30-06 HELP Loading M2 Ball For Older Rifle

[dusterdave173]

Guys I need to know what powder to try--I Got a vintage Eddystone M1917 WW 1 bolt --I love it--It shoots great with older M2 Ball that chronos between 2600-2650 ish- and the sights seem to be set for around that speed-I tried to duplicate it with PRVI 150g M2 ball bullets and varget which I had on hand--I could reach the speed target well below the max load data and it shot great but primers looked a little flat--Ok medium flat. What powder should I try that will be keep pressures reasonable with that 150g? The FPS target is pretty low as 30-06 goes. I just used Varget because it is what I had on hand
The PRVI bullets seem to have the canalure in the exact right spot--I figured the flat base would work better in worn bore--I stocked up on them
Thanks for taking the time to help!!

 

[M1ke]

H4895 is well regarded as an M1 friendly powder. I also plan on trying Shooter's World Match. They have M1 loads listed as well.

 

[gutpile271]

I use IMR-4895 in mine. Don't let that old 1917 fool ya into thinking it's a weak action they are a tough action.

 

[Zero333]

If I remember correctly, the original M2 loading was with something like 150-153 gr bullets with 50 gr of IMR-4895 (stick powder) or 50 gr of WC852 (ball powder).
Armor Piercing and Armor Piercing Incendiary was the same load 50 gr of imr-4895 or WC842.

One of the National match loads was with a 166 gr bullet (if I remember correctly) over 50 gr of IMR-4895.

I'm sure there are plenty of guys on here who know much more than me.

You can easily substitute H-4895 with IMR-4895. I've done it for many years.

 

[RegionRat]

Agree with all the above and to try adjusting 4895 till you are happy.
All of the ones I will show below are good to try and they should all work at least decently in a 30-06.

Most of the games with The Wooden Guns in The CMP games are shot on the standard SR target at 200 yards, so these days all the fresh data tends to be from that context.

Sticking with Garand level loadings keeps many of these old rigs safe and happy. If you start with these types of loads, you can certainly tune up or down as required.

I would also keep an eye on your headspace to see if the reason your primers look flat prematurely is because of the case head slop.

Hodgdon now shows Garand specific data, but most folks haven't noticed it is there in the drop down menu differently than for regular 30-06 data. Here ya go in case it helps put your mind at ease.




ETA: if it doesn't make you happy with those particular bullets, try some other ones. More often than not, I find these old rigs to be sensitive to bullets more so than to powders.

 

[three percent]

Imr 4064 has done really well in both my garands along with a 03a3 I use starting powder charge and usually keep it real close around starting charge.i try not to hot rod em to much.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Show us some pics of the flat primers.

Frank

 

[Dkk37058]

It was always told to me not to use powders slower than IMR 4895 because of damage to op rod and I’ve stayed with this advice

 

[RegionRat]

It was always told to me not to use powders slower than IMR 4895 because of damage to op rod and I’ve stayed with this advice

OP's rifle is a M1917 bolt action.
Nevertheless, the Garand was only mentioned due to the gathering and organization of that load data and the similarity to middle of the road ball ammo that the OP could look at for ideas.

 

[Dkk37058]

Just a reply to three percent’s post

 

[three percent]

It's the pressure curve of slower powders that are a problem.youll be fine with most all medium burn rate powders.imr 4064 ,rl15,4895.its when you get to 4350 you have problems.im not to sure on some newer powder like cfe223 and powders like that but you'll be fine on standard traditional medium burn rate powders.
H4895 and imr4064 are best you can get for m2 06 loads.no worries at all with those two.
It's when you get into 4350 burn rates the problems start

 

[three percent]

Accurate 2520,2460,and 2015 would all be good as well depending on what you have or could find.i know some of this is subjective because of garand op rods.but I still like to keep my loads modest for those.garands ,o3's ,03a3,1917. Just how I do it and don't have to worry about it and I can put my 03a3 ammo in a garand no sweat