Cast in M1 Carbines?

[Mr_Flintstone]

Due to the lack of jacketed .30 carbine bullets, I’m going to start loading cast bullets. I have a question first though. Have any of you had problems with the cast bullets and the gas piston? Lead buildup in the port or excessive carbon?

[Larry Gibson]

I've been shooting cast bullets in M1 carbines [multiple M1 and M2 carbines both semi and rock and roll] since '68. Only had one that got any lead in gas cylinder as it had a burr/chip in the bore at the gas port. All the others, including my current 2 give excellent performance with cast bullets, most often equal to velocity and better accuracy that 30 Carbine Ball ammunition. I recommend the Lyman 311359 as the best general purpose cast bullet and the use of GCs. H110 is my preferred powder.

293035

293034

[Winger Ed.]

I haven't had any problems with cast in an M1A.
Its not exactly the same as the carbine, but the gas system is very similar.

[Mr_Flintstone]

Thanks guys. That makes me feel better about the switch.

[dale2242]

Myself and my grand kids have shot many thousands of cast through my M1 carbine with no issues.

[GregLaROCHE]

I once had a M1 Carbine and it wouldn’t load soft point jacketed bullets well at all. I had to buy FMJs for it. It was for self defense and I didn’t want to take any chances. That was a long time ago before I was reloading, so I can’t say for cast boolits.

[GregLaROCHE]

I wanted to add that the soft points I was shooting, were probably pure lead and if you are using a hard alloy, you would have a much better chance of them working.

[Markopolo]

I personally dont own a gun I cant shoot cast through. I have 2 M1 carbines I load for.. a rockola and a universal. both of them gobble them up

[Texas by God]

My wife's carbine likes the Lee C309113F just fine. I've used LLA and PC and all is good.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20211213/5e353d71058a3a811555d3dde167bdfd.jpg

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[ShooterAZ]

I shoot a lot of the RCBS 30-115-SP and Lyman 311359 in my M1 Carbines. I have never had trouble with the gas pistons fouling, though both of these molds are gas check designs and I always use the gas checks. My favorite powder is N110, with H110 a close runner up. Yep, cast boolits run great in the little carbines.

[FredBuddy]

Brother #1 reports that the NOE 127-RF
plain base & powder coated that I loaded
for him out shoots any other load I've
supplied him. Cycles the action with
the starting load of IMR 4227, too.

[FredBuddy]

Brother #1 reports that the NOE 127-RF
plain base & powder coated that I loaded
for him out shoots any other load I've
supplied him. Cycles the action with
the starting load of IMR 4227, too.

[Rapier]

Just make sure you expand the neck for cast so a tight case does not scrape lead at the case mouth. A wee bit of lead could set the bolt back just enough to fire out of battery, head-spaces on the case mouth. Seat and then crimp case just to straight as two steps with cast in the M-1 Carbine, it can get expensive otherwise. Do not ask.

[Gunor]

Anyone recognize this bullet?

Single lube groove

293067

I have about 700 plus

[358429]

I want one chambered 357 magnum[emoji41]

[6.5 mike]

Gunor, looks like a lyman 311410 I have. Mine drops at 0.310ish & weights 135 gr with my alloy. Works good for me in 300 blk ar & bolt gun.

[Gunor]

Gunor, looks like a lyman 311410 I have. Mine drops at 0.310ish & weights 135 gr with my alloy. Works good for me in 300 blk ar & bolt gun.

Thanks. Single lube is different.
I forgot, I can use these in a 300 BO...

[6.5 mike]

Also use it in a ruger ranch 7.62x39, 30-40 krag, 308, 30-06, & had used it to fire form cases for 30 herrett. Check the "mouse fart' load data.

[15meter]

Anyone recognize this bullet?

Single lube groove

293067

I have about 700 plus

I had ~2000 of those I bought in a batch of dead guy stuff, commercial cast, came in 500 piece boxes. They had a hard blue lube. Sold them off because they were sized .308. I've always shot .310 out of my carbines.

They were a nice looking boolit. They were from a company I never heard of.

And can't remember the name now.

[Thumbcocker]

That is the Lyman boolit for .30 carbine. It works fine not much of a meplate but it runs good with 4227 and 2400.

[James Wisner]

Gunor.

