I had posted recently asking for information and personal experience in firing cast bullets in the m1 carbine. I figured I would update in case anyone was interested in my findings.
I made it out to the range Sunday with a test batch of 50 rounds loaded up with different charges to check function and accuracy of my rounds I was able to load up. To start off, I was using 115gr round nose lubed bullets commercially purchased. I loaded with a variety of multiple fired brass from WW headstamped to LC 52 as well as a few others. Primed with cci 400 srp and charged with W296. My powder charge started at 10% reduced from normal fmj so 15 rounds at 12.5gr, 15 at 13gr, 15 at 13.5gr and finished with 5 at full fmj charge of 14gr. When seating the bullet I did not adjust my set up from the previous session of 110gr fmj I did and the lead bullets seated shorter than the standard 1.680”‘I generally do. All the lead bullets were seated at 1.660”
I started off with a completely fresh and cleaned rifle with the bore as clean as I possibly could get it. I set up the chrono about 6 feet from the muzzle of my rifle. With the test I’mg all loads cycled the action with 100% reliability.
The 12.5gr yielded 1680-1730fps with poor accuracy
The 13gr yielded 1700-1750fps with poor accuracy
The 13.5gr yielded 1730-1823fps with improved accuracy
The 14gr yielded 1850-1880 fps with the best accuracy
The 14gr charge showed the most promise with greater accuracy than I’ve been able to achieve with standard fmj loads. The final group with the 5 hottest rounds was in the ballpark of 2.5-3”. I will continue to test with the 14gr load to see if leading becomes and issue. Upon inspection of the bore when I arrived home I noticed some fouling on the lands but clean shiny grooves. Nothing that stands out to me as being problematic. I will forego cleaning the bore before my next outing to see how the accuracy repeats with the 14gr charge and if the minor fouling I was able to see in fact effects the accuracy.
It is worth pointing out when I received my cast bullets I measured and few with a micrometer and they came out a consistent .309” diameter with a few tenths deviation. I had some loose remington 110gr fmj bullets I had left over from the last batch I loaded and for fun I measured those as well and to my surprise they came out to be .307” very surprised in that measurement. But also that explains why in my last outing when i shot a paper target at 100 yards (usually I shoot a 8” steel gong) they patterned rather than grouped. Which isn’t a big deal as long as I’m hitting the steel plate. But I chalked it up to a very dirty rifle. Anyhow I just figured I would share that experience. If anyone out there loves their carbine like me and wants to continue shooting it while we navigate these tough times of supply shortages. I’ve had my carbine for 3 years or so and have loaded for it just as long and have never loaded lead until now and the way it is looking I will continue testing. If anyone is interested I’ll update the next batch as well and let everyone know if it continues to work out or I run into issues.
I made it out to the range Sunday with a test batch of 50 rounds loaded up with different charges to check function and accuracy of my rounds I was able to load up. To start off, I was using 115gr round nose lubed bullets commercially purchased. I loaded with a variety of multiple fired brass from WW headstamped to LC 52 as well as a few others. Primed with cci 400 srp and charged with W296. My powder charge started at 10% reduced from normal fmj so 15 rounds at 12.5gr, 15 at 13gr, 15 at 13.5gr and finished with 5 at full fmj charge of 14gr. When seating the bullet I did not adjust my set up from the previous session of 110gr fmj I did and the lead bullets seated shorter than the standard 1.680”‘I generally do. All the lead bullets were seated at 1.660”
I started off with a completely fresh and cleaned rifle with the bore as clean as I possibly could get it. I set up the chrono about 6 feet from the muzzle of my rifle. With the test I’mg all loads cycled the action with 100% reliability.
The 12.5gr yielded 1680-1730fps with poor accuracy
The 13gr yielded 1700-1750fps with poor accuracy
The 13.5gr yielded 1730-1823fps with improved accuracy
The 14gr yielded 1850-1880 fps with the best accuracy
The 14gr charge showed the most promise with greater accuracy than I’ve been able to achieve with standard fmj loads. The final group with the 5 hottest rounds was in the ballpark of 2.5-3”. I will continue to test with the 14gr load to see if leading becomes and issue. Upon inspection of the bore when I arrived home I noticed some fouling on the lands but clean shiny grooves. Nothing that stands out to me as being problematic. I will forego cleaning the bore before my next outing to see how the accuracy repeats with the 14gr charge and if the minor fouling I was able to see in fact effects the accuracy.
It is worth pointing out when I received my cast bullets I measured and few with a micrometer and they came out a consistent .309” diameter with a few tenths deviation. I had some loose remington 110gr fmj bullets I had left over from the last batch I loaded and for fun I measured those as well and to my surprise they came out to be .307” very surprised in that measurement. But also that explains why in my last outing when i shot a paper target at 100 yards (usually I shoot a 8” steel gong) they patterned rather than grouped. Which isn’t a big deal as long as I’m hitting the steel plate. But I chalked it up to a very dirty rifle. Anyhow I just figured I would share that experience. If anyone out there loves their carbine like me and wants to continue shooting it while we navigate these tough times of supply shortages. I’ve had my carbine for 3 years or so and have loaded for it just as long and have never loaded lead until now and the way it is looking I will continue testing. If anyone is interested I’ll update the next batch as well and let everyone know if it continues to work out or I run into issues.
