M1 & M48 questions

RugerFan

My oldest has developed a taste for milsurps. He has bought a Yugo M48 and a M1 Garand. 

I’ve seen the M48 in person. It appears to be in quite good condition. It came with 2 boxes of surplus 8x57 ammo which he was told were corrosive so he hasn’t shot it yet. Any info about the model and caliber would be appreciated. 

The M1 I haven’t seen. He says it’s marked Springfield Amory 47(or 1947, I can’t remember). He says all parts are marked like that.  Says the wood is in very good condition. What 30-06 ammo is safe for this rifle and what should he stay away from?

jaywapti

For the 30 odd years I shot NRA "Across the Course" Lake City ammo was always supplied, when handloading everyone i knew that loaded for the M-1 used IMR 4895, Fed 210M primers. About 2000 when i retired and stopped shooting comp Brownells had an adjustable gas system that from what i understood allowed one to adjust port pressure for any load or powder, this is hearsay as i never used or have any experience with it.

JAY

RugerFan

Thanks Jay. 

Funny you mentioned gas port device

I was just texting with him and he said I’m doing research he found out about a “ported gas plug” that supposedly allows you to shoot any 30-06. 

Does anyone have any experience with this “device”?

shotgunshooter3

Bigslug should be along soon, but the M1 should only be fed M2 Ball spec or near ammo. Going much beyond that (such as with modern hunting ammo) could bend the operating rod. I've had good luck with Prvi Partison's M2 spec ammo, and Creedmoor sports sells some M1 safe match ammo as well. 

Bigslug

There are quite a few M2 ball spec rounds being manufactured for the '06.  Not hard to track down - if you find 150 grain FMJ's listed at about 2800 fps - give or take - you're there.

As for surplus, anything U.S.G.I. prior to 1953 should be regarded as corrosive.  Foreign makes will require research.  This stuff isn't "evil", but you want to have a neutralizing option to run down the bore at the range.  I use a mix Ballistol and something close to it's recommended ratio of water, but there are other choices.  In the case of an M1, you'll also want to pull the gas tube and use the same stuff to wipe down the first few inches of the op rod.  The tube itself is blackened stainless steel, so is not as concerning, but as long as you're in there, any gunk comes out easier when fresh.

Scott Duff is the name you want to look up for referencing the rifles.  M1 Garand parts are marked essentially by what could be considered "lot numbers".  Collectors determine originality of an M1 - as best they can - by referencing what ranges of these numbers (along with the minor visual variation of the parts as production methods changed over the 20 year run).  About the only thing that commonly got a date stamp in addition to this were the barrels.  That's a big oversimplification, but the reality is that "original" M1's from WWII are extremely scarce, thanks to service in a major war, corrosive ammo, and a very organized government refurbishment program.  Post-Korean rifles have a better chance of being "correct", but mix-mastered Franken-guns are the rule.

On the M48 it's a shortened action version of a '98 Mauser.  They will not be interchangeable on the main parts, but the operation and maintenance will be the same.  

Main thing to know about the 8x57 is that you will mostly encounter the newer "S" spec round and guns with a .323" groove diameter.  The older "J" version of the earlier 1888 Commission Rifles was .318".  The spec change occurred in the  early 1890's, so it's not really of concern to anybody with a '98 pattern gun, but it's worth knowing that all 8x57 you can potentially run into wasn't created equal.

RugerFan

Thank y’all!

Freezer

IIRC, IMR 4350 was developled for th M!.

GrapeApe

Freezer said:

IIRC, IMR 4350 was developled for th M!.

Are you sure you didn't mean IMR4895?

https://hodgdonreloading.com/imr/imr-4895

Originally a military powder featured in the 30-06, IMR 4895 is extremely versatile as a medium burn speed propellant. From the 17 Remington to the 243 Winchester to the 375 H&H Magnum, accuracy and performance are excellent.

Bigslug

The Wiki entry on IMR powders is "interesting". . .

It has 4350 as being introduced in 1940, but has no notes on what it was used for.

The 4831 entry says that it's primary WWII use was in the shells for the 20mm Oerlikon AA cannons. . .and it says it was released in 1973.  Ummmmm. . .

It says that 4895 was the propellant of the M2 ball load through WWII. . .yet has a released date of 1962.  Ummmmm. . .

GrapeApe

Bigslug said:

The Wiki entry on IMR powders is "interesting". . .

It has 4350 as being introduced in 1940, but has no notes on what it was used for.

The 4831 entry says that it's primary WWII use was in the shells for the 20mm Oerlikon AA cannons. . .and it says it was released in 1973.  Ummmmm. . .

It says that 4895 was the propellant of the M2 ball load through WWII. . .yet has a released date of 1962.  Ummmmm. . .

That's why I went with information from Hodgdon

Gene L

Bigslug said:

m

RugerFan

The rifle came with a bandolier that had ammo in it. 

He sent me a picture of a headstamp. It appears to  have been made in Denver in 1942. 

jaywapti

Bigslug said:

The Wiki entry on IMR powders is "interesting". . .

It has 4350 as being introduced in 1940, but has no notes on what it was used for.

The 4831 entry says that it's primary WWII use was in the shells for the 20mm Oerlikon AA cannons. . .and it says it was released in 1973.  Ummmmm. . .

It says that 4895 was the propellant of the M2 ball load through WWII. . .yet has a released date of 1962.  Ummmmm. . .

Bigslug, your Ummmmmmmmm is right on the money,

If ya want the true scoop on the older powders, the 30-06, M-1 Garand, M1 & 2 cartridges, ya really need to get a copy of  " Hatchers Notebook" See part 1 chapters 3, 13, & 17 sec.2,3,&4

JAY