M1 carbine loads....?

[Just another 22 shooter]

My brother in law gave me an M1 carbine a couple years ago.
Shot 50 rounds of factory ammo thru it an put it away. Not real reliable, but fun to shoot.
Yesterday I got it out, cleaned it up and loaded up some 110 gr Hornady fmj over 14.8 gr of H110 . It shoots them accurately enough(hits a 12" plate at 60 yards very consistently), but I can't get thru a full 15 round mag without 3-4 jams. And it throws brass all over the place. Gun is a GM Inland 43 and the magazine is an aftermarket of unknown manufacturer.
Just curious what bullet/powder combinations some of you guys are using and any advice for better reliability would be appreciated.

 

[zonker5]

11 gr of 2400 works well for me. Accurate and dead reliable.

 

[elpac3]

15 grains ww296 with the 110 grain hornady fmj.

Carbine will toss brass all over. Not uncommon for me to loose 3-4 cases per match. Have absolutely no idea where they went.

My '43 inland will typically hold 5" at 100 yards with the 296 load. I did have to build up the front sight since it shot 12" high at 100 yards.

 

[federali]

Clean the gas system.

First, you need to ditch the commercial magazine and get yourself some genuine GI issue mags. They're plentiful. Next, when evaluating any semi-auto, be sure to use quality factory loads and original magazines. Some aftermarket magazines are actually superior to original issue mags but many after-market mags are not. For example, Meg-gar magazines are aftermarket but of high quality, That company also makes magazines for the gun manufacturers.

My suggestion is to give the rifle a thorough cleaning, obtain a gas piston wrench, break down the gas piston and give it a good cleaning followed by some overall lubrication except on the gas piston. This should go a long way in solving the reliability issues.

 

[Culina]

If you are using bullets designed for the M1 Carbine then it definitely sounds like a magazine issue. Most of the aftermarket M1 Carbine magazines I have encountered are complete garbage. Besides often being out of spec, the feed lips are usually not heat treated so even if you do initially get one that works, the lips will soon get bent thus allowing extra rounds to "escape". As has already been mentioned, get yourself some USGI magazines, the 15 rounds are easy to find still in original wrap condition.

 

[gwpercle]

Consider this, M1 Carbine Rifle Service Pak , Wolff spring kit #18055.

I had feeding and ejection issues with a 1943 era Walther P-38 , the Service Pak kit contained every spring in the pistol and a magazine spring.
I Replaced the important ones and "issues" went away.
If the service pak doesn't have a replacement magazine spring , try getting a new or better magazine. Magazines can cause a lot of issues.
These guns are over 70 years old, the springs get tired and they are a cheap and easy thing to replace , thanks to Wolff.
Good luck,
Gary

 

[Rule3]

What does "jam" mean??

I do not think it is ammo related and agree with the above. Start with the simple things first. Get another magazine and or spring.

Then get the Wolff tune up springs. Don't mess with gas system unless you know what you are doing,

Bad magazine, op rod spring something mechanical I bet.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I like carbines too.....I load 14 grs #H110 behind a 110 gr FMJ for 1880 fps avg and 13 grs of #2400 behind my cast 120 gr RN for 1891 fps avg(Oehler 35P).....One of mine.....

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

I took the action out of the stock, cleaned and oiled it. Was not dirty or any rust,no lubricant evident at all , more dust than anything. I am amazed that there seems to be very minimal wear between metal parts; the stock looks like it has been in a war, but the metal looks almost new, very little wear.
I was leaning toward the magazine as the probable culprit and your comments have confirmed that; I'll be looking for a couple of USGI mags for it. Hopefully the mags will get it up and running much more reliably. The suggestions about Wolff spring kits is something else to consider, too. I had not thought about that. Thanks for all the feedback.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I.ve had about 15 different M-1 Carbines over the years. I still have 2 IBM's, one normal and one with the T-3 Night Scope. I use the RCBS Carbide sizing die, regular dies seem to have some issues with complete length sizing. I've loaded somewhere near 15,000 rounds with FML and 117 FRN/GC cast bullets and never had a FTF or FTE, but I never used anything but 15 or 30 round GI mags.

I bought a foot locker full of 15's for $100 in 89 or 90. I kept 10 for me and sold the rest. I got $5 each until all of the sudden they became a $20 mag (my thought was pure BS!)

Ivan

 

[forestswin]

The following are notes attributed to the CMP regarding M1- 30 Carbine reloading:

MOST IMPORTANT: The .30 Caliber Carbine case has a maximum length of 1.290". The fired and reloaded cases should be trimmed to minimum every reloading. Reloading die makers usually specify a longish "trim to" length on the order of 1.285". The minimum length for Carbine cases is 1.280" and has been observed to be more satisfactory. This 1.280" is the normal factory length of new ammunition.

This length of 1.280" helps prevent failure to lock with the bolt forward but not rotated and subsequent out of battery firing. Too long of cases wedge the bolt forward, but do not allow easy rotation to full lock up. Too long of cases are the main cause of most problems. Carbine cases stretch at seeming random. Trim every reloading. Some cases will be unmarked by the trimmer cutter, others will be partially trimmed on one side, and others will be fully engaged with the trimmer cutter.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The 30 M1 Carbine was always a "rough" made item and was not known
as a tack drive but a fire power weapon.

I worked on a lot of them as a gunny in the Navy and never did care much for them. At 250 yards a hit was one out of 50 if lucky.

H110 can use as much as 15.5 grains of powder...........
I load Herco at 10 grains and get a free load every third time I pull the trigger.

The Mag is the main problem with this weapon.
Sort of like a Auto pistol...... you need to mess with them to get them to work.
The iron sights are the second big problem.

 

[webfarmer]

15 grains ww296 with the 110 grain hornady fmj.....

.

That's the same load I use. I remember it was back at a time when that one load is what Winchester said to use and To Not Alter. 1.850" groups at 50 yards. My IJ isn't very accurate.

 

[DWalt]

Two important things for good functioning - proper case length and a good action spring.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

OK, guys, I've got USGI mags on the way. One more question: Do the 110 gr round nose soft point bullets that are pretty much made for the M1 feed ok? I'm having trouble finding any fmj bullets in stock to order.. A couple of places have the soft nose available.

 

[S&WIowegan]

The jacketed soft nose bullets should run OK. Just FYI: Win296 and H110 are exactly the same powder made in same factory and sold by Hodgdon under 2 labels. Clean gun, good mags and new springs should solve all problems.

As already mentioned, the M1 30 Carbine is not an accuracy machine. However, I shot a CMP qualifier match at 200 yds. with my 30 Carbine and qualified.

 

[webfarmer]

OK, guys, I've got USGI mags on the way. One more question: Do the 110 gr round nose soft point bullets that are pretty much made for the M1 feed ok? I'm having trouble finding any fmj bullets in stock to order.. A couple of places have the soft nose available.

Yes, they (Sierra) feed perfectly in mine. RMR sells 110 Grain RN plated bullets which I substitute for fmj bullets for range work. Price is usually very nice as well.

 

[M E Morrison]

OK, guys, I've got USGI mags on the way. One more question: Do the 110 gr round nose soft point bullets that are pretty much made for the M1 feed ok? I'm having trouble finding any fmj bullets in stock to order.. A couple of places have the soft nose available.

They ran just fine in my carbine; in fact it worked just as well with the 100 gr plinker bullets.

 

[carpriver]

There are several powders that will work well in the M-1 carbine. 4227, AA9, h-110, 296 to name just a few. Keep it clean and lubed, The carbine is my go to rifle for fun.

 

[Bkreutz]

My 2 fun toys, 1944 Winchester and 1947 Willys