The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - M1 Tanker; .308 or 30-06

hammie · August 5, 2020, 09:24 AM

@Scrat: With your user name, I would have guessed that your first ammunition choice would be acorns, but apparently you have discarded that option.

I envy you. Either chambering will be fun, but if it were me, I would choose the .30-06 sprfld. I would purchase loads specifically for the M1 service rifle or hand load for the M1 service rifle. Hornady has the GI loads in their (I think) last two manuals. The original military loads are a little milder with lower velocities, and likely lower chamber pressures, and should tame the muzzle blast somewhat. Because of the potential for bent operating rods, I'm always a little leery of shooting .308's or hot commercial .30-06 in an M1. Although the tanker with a shorter operating rod might be less prone to bend, because of a lower bending moment.

August 5, 2020, 09:24 AM	#5
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 959	@Scrat: With your user name, I would have guessed that your first ammunition choice would be acorns, but apparently you have discarded that option. I envy you. Either chambering will be fun, but if it were me, I would choose the .30-06 sprfld. I would purchase loads specifically for the M1 service rifle or hand load for the M1 service rifle. Hornady has the GI loads in their (I think) last two manuals. The original military loads are a little milder with lower velocities, and likely lower chamber pressures, and should tame the muzzle blast somewhat. Because of the potential for bent operating rods, I'm always a little leery of shooting .308's or hot commercial .30-06 in an M1. Although the tanker with a shorter operating rod might be less prone to bend, because of a lower bending moment.