How good is unfired vintage '42 .30-06 brass?

Yes, very good info...

I have deprimed about 50 so far with no problems. I resize them slowly. They come out with only slightly more effort on account of the crimped pockets. Since these cases were unfired I can run them through the full length sizing die with no lubricant. I noticed that a few of them were slightly banana shaped; I suppose I can run them through the sizer and they will then chamber just like all the rest.

I notice that a few of the cases have a bit of corrosion in the primer pockets, and the bases of the bullets that were seated in these have corrosion too. These seemed to have increased powder volume in that when I pulled the bullet with the collet puller, I heard a pop and the powder level was slightly higher than in the rest of the cases. Since the fit of primer and bullet were air tight, is it possible that the corrosion was caused by the composition of the primers?

The powder in every single one of these cartridges was dry. The bullet is the black tip AP which weighs approximately 163 grs. so I plan to take the powder charge (50.3 grs.) and load it with a 145 gr. FMJ that I have on hand. It will most likely be shot out of my Ruger 77 Mk II. I will discard the original corrosive primers.

Dave Sinko
 
Those primers were corrosive, but contained no mercury.

The "corrosive" component is merely salt. Just wash the bore and other exposed parts with soap and water, then dry, then oil.

Quite right ! I should have said, "....corrosive salts..." Mea culpa.

Larry
 
Most everyone I know reloads that does so for a Garand. They are lighter loads due to the gas system. The do actually seek this brass out though.

I doubt they seek out 70yr old brass. It would deepnd on how it was stored. Brass does get brittle w/ age. I woul dbe supsect of running full power loads but a 3 shot test series would yield so me info. If it splits, toss em all.
 
A good friend gave me a sealed tin can of TW43 AP ammo. Broke it down and sold the bullets for a good price, deprimed the cases, cleaned the tar sealant from the case necks, reprimed after reaming the primer pockets. Loaded with cheap 150 grain soft points and shot it all in a 1943 Springfield armory garand. No splits, cracks or any other problems. Those cases lasted ten firings before they were retired. Same with some FA50 7.62nato cases. Got these when I used to order military cases in bulk 2-3000 at a time. No problems with those either. I have a bunch of LC67 match cases, those I save for use in my Model 70 match rifle in 30-06. 1955-Israeli 8mm cases, trim and form them into 7.65x53mm argentine mauser no problems there either. Frank
 
Yes Fred, they seek them out. There is something about shooting a Garand in the first place that makes you proud to show off the period correct headstamps as well. I see the same thing at our CMP pistol matches, some guys police their brass so they get back their vintage correct 45 acp brass.
 
Just an update here. I successfully deprimed all 213 crimped primers without any difficulty or explosions. I am reloading that 68 year old powder and it works fine. A couple of cases have been reloaded twice and are holding up quite well. Old ammo is good ammo!

Dave Sinko
 

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