M1 Garand Ammo Question

[Smitty]

OK, I'm wearing my flame resistant suit. I have a question and would like your advise. I have a M1 Garand that I am really itching to shoot. But since milsurp M2 is the only ammo designed for the M1 and most of it is magnetic, I'm SOL at most ranges.
I have some Korean milsurp headstamped KA73. I pulled one of these rounds down and found that it was Boxer primed, the powder load was 49 grains of extruded stick powder. And the projectile was flat based, copper jacketed, 147 grain and magnetic. I may be off by a couple of grains on the bullett since I use a Lee scale and it only goes to one hundred grains. So I cut the projectile in two and weighed the halvs seperately. The total of the bullet halvs came to 142 grains and I fugure the saw curf from cutting probably accounts for the other 5 grains.
My question: would it be safe to pull the bullets on this surplus ammo and, without changing any other components, substitute a commercial bullet of the same caliber, weight and configuration that is not magnetic? If I crimp the round so there is no possible set back in the clip and make sure I am duplicating the over all length of the round, I don't see any obvious safety issues. I really need to get this rifle sighted in. It's getting to be an issue with me.
Anybody see any safety issues?
Appreciate any thoughts or advise.

[m1match]

Yes you could probably do that without any problems. Back when 30-06 Garands were THE service rifle, military match teams would make what they jokingly called "Mexican Match" ammo by taking the M72 match rounds with 173 gr. bullets, which in the later years of production weren't all that accurate as match ammo goes, pull the bullets and substitute Sierra 168 gr. Matchking bullets.

[Bongos]

You can do that, but I would try to stay as close to 147 grn as possible

[Mssr. Eleganté]

...I have some Korean milsurp headstamped KA73.

My question: would it be safe to pull the bullets on this surplus ammo and, without changing any other components, substitute a commercial bullet of the same caliber, weight and configuration that is not magnetic?

If you are going to that much trouble it might be better to start with non-corrosive surplus ammo.

[metalhead357]

Buy a Shooster (sp?) gas plug...will allow you to shoot commercial ammo. Can usually be had for about $40 from Midway and/or Brownell's.

[Bongos]

Buy a Shooster (sp?) gas plug...will allow you to shoot commercial ammo. Can usually be had for about $40 from Midway and/or Brownell's.

Problem is, if you adjust it wrong, you can bend your op rod and those are $100-$175 fix (basically buying a replacement)

[Bongos]

If you are going to that much trouble it might be better to start with non-corrosive surplus ammo.

I think he is having a problem finding non-magnetic surplus... LC made some.. other choice is to re-barrel to 308...expensive option

[metalhead357]

Problem is, if you adjust it wrong, you can bend your op rod and those are $100-$175 fix (basically buying a replacement)

If ya' follow the DIRECTIONS it aint that hard......and the furthest setting aint much beyond a regular plug; and a grand CAN take hits with commercial ammo- albeit it aint a good thing to do on a regular basis.

Just buy the plug & set it low and work up from there.......

[Paratus et Vigilans]

What you propose in terms of bullet replacement for the Korean milsurp ammo seems safe enough to me, but then I've only been reloading for a few months, so take my response with that caveat.

Also, if you can find it, most of the American Eagle (Red Box) .30-06 SPRG 150 GR ammo is non-magnetic (there are the occasional exceptions to that - take your magnet with you when you go to buy it) and is pretty close pressure-wise to the milsurp stuff. If you want to be extra-safe, get the adjustable gas plug and, if you carefully follow the instructions for installation and adjustment you won't mess up your op rod. Basically, you start with it wide open, fire a round, and tighten the center set screw a little, and repeat the process until you get enough pressure to cycle the action reliably, then you lock it down at that point and you're good to go. Not hard to do at all. Bongos, that's what I did with the H&R M1 Garand I bought from you, and it's worked like a charm.

[Gunsrruss]

Reloading

If you replace those 147 with 168 Nosler or Sierra I would recomend that you drop that powder charge down to 46.5 or 47gr of powder.

[m1match]

Russ is right. I forgot to mention that if I were you, I'd substitute bullets no heavier than 150 grains unless you want to mess with reducing the powder charge.

[30Cal]

I would seat a 150 Sierra on there and call it good.