.30 carbine pet CB loads

[signalcorpsoperator]

Morning again guys,

Anyone have any cast pet load data for the .30 carbine they'd be willing to share?

Due to the scarcity (ie expense) of shooting jacketed, I'm looking to try some factory-cast bullets, hopefully they'll run fine in my M1. Bayou bullets sells some coated ones that look promising, anyone have any hands-on experience with 'em?

Appreciate any and all feedback!
Tom

[Larry Gibson]

Sorry, I only have "pet" 30 Carbine loads that use GC'd cast bullets because I want accuracy at the full velocity potential of the M1 carbine. PB'd bullets have never performed well above 1500 fps +/- in the M1 carbine. I suppose they make good plinkers out to 50 yards or so though. If plinking was what i was looking for with a 115 - 120 gr PB cast bullet I'd try unique starting at 5.0 gr and work up looking for 100% functional reliability along with accuracy in the 1400 - 1600 fps range.

[signalcorpsoperator]

Hi there,

Sounds good on the GC bullets, makes sense! What are your recommendations for GC rounds? Mold, powders etc.?

Haven't bought any of the bullets yet, just digging around to see what some of the go-to favorites might be for folks before I go and buy a bunch of stuff :idea:

Thanks a bunch!
Tom

[crandall crank]

I've had excellent luck with cast using the Lee 113 grain "soup can". I had to set the bullet slightly deeper since it is a flat nose. Just set it so it chambers. Accurate as all get out. Rings the metal gongs all day long...ymmv

[Texas by God]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230322/c39f2ca9e376634f2b64dc193168305d.jpeg
Mine likes the Lee 113F so that’s what I use.


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[TCLouis]

TbG

If ya don't mind my asking, where did you get that carbine stock?

[Texas by God]

TC Louis, that stock is factory. It is a Howa Sporter carbine. I’ve only seen this one. I’d love to get another one if I ever get a chance.
Apparently Howa produced the M1 Carbine with our permission. A search online showed military types and two different sporters.


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[Larry Gibson]

The classic 30 Carbine cast bullets are Lyman's 311359 and the 311316, both 118 gr. The Lee 113 and 120 gr cast do very well also. I also shoot a lot of the 313631 which is a 105 GC'd SWC made for the 32 H&R and, unfortunately, no longer in production.

I've shot a lot of H4227, 2400 and a couple other powders but for the last 30+ yars I've mostly used H110.

My shooter M1 carbine

311978

Some loaded rounds with different bullets

311979

The 313631s HP'd for vermin up through coyote

311980

[charlie b]

Every time an M1 picture shows up I'm tempted to go out and buy one :shock:

Would look really cool next to the Garand and 1911.

Larry, which stock is yours?

[Larry Gibson]

It's a Fajen stock. Saw it in a waste can in a gunshop years ago probably 20+ years back. Front end was bubba'd up pretty bad, and the smith said he didn't have time to mess with it. He put the action in an issue stock and sold the M1 Carbine right away. He said I could have it if I wanted to mess with it. I built the front end (where the barrel band fits on) back up with bedding compound, reshaped so the band when tightened fits into a groove so the band retainer isn't needed. You can see the front end is still short.

The price was right.....

[charlie b]

LOL, good deal. And a nice job. If we still had a place out in the country I'd have something like that.

[35 Whelen]

Morning again guys,

Anyone have any cast pet load data for the .30 carbine they'd be willing to share?

Due to the scarcity (ie expense) of shooting jacketed, I'm looking to try some factory-cast bullets, hopefully they'll run fine in my M1. Bayou bullets sells some coated ones that look promising, anyone have any hands-on experience with 'em?

Appreciate any and all feedback!
Tom

Interesting.... someone on the AR15 forum asked the same question.

I bought 500 of the Bayou Bullets some time back just because they were so cheap.

https://i.imgur.com/0Lx5zFHl.jpg

I loaded them over AL2400; 12.0 gr. netted a bit over 1800 fps and 13.0 gr. right at 1900 fps, and much to my surprise, no leading at all. Loaded to 1.675" in one of my I.B.M. carbines they just touch the rifling-

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

Accuracy in the I.B.M. was so-so..6" - 7" at 100 yds.-

https://i.imgur.com/88tXMMhl.jpg

In some of my Standard Product they group somewhat better-

https://i.imgur.com/yE6h6IDl.jpg

I think part of the problem is the off-center sprue cuts-

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

...which played havoc with groups, especially at 200 yds.

But, my Iver Johnson shot them quite well-

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

I would suggest you look for either an RCBS 30-115-SP (https://www.grafs.com/catalog/product/productId/13802) or a Lyman 311576 (https://i.imgur.com/TkRHg5Kl.jpg).

Bullets from the RCBS mold resemble the profile of a 110 gr. FMJ and closely follow the trajectory of said bullet. Loaded over ~12.0 gr. of AL410 or 13.0 gr. of 2400 they run a bit over 1900 fps and are VERY accurate, in some cases more so than jacketed bullets-

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

Bullets from the 311576 mold are at least as accurate as those from the RCBS mold. I've gotten some really nice groups from these bullets-

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

35W

[Jcm800]

Here's a good one for Blackhawks or single shots. Scoped 7 1/2 Blackhawk 50 yds. (10)
3.6 Bullseye
115 Missouri PCHC .309
CCI spm
PPU case
1.600 oal
925 fps ES 15

312516