30 Carbine Loads

victorj19

I have a M1 Carbine coming. Very used but good bore. I'e been reloading over 20 years, been casting for about two, and would like to cast and shoot lead bullets. I've checke out some molds. What would be a good bullet weight and type. Theres' a 113 gr FN and a 120 RN both with gas checks. I'll get my relaoding manuals out for powder and primer choices.

I don't know if the carbine will function more reliably or be noticeably more accurate with one or the other. What's your advice?

XXCross

I hate to through cold water on your plan, but the 30 carbine only works with lead bullets for a short while. Even gas-checked lead bullets will shave some lead into the gas piston and the whole works becomes a single-shot. (unless you have the means to disassemble the gas system and clean it) Stick to jacketed bullets. 2-cents!

victorj19

I figured on ordering a gas wrench. There's an auction with a $10 start.

It that doesn't work out or is just a pain, I'll switch to jacketed bullets.

dcs shooters

I'd stick with jacked bullets. Even with the wrench you will never get to the gas port in the barrel. That is where it plugs up with lead.

jonk

Most people who say that lead clogs the gas port on a semi auto, M1 carbine included, fall into 1 of 2 categories.

1. They've never tried it and are propegating something they have only heard.
2. They've tried it but used a soft alloy, poor lube, no gas check, drove the bullets to fast, shot undersized bullets, or something else that caused issues.

That said it is a little harder to work up a cast lead load in a semi auto than in a bolt gun, but certainly quite feasible.

If you use a good hard lead alloy with a good lube and a gas checked bullet driven at 2000fps or less, that properly fits the bore you won't have an issue.

I've fired about 10,000 cast rounds through my M1 carbine. It's not a problem.

Go to the cast boolit website, they have tons of info.

I use 11-12 gr of AA9 with the Lee 120gr GC design.

gravley

Another thought is to use Rainier 110 gr copper coated bullets. I load mine with 10.8 gr of 2400 for an average vel. of 1665 fps. Just fast enough to cycle the gun consistently and is a fairly accurate load. No problems with leading at this speed.

peabo

These are what I use == Hornady calls them 'short jacket' --Speer calls them 'plinker'-???.

Work well for me. They are reasonably priced, also





Thanks---Peabo

v35

I imagine Linotype metal would work pretty good.
The gas piston threaded bushing is staked in and not meant to be removed
unless necessary which is a rarity.
Carbine owners should have the wrench anyway along with a bolt assembly tool.
With the bushing and piston out, you can clean the port.