of ammunition, it's not safe to assume that the ammo is safe to use in the M1 Garand.

[rayra]

They make adjustable gas plugs for Garands specifically to ameliorate the problems with higher pressures in commercial loads. It's not an optimum solution, but it is an alternative (and a good emergency standby solution).

Federal / American Eagle 150gr is supposed to be close to M2 -

http://www.ammo-sale.com/proddetail.asp?prod=15418

It is certainly no bargain, though.

You should buy the CMP ammo, pricing comes to about .27-.29/rd. These days with reloading I can only beat that by a few cents per round.

[ar15barrels]

All Commercial FMJ 30-06 ammo will NOT have the correct pressure curve required for Garands..

What about using a vented gas plug to bleed off excess pressure?

[NRAhighpowershooter]

What about using a vented gas plug to bleed off excess pressure?

That would be a solution....

[CSACANNONEER]

Load your own!

[rayra]

yep

[AaronHorrocks]

They make adjustable gas plugs for Garands specifically to ameliorate the problems with higher pressures in commercial loads. It's not an optimum solution, but it is an alternative (and a good emergency standby solution).

Odd... I have trouble with my recoil-opperated WWII firearms when using commercials loads because of the lower pressures.

[rayra]

Odd... I have trouble with my recoil-opperated WWII firearms when using commercials loads because of the lower pressures.

Well before you take the wrong analysis from your own empirical experience, consider this - are these normal or heavy bullet loads? And there are issues related to the peak pressure / pressure curve that affect the cycling as well. Not purely an issue of too hot or too light.

But don't take my word for it, go research it for yourself. Battlerifles.com often has some very good topics about the issue as it relates to damaging Garand Op Rods.

Brownells sells the adjustable plug

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=20456&title=ADJUSTABLE%20GAS%20SYSTEM

Fulton Armory also sells a gas plug with different-sized 'jets'.