I am using 296 ball powder, 110 grain RN FMJ (copper clad from Wideners), CCI Magnum Primers, and LC 1952 once fired brass. I'm looking for a good powder weight for good function in an M1 carbine. This is for plinking and maximum accuracy is not critical. Just something that's economical on powder and cycles the weapon without problems.

Thank you,

Dave in Oakwood, GA

The nature of 296 doesn't lend itself well to reduced loads, best advice for that poweder is to use it in the does recommended by WW...it's going to be near factory dupication, and for that it's a good choice. Would start at 13gr. and stop before I got to 15gr....by my old notes, found the best accuracy at 14-14.4gr.(1.68" OAL).

Worth mentioning that you should get freindly with a case trimmer....30carb. cases thend to grow in length, and as headspace is set by the case length, will shortly find rounds that won't chamber that loast little bit. NOT good...rifle could fire with the bolt not fully rotated to lock.

I've been using 13.0 to 13.5 grns of H-110 (surplus W296) with cast and jacketed bullets in the 110 - 115 grn weight range. I have used CCI 400 primers and the same LC 52 brass your using with good results. This load funtions well with the full length factory main spring in my Inland. I consider a good taper crimp die to be a necessity. Also the advice on watching your case lengths carefully is well taken.

hey dave....try 14 gralns of imr 4227...with 110 to 115 cast ball...use a good crimp die like a lee factory crimp die...this load functions well in my 2 carbines....nick

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your extremely helpful posts. I posted this question on several forums and this was by far the most useful set of posts I received. I will follow your advice in reloading.

I built an M1 Carbine using like new military surplus parts and a receiver from Springfield Armory, Geneso IL. (I'm an ex U.S. Army Armorer and my best buddy is a gunsmith.) I cut the chamber a little tighter than what most of the very generous chambers on the surplus guns, which were built to feed and fire under the worst conditions with any sort of producted ammo out there. (Springfield Armory built their receivers to force you to headspace them, they do not time up as a normal GI receiver would, legal issues, I suspect.)

dominic forcina,

I have 4 pounds of 296 and a 1 pound of 4227, I'll try the load you suggest with the 4227.

Thank you for your assistance,

Dave in Oakwood, GA