Reloading for military semi-auto's???

[1911crazy]

I plan on reloading for my FN49 Luxenborg 30-06 and you need to use military primers in military semi-auto's so slam fires won't occur.  The primers I plan on using are CCI #34 there for military semi-auto's.  I just recieved 1,000rds of 30cal.  150gr  for the cost of $60 from Northwest Loading they pulled it from military rounds and it looks great (no marks).
My powder choice is IMR 4350 and 55grs should do the trick behind the 150gr bullet.  I just can't handle paying so much for loaded 30-06 military FMJ ammo when it can be reloaded  so cheap.                                                       BigBill


I haven't reloaded since '91 but I dusted off all the stuff and its ready to fly.  I ran 300rds of 44 mag in one day resizing/decapping and priming all of them.   I ordered 500rds of 44cal SWC lead rounds for my 44mag for target practice from Northwest Loading also for $30.50 and its great looking stuff too.

[Mikey]

Hay BigBill:  IMR 4350 powder is way down on the burning rate chart and I'm wondering if it isn't a bit to slow burning for reloading for your mil-surp.  I used to reload for the M1, and as well for a Remington 7400.  I found that the faster burning powders burned cleaner, gave the best accuracy, and cycled the action properly.  Some of the slower buring powders won't reach their peak pressures to cycle the action by the time the bullet passes the gas port.  

There used to be an old load, I think it was something like 47 or 47.5 grains of IMR 4895, that the target shooters used to use in the M1, under a 180 gn bullet.  I believe the velocities on the 150 gn slug were around 2700-2800'/sec.  I know the match load for the M1/06 was a 177 gn load at 2650'/sec and I believe you could duplicate that load with the 4895 powder.  I'm gonna have to go back and check my books, but I think that was the powder and the charge.  HTH.  Mikey.  

Oh, BTW, doesn't the M1 have a firing pin spring to prevent slam fires???  I just can't recall.

[1911crazy]

Mikey  Thanks on the powder recomendadtion I haven't started loading yet I'm resizing 1,000rds right now.  I'll get some IMR 4895 if i remember I think i use that powder in my 444 marlin.               BigBill

[John Traveler]

Big Bill,

I agree completely with Mikey on the use of IMR 4350 powder behind the 150 grain FMJ bullet.  It's too slow, and port pressures will not be correct to operate the action reliably in an M1 rifle.  You MAY be able to get away with it in the FN49 by adjusting the gas port, but it pounds the recoiling parts pretty hard;.

IMR 4895 in both surplus and new production, was the old standard load to duplicate the GI load of 150 grain FMJ at 2800 fps.  US Government arsenals loaded 49.0-51.0 grains of IMR 4895 to get standard pressures and velocities, so that is good enough for me!

John