A walk thru time/history WWII/S.E.Asia

[Brokenbear]

The last week or two ...I've been prepping 30 carbine cases getting ready to run 3000+ thru Dillon 550

The usual stuff,de-prime, trim the errant ones, clean primer pockets and ream the primer pockets where needed

1941,42,44,51,52,54,64,65,67, etc ... reminds me....

My Old Pappy rest his soul ...fought through the Philippines ...Luzon, Bouganville,Manilla etc ...carried an M2 30 Carbine the majority of the time

Move the clock forward 20 years ...I carried an M2 also for about 5 months in the "advisor unit" I was in in S.E. Asia

This last week...handling brass from lots/years he and I both most likely used in really tuff times ...just kind of sobering ...

Dang I must be getting soft boys ...excuse my rambling!

Bear

 

[singlesix]

30 cal carbine

Almost always had a carbine as a back up to my CAR15...Advisor RVN 71,72,73

 

[daboone]

I wasn't aware the M2 Carbine was in combat use in WWII. Just did a Quick Wikipedia check that indicates it was used at the tail end of WWII both in Europe and the final phases of the Philippines. If it was use in PI it must have been use on Okinawa.

Please post more info on your experience with your M2 Carbine, load development, function and any additional info you care to share. I collect and shoot WWII weapons. I have a Rockola and a Inland M1 Carbine. I've even shot out and replaced the barrel of the Inland.

Thank you for this interesting post.
Thank you and your dad for your service in times of war.

 

[Engineer1911]

Reloading is tough, sometimes the memories are even tougher.

 

[DWalt]

I have found that the biggest .30 Carbine reloading problem is that the cases seem to require trimming after each firing. Several months ago I picked up several dozen fired steel Lake City (LC) headstamped cases at the range. I have seen (and fired) many EC steel .30 Carbine cases, but had never seen any from LC. Turns out they are not that unusual. And there were also some FA steel case .30 Carbine.

 

[Bkreutz]

Almost always had a carbine as a back up to my CAR15...Advisor RVN 71,72,73

I never actually used a carbine on a mission in RVN, but I did get the assignment of instructing a group of Montagnards on how to use the pallet of carbines and ammo that we plopped in the middle of their village. Picture herding cats. (BTW, they adapted quickly even if it was hilarious at the start).

 

[THE PILGRIM]

During SEA- Was stationed at Takhli, Thailand.
That was the primary Air America freight hub for N Laos.
We- USAF had some civilian Thai guards in green fatigues carrying M-16s.
Air America had Laotian (I think) guards in Tiger Stripe Camo carrying M-2 Carbines.

 

[hdwhit]

Brokenbear wrote:
Dang I must be getting soft boys ...excuse my rambling!

No apology necessary.

My father (age 93) was in Burma in World War II, Korea during the Korean War and Vietnam for his tour in country. The same things you were feeling is part of what caused me to retire all of my 5.56 brass with a headstamp from before 1974.

My father carried an M1 (later M2) carbine throughout all his wars.

 

[Brokenbear]

Well I have written and erased this quick reply several times and boiled down ...the real deal mostly sucks ...sucked for Dad ...sucked for me ...I still allow a smile when some of the good flashes to mind and the other ...well ....it's just kept put away ....Dad had it right ...as usual

Bear

 

[jscott]

When I was workng there in the 70s, M2s were in the trunk of all the cars in another combat zone - Detroit.

 

[DWalt]

I once knew a cinder dick who worked the rail yards of East St. Louis. The M1 Carbine loaded with expanding bullets was very popular for that duty.