Help with 30cal M1 Carbine Load --

[captain-03]

I have been wanting to load cast for my .30 M1 Carbines. I have a Lee Mold #C309-120-R with GC. Loaded up a couple of different loads today with 6gr Unique and 6gr of SR4756. When I took them to the range, using 2 different carbines, the results were very disappointing. Both carbines chambered the rounds without problem, fired the rounds, ejected the spent cases, but failed to chamber a new round - the bolt went back forward after ejecting the spent case but closed on an empty chamber.

Any suggestions out there?? Maybe another powder recommendation?? How about crimping? etc ... Thanks in advance ....

[fishhawk]

11.5 gr of accurate #9 works the action on mine and gives 1900 FPS same as the military velocity. steve k

[captain-03]

Fishhawk -- is that the load you use for the 120gr Lee cast? I have some ACC#9 on the shelf that I use with the 110gr FMJ.

[fishhawk]

i use the RCBS mould cast with WW it's also gas checked. i think it's number 30-115 but with WW it's 120 gr steve k

[captain-03]

Thanks -- I will give the ACC#9 a try ...

Anyone else out there with some recommedations?

[Will]

11 to 12gr 2400. Works action and shoots small groups.

[acemedic13]

I dont load for the m-1 carbine, but I load a lot of M1-A. I had the same issue your having but, with the 308. It would fire and eject but not load another round. It was a case problem because I was using machine gun fired brass. I know the cases are very different but, just saying it's not always the powder. You already got the pro on your side. Steve walked me through all the issues I had when I was pulling my hair out with that lake city brass. I am sure these guys will help you get over this little hump. Good luck and keep us posted. Joel

[mooman76]

I tried unique and it is too fast for the M1c to cycle properly. It perfers a slower powder to have time for the gas pressure to cycle the action right other wise some times it may work and some times it may not.

[garandsrus]

Captain,

I used 12.0 and 12.5 gr of H110 for a velocity of 1613 and 1706 fps respectively. Both loads shot well. This was with a 120gr plain base boolit.

There is a thread under "Group buy mold results" with the targets and load data. If you do a search on 30 Carbine, you will find a lot of load data.

John

[Larry Gibson]

H110 is the origianl .30 Carbine powder and the gas system is designed to operate around its burning rate. It works extremely well with cast bullets of 100-125 gr. Work up to 14 gr if your bullet isn't over 120 gr "fully dressed". If it is then stop at 13.5 gr.

Larry Gibson

[acemedic13]

H110 is the origianl .30 Carbine powder and the gas system is designed to operate around its burning rate. It works extremely well with cast bullets of 100-125 gr. Work up to 14 gr if your bullet isn't over 120 gr "fully dressed". If it is then stop at 13.5 gr.

Larry Gibson

Thats really good to know. Thanks:drinks:

[Patrick L]

I use 11 gr Alliant 2400 with a 120 gr plainbase bullet. On a good day it shoots about like this:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/Carbine/Picture007.jpg

This is a 10 shot 100 yard group, with a quarter thrown in for size reference. Oh, and functioning is 100%.

[C1PNR]

A load I've been using for years is 12 to 13 grains of H4227, 311359 GC @ 120 grains dressed, and WSR primer in a military surplus case.

It's always given me "Minute of Carbine" accuracy and flawless functioning. I like the 13 grain load best, but your gun is a law unto itself so YMMV.[smilie=1:

Good luck with a really fun gun to shoot.:drinks:

[3006guns]

I've been trying to find a non gas check load in order to reduce cost to the bare bones...looking for a load that cycles the action and still gets decent accuracy with no leading or other problems. Just got back from our local range about an hour ago and feel pretty smug. I'm using Lyman's 311359 cast from WW and air cooled then run through my old Lachmiller luber/sizer to .309.

A 10.5 grn. charge of 2400 cycles the action smartly and perceived accuracy is good. (Definition of "perceived" means I could hit a dirt clod repeatedly at about 50 yds.). Cleaning the bore I found a few particles of loose lead, similar to what you'd find in the typical .22 auto loader that hasn't been cleaned often. Nothing horrible, but I think I can do better.

Just for giggles, I reduced the load to 9.5 grns and tried again. Action still cycles well with one feed failure...and that may have been the case. Accuracy was still "minute of dirt clod"...., mild recoil and NO lead this time. Ejected cases land within three feet instead of all over the landscape. I don't have a chronograph, but I suspect this is a modest .357 magnum round. Came home and set the Dillon powder measure for 9.5 grns and I'm about to load enough to keep me going for quite awhile.

[beagle]

Guys, take a look at Castpics/Article by members/Cast in the M1 Carbine.

I played for about a year with one and put a couple thousand loads down range. Found good PB functioning loads.

The 3118HP is my faavorite.

Take a look and it will anser some of your questions./beagle