Anyone use cast bullets for M1 carbine?

[Sixgun Symphony]

Should I only use copper jacketed bullets in the M1 carbine?

If I can use cast bullets, what is a good one and what kind of lube? Would I have to download for slower velocities or can I load to standard velocities?

[Cactus Farmer]

Lyman 311359. Load mine with 2400 right up with the J-words. Feed like butter.......or is that "budda". My lube is bees wax and chassie grease. one 14 oz. tube of red lithum grease and one pound of wax. Melt and mold........I've shot 225415s over 2200 fps with no leading. YMMV
I lube all my smokeless loads with it. Works every way I've tried it.
Black powder lube is different. Render sheep butt fat and mix equal weight with bees wax. No lead after 100+ rounds with only blow tube used. Bore was clean with 3 wet patches. Beat that......I can't.

[ncbearman]

Just did check this out today in fact. 130gr over 11.6gr IMR4227 sized to .309 with no leading. Grouping 3" at 50 yards. Ready to load up some more now.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=59357&d=1358964239

[scb]

I've fired 1000's of 311465's thru my carbines over the last 35+ years. They shoot very well for me.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?134021-NOE-311465-122Gr-RN-(-Loverin-)

[eck0313]

I've also had good results with 14.5 gr. H110 and the 311359 - shoots better than GI ball

[square butte]

scb - Would like to hear a bit about your experience using the 311-465 in the M1 - if you are so inclined

[rmatchell]

I would read this first, good information. http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/ByFireArm/Cast%20in%20the%20M1%20Carbine.pdf

I am also getting ready to work up loads for my 30 carbine using lyman 311316 and 311576 to start with.

[rodsvet]

I used to shoot a lot of carbine back 30 years ago. I wasn't particular how hard the boolits were, in fact when sizing them if they were a little softer the punch would round the point so it looked and fed just like ball. It was an RCBS gas check mold at 115 gr. I got cheap and shot 3-400 without gas checks and the rifle became a single shot. I pulled the gas plug and two pistons came out. One was the real piston and the other was a near duplicate made out of lead. Once the lead piston grew from lead leaking up into the piston port it would no longer have enough travel to kick the operating rod. A quick cleaning and reinstallation of the real piston and it was as good as new. Went back to the gas checks and never had the problem again. Great little fun rifle. Rod

[avogunner]

I shot my first cast in my carbine this past weekend. 311359 over 11gr of 2400 and it functioned flawlessly. I put all 50 rounds on the same target at 50yds and it looked like I threw a softball through the center. It was only 50 rounds but when I took the rifle apart to clean it, absolutly zero leading in the bore and only carbon fouling on the gas plug/piston. It will be accuracy testing at the next time and I'd be happy with 3" groups at 50yds. I don't think I'll have any problem achieving that either.

[Larry Gibson]

Anyone use cast bullets for M1 carbine?

Is the Pope a Catholic?

Yes, many of us do as mentoned. I've been loading cast bullets in the M1 Carbine since '68 and have shot thousands of then through various M1 and M2 Carbines. I worked the PB'd 311410 every which way from sunday but never got better than milsurp accuracy upwards of 1600 fps and worse over that. Tried a couple other PB'd and they did no better. Went to GC'd bullets and accuracy increased imediately (given a M1 in good condition and with good bedding) with velocities equal to jacketed loads of equal weight (yes I had a chronograph back in '74). For general shooting the 311359 has been my steadfast favorite since '70 or a RN cast bullet of 115 - 120 gr such as Lee's or the RCBS are also excellent. 1850 - 1900 fps is easily obtainable with 4227, 2400 or H110. Specialty FN bullets or HPs can also be cast and used but th mag lips may need tweeking or the feed ramp polished for reliable feeding. My favorite hunting bullet is the 313631 105 gr GC'd SWC made for the 32 H&R loaded over H110 for 1950 fps, cast soft and HP'd with a Forster HP tool. Very deadly on coyote's and rabbits and would alo be good for serious social purposes if necessary.

COWWs + 2% tin is my usual alloy for general shooting of the cast GC'd bullets at 1850 - 1950 fps. I mostly use H110 powder and prefer the softer NRA 50/50 lubes such as Javelina, Lars NRA lube and Tamarack. Other such lubes will work as well.

The M1 Carbine with the .30 Carbine cartridge is an excellent performer with GC'd cast bullets as milsurp/factory velocities can easily be attained with improved accuracy.

Larry Gibson

[zomby woof]

NOE 311115 with a GC, 296 12.5-13.0+ is a great combination.

[Cherokee]

Lyman 311359 GC with WC820 or AA9. Shoots better than ball or my jacketed reloads.

[greyling22]

I'm using a lee 120grn mould I got a off a group buy here. (6 cavity woot!) I used 11.4grns of new production h110 for 1550fps until that ran out, and I just started testing loads with some really old herco 2400. 8.8 grns was giving 1500fps and 9.5 yielded 1600. 10.4 grns gave best accuracy, but my chrono was saying that those were running 1300 so something funny was going on there..........

[zuke]

I have a 45 Win Mag conversion and use cast only.

[ncbearman]

Let me ask this.........is the 170gr 311291gc too big for the M1 .30 cal.? I have this mould that has been hollow pointed and drops at about .311. My normal load for my M1 is a 311410 over 11.6gr of 4227 sized to .309 I get 3" groups at 50 yards to ring targets and punch holes in targets. My concern with the 311291 is it is a much longer (.112) boolit and may compress the powder. Your thoughts and advice are appreciated.

59598