Any 30 Carbine Loaders Here?

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otisrush

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I'm in the early stages of considering the purchase of an M1 Carbine as well as spooling up adding that caliber to my reloading repertoire.

I'm looking for a "cheap plinking bullet". Is there sort of go-to bullet in this plinking category? I'm asking more about manufacturer than weight.

I've started surfing Powder Valley and Widener's so I can see what is out there, but I most value people's impressions and experiences. "Stay away from this......and this other has worked great." Stuff like that.

Thanks!

OR
 
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Only been loading carbine for a short while; using xstreme 110 gr. plated bullet, with 13.5 gr.of H110. Good results. Case length critical.

Mick
 
Haven't reloaded for that round in quite a while, but I used to use the Remington bulk 110 grain RNSP with 14.5 grains 296, CCI-400 and mixed brass. Muzzle velocity averaged 1930 fps. Accuracy was good. Powder charge probably close to max., check current manuals.
 
30 carbine

i load it, i bought a bunch of pulled 30 carbine bullets from either widener's or aim surplus, i don't know if they still have them, but they did not have any pull marks on them just a little sealant. i also loaded some lead bullets with a gas check but i read that the lead could stop up the gas system so i used them in a 30 carbine ruger blackhawk which is fun to shoot. i used hercules 2400 powder.
 
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I have used Xtreme or Berrys 110 grain plated with W296 and CCI #400.
Most manuals show a max of 15.0 grains for W296/H110 and I didn't want to exceed the max recommended reduction of 3% with this powder so I load at 14.5 grains. Sorry, no chrono numbers but seems OK for plinking. These bullets range from about 9 to 12 cents each.

I have also loaded this cartridge with the same bullets and 14.1 grains Hodgdon 'Lil Gun with similar results and a few rounds with 11.7 grains Alliant 2400. Both of these loads cycled the action. AA #9 and VV N110 are other possible powders although Vihtavuori powders are a bit pricey.

Overall cartridge length is slightly shorter with these bullets compared to a true jacketed bullet like Hornady or Sierra at the same seating depth as the plated bullets themselves are a little shorter.

G.I. loads are rated about 1900-1950 fps from an 18" carbine barrel. Berrys used to rate their bullet for a max. velocity of 1950 fps, their web site currently shows a max of 1750 fps?? Xtreme doesn't say and was non committal to my questions. Some folks say to avoid plated bullets at these velocities as the plating may fail in the bore fouling the barrel and resulting in horrible accuracy. Others report decent accuracy and no copper or lead fouling.

As others have said here, be sure to check case length AFTER sizing-this brass really seems to grow and need trimming. Please verify these loads in a good manual and good luck.
 
I load for both my carbine and Blackhawk in .30 Carbine. For the Blackhawk, I have to trim after each session or I will lock up the cylinder and have to remove it.
 
Not to long ago a guy used to be able to get USGI pull down brass and bullets, but I haven't seen any for maybe 3 years, probably longer. Hornady makes an exellent 110gr RN FMJ, Remington also makes one along with a soft point but I wouldn't consider them cheap unless you can get them on sale.

I try to avoid the plated stuff because 1,900 fps is supposed to be too fast for plated bullets plus these days it doesn't seem like plated bullets are that much cheaper anyway.

If you want to make your brass last longer, don't load it so hot, keep your charge weights closer to the starting load. By doing that, you also won't have to trim your brass every reloading cycle. My Carbine puts a little ding in the brass each time its fired so its easy to keep track of how many times they have been fired. So far they have been getting lost before they split and I am only getting about 10 loads out of piece.
 
Speer used to make an inexpensive (relative, I know) bullet for the .30 Carbine called the Plinker. It was a 100 grain bullet that had a jacket on the bottom half of the bullet which covered the bearing surface and a large lead round nose for the tip. I don't know if they still make them, haven't seen any in a while but don't really look for them, either. They functioned well in my carbine and seemed to be as accurate as the carbine was.
 
I also use the Remington 110gr SP. Buying them in bulk makes it a lot more economical. I've had excellent results using IMR 4227.
Ditto on the brass length. Check after every firing and trim as needed.
 
