cast in the M1 Carbine

[sixshot]

Just picked up a mint, all original M1 Carbine & will probably work up some loads with my old #311410 mould, anyone using this bullet in their carbine. Probably going with 2400 or H110.

Dick

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Hi Dick,
I'm not familiar with that mould number, although I may well have one in my shop, but the M1 Carbine works well with cast lead bullets in the 110-115 gr. weight range. Your choices of powders are good and traditional. I'm sure you'll be pleased with shooting a diet of cast bullets in your carbine, as you can fire thousands of shots with little visible wear to the bore. Also, the carbine is one of the few semi-autos that don't "turn themselves off" from lead deposits plugging the gas bleed off hole in the bore. Happy shooting!
DG

[cwheel]

With mine I shoot 12 gr. of 2400 and with a 311359 cast, it's almost a AP round, punches holes in 1/2" steel plate @50 yards. The only problem I've had with 30 carbine is loading the barrel and just closing the bolt sometimes causes a slam fire with CCI small rifle primers. Loading from a magazine always slows the bolt speed down enough to avoid a slam fire.
Chris

[jimb16]

311410 works fine for me. I use 4227 or 2400 with mine. It feeds very well and is quite accurate.

[sixshot]

Thanks guys! I've shot that bullet in the 30 Carbine before but it's been many, many years ago, now I'm wanting to do it with powder coated bullets to see how she drives. Looking forward to the testing. Thanks again.

Dick

[Texas by God]

The mould is inexpensive if you want to try the Lee C309113f- my wife's Howa Sporter loves them over W296. Some report feeding problems due to the meplat but no problems here!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[abunaitoo]

I've tried a few different molds for my M1.
I've been playing with the LEE C309-120-2R.
For me it works the best.
2400 and #9 work great at 50yds.
Working on a load for 100yds.
I have a post about partial sizing the case so i don't get the bulge.
It seems to me, it even helped a little with accuracy.

[3006guns]

Ironic..........I just got back from the range after trying out a 130 grain boolit in my M1. I've been using 10 grains of 2400, which cycles the gun quite nicely but the accuracy is not quite what I want. Now, it may be my 69 year old eyes but in any case the best I could do is about a 3" group on a 25 yard pistol target......but set at 50 yards. Not terrible, but I'm more accustomed to almost clover leaf groups from one of my military bolt guns.

Admittedly the little carbine is no target gun and was never meant to be. So tomorrow I'm going to up the ante a bit and try 11 grains of 2400, as I may not be driving them fast enough. We'll see. In any case, the 10 grain charge is an excellent starting point and dumps the empties almost at your feet.

[Texas by God]

My next batch will be hotter because I'm getting a little blowback from unsealed case walls. Accuracy and operation are ok, though. I'm using W296 but not quite maximum.

[sixshot]

That reminds me, I also have a Lee mould that is a GC in the 120 gr range, I'll have to find it & cast up some of those to compare to the heavier 311410 plain base slugs. Thanks again guys,

Dick

[mattw]

I have been shooting cast in mine for years... 10.8 grains of H110 data canister powder, 12% faster than H110. I have the tool to remove the gas piston and have never found any lead in the block. It is very rewarding to shoot with, accuracy is very good. I am not sure what mold was used, but the bullets are old stock Bull-X that I bought thousands of at the time.

[GONRA]

GONRA blasts away with "1960's era cast bullet" Ancient Handoads:
119 grain .309 inch diameter, Lyman U311359 gascheck cast bullet,
13.5 grain IMR-4227 powder, CCI 400 prmers
in US M1, M2 and Japanese Howa ("copies") carbines.

[Larry Gibson]

I've been shooting cast bullets in the M1 Carbine since '68. Started out with the 311410 as it was touted as "perfect" for the 30 Carbine. I found out after trying it every way from Sunday it was far from "perfect". I found it shot "okay" up through about 1550 1600 fps regardless of alloy, lube or powder that was used. Besides not shooting better than 4 moa (Speer/Hornady 100 gr HJs would shoot into 2 moa or less) it wasn't even close to regulation with the rear sight.

I then tried the 311159 GC'd (cast of COWWs, 118 gr fully dressed, sized .309, lubed with Javelina)and with either H4227 or, preferably, 13.5 gr H110 gave 2 moa accuracy and was regulated to the rear sight range adjustments to 300 yards. Similar cast bullets that are GC'd also work well though the SWC and RNs regulated to 200 and 250 yard range adjustments. These days my shooter M1 Carbine is in "scout" configuration as my old eyes don't focus on the front sight so well anymore.