There was a Bullet Casting outfit up in the Seattle area back in the 1990's, I forgot their name, and they no longer are around.
I bought a LOT of bullets from them and still have a bunch of that bullet.
Shot them in every .30 cal from Carbine to 30-06.

They are not the same as the Lyman 311410 as to shape and weight, more like the Saeco bullet for a Carbine.

JW

[FredBuddy]

They look like the Meister boolit
I originally got for my carbine.

[mto7464]

I had both plain based and GC for my carbine. The plain base would deposit a little bit of lead in the slide. Not much but it would build up. I switched to a gas check and it went away. Ended up selling the plain base. Now I have several 1000 rounds of surplus I may never reload for the carbine again at my current rate of shooting it.

[Gunor]

They look like the Meister boolit
I originally got for my carbine.

https://www.meisterbullets.com/AWSCategories/p/22/Hard-Cast-Bullets-

Looks like my bullet
Thanks

[Kylongrifle]

I've been shooting cast bullets in M1 carbines [multiple M1 and M2 carbines both semi and rock and roll] since '68. Only had one that got any lead in gas cylinder as it had a burr/chip in the bore at the gas port. All the others, including my current 2 give excellent performance with cast bullets, most often equal to velocity and better accuracy that 30 Carbine Ball ammunition. I recommend the Lyman 311359 as the best general purpose cast bullet and the use of GCs. H110 is my preferred powder.

293035

293034

Is that bottom rifle a universal? I just ask because I have a universal with the same stock.

[d4xycrq]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48231162997_c58d6b4860_b.jpg

[georgerkahn]

Due to the lack of jacketed .30 carbine bullets, I’m going to start loading cast bullets. I have a question first though. Have any of you had problems with the cast bullets and the gas piston? Lead buildup in the port or excessive carbon?

I've had nary any lead/carbon problems with cast bullets. I had a feed problem in a (Hialeah, Florida) Universal (I traded off :)) and I'll wager 100:1 it was the firearm, not the cartridges. I now have a Quality Hardware WWII version which shoots cast with zero issues. My bullet of choice is a Hensley & Gibbs #250, gas checked which gets propelled by Hodgon 110 as my favourite powder. I have used the Lyman 311359, and HP38 powders as well.
I keep my loads at just a very few "notches" above minimal functioning level. (I'm not at war ;) -- and want to make this delightful carbine last, reserving full-house loading for other, modern, made for this abuse firearms.) 294696
Best wishes!
geo

[35 Whelen]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48231162997_c58d6b4860_b.jpg

You sir have one of the best, if not the best mold for the .30 Carbine. Every carbine I've fired these loads through exhibited marvelous accuracy.

https://i.imgur.com/Mx9ZQQrl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/fzZLDncl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/jRMmCvjl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/7GPTnsVl.jpg

35W

[GONRA]

GONRA also loaded lottsa U311359 gas checked for M1 and M2 and Japanese Howa "copy".
Verked Just Fine!

[Larry Gibson]

Many just use their m1 Carbines for short range shooting but I prefer to load mine to utilize the full 300 yard range potential. I've found the 311359 at 1850 fps matches the trajectory of the 107/108 gr M1 carbine Ball bullet at 1950 fps. Thus, with the 311359 in the M1 Carbine with the sights zeroed for that bullet the rear sight settings for various ranges run true and are useful to use.

[beltfed]

Way back when, I shot a couple of M1Carbines with the Lyman 311316 FNGC bullet, and 4227 powder.
No problems running them. I feel the FN bullet would be more effective if "needed"
beltfed/arnie

[35 Whelen]

Many just use their m1 Carbines for short range shooting but I prefer to load mine to utilize the full 300 yard range potential. I've found the 311359 at 1850 fps matches the trajectory of the 107/108 gr M1 carbine Ball bullet at 1950 fps. Thus, with the 311359 in the M1 Carbine with the sights zeroed for that bullet the rear sight settings for various ranges run true and are useful to use.

Thanks, Mr. Gibson. I always look forward to your input.

35W

[Larry Gibson]

Is that bottom rifle a universal? I just ask because I have a universal with the same stock.

My apologies for missing the question and not answering sooner. No, it is not a Universal, it is a milsurp which I've shot a lot since '67. It's on its third barrel. The stock is a Fajen made for the M1 carbine.