When I load for my underwood carbine I use IMR4227 and any reasonably priced 110 grain round nose bullets. I think off the top of my head a throw about 14. grains in the case I also use the LEE factory crimp die. I always have good results.
 
Sharing reloading data is risky (and you didn't ask LOL) but this is what I've been loading since 1984. 15.0 grains W-296 behind a Sierra 110 RN (not FMJ). Gave me 2.1" groups @ 100 yards with iron sights (eyes were wayyyy better then). Now, for range work, I've been using 110 RN plated from RMR at the same load rate. Grouped 1.850" at 50 yards which is probably the best I can shoot irons these days. No problem with the bullets. They're out of stock at RMR but they do have 110 RN FMJ for $115 / 1,000. Good luck!
 
Bought an RCBS regular die set at around $19 or $20 new, the carbide sizer was $79. Over the years the biggest deterrent to loading 30 Carbine, has been finding brass. I loaded about 4000 FMJ in my biggest batch, and never trimmed a single one! US military chambers are set up to function with slightly dirty ammo, so they are pretty tolerant! I have had 8 different M-1's and the all function with ammo from that biggest batch. I haven't found a reasonable bullet that won't work, this includes 32 ACP 71 grain FMJ, 88 grain 30 Mauser bullets, and my cast 117 grain 32-20 gas checked bullets. I have a box of 110 grain V-Max I want to try out, but haven't got around to.

H-110 was invented for this round, why try anything else (it is now revealed that WW-296 is the same thing).

Most Military brass has crimped primers, you really need to remove the crimps!

If you find some used brass with nasty green corrosion inside, don't mess with them. Real US military 30 Carbine ammo was never loaded with true corrosive primed ammo (Early ammo had the chloride based primers, but never mercury based primers!) There was a huge amount a fake US ammo around in the 1980's, It has a early 50's headstamp, but is berdan primed with mercury based primers! If you find you fired some, you must clean right after your range session with a cleaner/solvent for corrosive primers.

One of the last carbines I have has the T-3 inferred scope on it, as night vision goes it is very primitive and has a back pack power unit. It works to 125-150 yards on a pitch dark night, here in the US there is often enough street light even in the "country" to work to 200-225 yards. They are a real hoot with tracers!!!

Ivan
 
Thanks all! This is really useful stuff. I greatly appreciate it.

I'm not sure when I'll pull the trigger on this project. It's great to have this insight into the reloading side.

Now I need to go find a piece of hardware. :-)

Thanks again.

OR
 
Cast bullets

I bought a bunch of 110(?) cast bullets from Penn several years ago. I'll bet they have this in coated now.

Several manufacturers make a (relatively) cheap 'plinker' with a lead round nose in a jacket 'cup'. I know Speer makes one, and I have some other make, but they are the same.
 
110 LRN from your prefered caster. I always bought the cheapest I could find till I sold my carbine.
 
Hornady and Speer both have 100 gr half jacket bullets that work well in the .30 Carbine.

I used to cast a plain based 93 gr lead bullet designed for the .30 Luger. When hard cast from wheel weights with 1.5% tin added, quenched (dropped some the mold into a 5 gallon bucket of water with a towel in the bottom), tumbled lubed and then aged 3-4 weeks, they were hard enough to avoid any leading issues at .30 carbine velocities.

I did note however that every 300-400 rounds, I'd have to unscrew the gas tappet and clean out the gas port as it would start to accumulate lead.

It was however by far the cheapest .30 Carbine load I ever shot - on par with .22 LR.

Now I just use 110 gr plated bullets from Xtreme.
 
Powder Valley, Inc. For brand new Win brass. Another fan of the Hornady fmj. Easily the most accurate bullet have tried so far from the carbine so far. Would also pick one of the harder small rifle primers.
 
I've been using Alliant 2400 and whatever cheap 30 carbine FMJ bullet I can find (Hornandy or Sierra. I also go to midway and look around) For brass I usually just buy several boxes of 50 every now and then of inexpensive ammo and pick up brass, clean and reuse for reloading. I usually keep about 15-30 cartridges aside to reuse over and over to experiment with while having a whole bucket of reloaded live rounds on hand.

Since I got into reloading I rarely ever buy anmo and when I do it's just to ultimately get brass to use multiple times
 
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