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Mr. Graham:
Most of the U.S. grunts in WWII, according to my fairly reliable sources (including 1960s published reports) were issued 100% AP bulleted enblock clips, most of the time.
Seems the reason was from two factors: the combination of steel for a large portion of the core (cheaper material than fully lead cores);
and a military doctrine/experience calling for an ability to disable vehicles and light-armor targets.
The non-BTs were probably .30-06 M2 Ball, which have a less ballistically efficient shape than the 7.62mm 147-gr BT. The channelure on the 150-gr M2 also results in too-long rounds if loaded in 7.72 cases.
Accuracy: I can always get 3 MOA out of the US (NOT any foreign stuff) ball bullets, whether pulled or shiny-new. With M72/Match (same non-channelure bullet used in both .30-06 and 7.62), I can always get 2 MOA or better. This is from a US military semiauto design. I've seen many reports of 3/4 to 1 MOA performance from these, out of bolt guns with various degrees of "match" dimensions in chamber and bore.
There was no true "National Match" or NM ammo made with 147-gr FMJBTs. Some selected lots of .30-06 150-gr M2 Ball were issued at Camp Perry's National Matches in distant years past, but this ammp was identified by post-facto testing, not special production.
Does anyone know if any other country devoted similar efforts toward making match-grade ammo available to their military units? It would be interesting to know how they fared, compared to the U.S....
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