[GooseGestapo]

Neither of my carbines are suited to shooting much beyond 100yds. The best they’ll do is 12” for the ‘43 Saginaw and 7-8” for the Inland.

My fun load however shoots as good or better than my best jacketed loads.
It’s cheaper and simpler.

Lee 93gr RN .311” 6-cavities mold. Scrap and w/w plus 95/5 solder.
Powder coated with Harbor Freight powder. Shake n bake. Size .311”.
11.8gr of #2400. (Cycles actions, easy on brass).
Trimmed and sized brass. Whatever Small primers....

They’ll stay in a soda can at 50yds, so they serve intended purpose. Shoot to sights set for GI ammo.

[beagle]

I played with M1 Carbines back in the 60s with lead and was a very inexperienced reloader. I followed Lyman's recommendation at that time and used the 311359 and 311008 sized at .311". Bad move. That combo leaded the gas system of my Inland big time until it stopped functioning. Cleaning the port and piston returned it to the original condition. Remove a big glob of shredded lead after removing the piston.
Then, several years ago I revisited the M1 Carbine reloading in an article with castpics. In this, I used bullets sized mainly .310" with .309s occassionally. I fired over 2,000 rounds all with cast. Maybe 30% GC'd and the remainder PB, At the end of my tests, I removed the gas piston and there was only residue. No leading.
Do not use Lyman's .311" recommended diameter./beagle

[Lex]

No problems and it's more accurate with Lyman mold cast bullets.

[WinchesterM1]

i have shot several thousand NOE 309-121 RN GC and PCed over 12 grn of 2400. I load them on my Dillon 550 and shoot probably 1000 of them on my DDAY party along with 30-06 8mm 45 acp so on.....

I really like my mold it loads and shoots great, i have even killed deer with 13 grn of 2400 with the lee 310-120 RF

[MarkP]

I had ~2000 of those I bought in a batch of dead guy stuff, commercial cast, came in 500 piece boxes. They had a hard blue lube. Sold them off because they were sized .308. I've always shot .310 out of my carbines.

They were a nice looking boolit. They were from a company I never heard of.

And can't remember the name now.

About 30 yrs ago I bought 1,000 from Dillon Precision that looked identical to these. Worked great in my Ruger BH and Auto Mag III, (mainly with Hercules 2400)

[Landy88]

I want one chambered 357 magnum[emoji41]

Someone at Winchester made an error for the ages in not basing it on the 351, instead of the 32WSL.

Maybe the handiest little rifle, ever, was forever handicapped by not quite enough powder and lead in its cartridge.

[Rapier]

Been using Lyman cast 130g RN in the carbine since the 60s with ball powder, H-110, 296 or AA#9.
One caution is to use a taper crimp die to just straighten the case mouth as a separate station. The 30’s case head-spaces on the mouth and a wee bit of lead on the case mouth can cause an older, well used gun, with a worn disconnect or to fire out of battery. Been there done that, blew the right lug off the bolt. Be careful with cast and check you case mouths carefully. I size to groove diameter.

[Texas by God]

A fun load for plinking is 6.5 grs Unique and the Lee C113.
They eject about two feet away but don't recoil enough to chamber another- so I pull back the handle and let go.
This is @ 40yds with the morning sun in my eyes.
My normal load uses maximum H110/296 book data.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220514/97b3bb1187de4f9dd04940b7e9f49762.jpg

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[35 Whelen]

A fun load for plinking is 6.5 grs Unique and the Lee C113.
They eject about two feet away but don't recoil enough to chamber another- so I pull back the handle and let go.
This is @ 40yds with the morning sun in my eyes.
My normal load uses maximum H110/296 book data.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220514/97b3bb1187de4f9dd04940b7e9f49762.jpg

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Excellent info and good shooting!!

I used a similar load in my carbines only it is 6.0 gr. of Unique and a Lyman 311008. Velocity is 1425 fps and it's fairly accurate too. The bolt dragging across the cartridges in the magazine seemed to cause the feeding problems. I found that as the magazine empties, putting less upward pressure on the remaining cartridges, that it fed better.

https://i.imgur.com/KAK9FrNl.jpg

35W

[Texas by God]

Thanks! I'll try it single shot and and see what happens.
I enjoy your Carbine pics!

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