I also use the 313631 GC'd SWC made for the 32 H&R sized to .309 weighing 105 gr fully dressed. It is loaded over 14 gr H110 for 1960 fps and is very deadly on varmints including coyote's out to 200 yards.

Attachment 222901Attachment 222902

[Multigunner]

" I found it shot "okay" up through about 1550 1600 fps regardless of alloy, lube or powder that was used. "

Sounds like the .30 Carbine having a limited velocity range to begin with should be very well suited to cast Boolit velocities.

I wonder how it would perform using cast Zinc Alloy projectiles cast from the same molds the finished slug being 60-80 grains in weight and more suited to higher velocities than standard loads. Perhaps several hundred FPS increase in velocity. The hard alloy would make for little or no metal fouling.

[EMC45]

I've been shooting cast bullets in the M1 Carbine since '68. Started out with the 311410 as it was touted as "perfect" for the 30 Carbine. I found out after trying it every way from Sunday it was far from "perfect". I found it shot "okay" up through about 1550 1600 fps regardless of alloy, lube or powder that was used. Besides not shooting better than 4 moa (Speer/Hornady 100 gr HJs would shoot into 2 moa or less) it wasn't even close to regulation with the rear sight.

I then tried the 311159 GC'd (cast of COWWs, 118 gr fully dressed, sized .309, lubed with Javelina)and with either H4227 or, preferably, 13.5 gr H110 gave 2 moa accuracy and was regulated to the rear sight range adjustments to 300 yards. Similar cast bullets that are GC'd also work well though the SWC and RNs regulated to 200 and 250 yard range adjustments. These days my shooter M1 Carbine is in "scout" configuration as my old eyes don't focus on the front sight so well anymore.

I also use the 313631 GC'd SWC made for the 32 H&R sized to .309 weighing 105 gr fully dressed. It is loaded over 14 gr H110 for 1960 fps and is very deadly on varmints including coyote's out to 200 yards.

Attachment 222901Attachment 222902

I always like this picture Larry. Those hollow points look like they would do wonders on varmints. 4 and 2 legged.

[Larry Gibson]

I never recovered any bullets from varmints (coyote, jack rabbits, rock chucks or occasional badger) but they sure did a job! It's not a bullet/load to use if eating is the desired end result. It will take a grouses head off very neatly though..........

As to two legged vermin........wouldn't hesitate.......

[Multigunner]

I wonder if anyone has experimented with maximum velocity loads with the .30 Carbine using .32 ACP type J words or light cast boolits. These would likely require single loading because of short OAL. A solid copper or zinc alloy bullet should work well, having more bearing surface.

[J257]

I just tested the NOE 311-115-LRF in my carbine. This was my first attempt at powder coating and everything went great. following Mr. Gibson's advice on powders and bullet seating for a flatnose bullet - I went to the bench. I tested H-110 for my first range test. Low and behold 13.5 grains of H-110 was the winner on the day. One solid 3", five shot group and another 3'' group that would of been 2.5" if I hadn't of pulled one. Groups where shot at 100 yards. Next range trip I'll see how they do clicking through the sites to 300. I've hit home runs enough times on different rifles and calibers, following Larry's advice, I now pretty much consider it "where the rubber hits the road".

[Outpost75]

I wonder if anyone has experimented with maximum velocity loads with the .30 Carbine using .32 ACP type J words or light cast boolits. These would likely require single loading because of short OAL. A solid copper or zinc alloy bullet should work well, having more bearing surface.

I have had good results using Accurate 31-087B with the 7.4 grain AutoComp load. The following loads all feed reliably and cycle the M1 carbine. These are not maximum velocity, because I was wanting a cheap load using a plainbased bullet I was already using in the .32 ACP and 7.62x25.

Cast Bullet Loads in Ruger Blackhawk Revolver and US .30 Caliber M1 Carbine

Ammunition__________Ruger 7-1/2”________US M1 Carbine 18”

Accurate 31-087B Attachment 223070

7.4 grs. AutoComp_____1502 fps, 19 Sd, 52 ES__1759 fps, 5 Sd, 23 ES
10.8 grs. Alliant#2400__1458, 31, 84__________1705, 46, 145
14 grs. IMR4227_______1414, 64, 165_________1834, 28, 80
14 grs. IMR4198_______1176, 38, 99__________1543, 69, 178

WCC44 Ball M1________1527, 21, 58__________1960, 23, 89