M1 Carbine Primers

azreloader · April 18, 2010, 10:11 PM

Hi, I just started reloading and I recently got my dad's M1 Carbine and M1 Garand. I was just woundering what size primer do I use when reloading a M1 Carbine. I saw somewhere that I should use small rifle primers but I wasn't sure if I needed the Military grade primers or not. Thanks.

GP100man · April 18, 2010, 10:26 PM

Small rifle are fine , military primers are a little thicker & require a positive pin strike, mostly reserved for fully atomatic firearms as to hopefully avoid a chain fire event!!

Sevens · April 18, 2010, 10:45 PM

Welcome. Just wanted to say that loading .30 Carbine ammo is kind of not the nicest round on earth to reload. It looks like a pistol caliber but at the bench, it acts very much like a rifle caliber.

You need to use lube when you size these cases or you will get one stuck in your sizing die. Also, the case is prone to stretching and you need to be quite careful when you trim. If it's too long and you don't trim, it won't chamber and go fully in to battery. And if you happen to trim it too short, it won't head space properly and you may get horribly light primers strikes -- or no primer hit at all.

I launch mine from a Ruger Blackhawk, and I prefer Alliant 2400 for this one, and I use standard non-mag small rifle primers. It's a hot round and it works around a rifle primer, so stick with them and don't use pistol primers.

hammie · April 18, 2010, 11:14 PM

The case is tapered, and occcasionally I've had a problem with the bullet falling back into the case. What I do is chamfer the inside mouth of the case real well, and, if it is possible, seat the bullet without neck expanding in order to get a tight gip on the bullet. If the mouth is out of round, just lightly kissing the cartridge with the expander will facilitate seating the bullet. don't let any of this discourage you. The 30 US carbine is actually pretty easy and economical to reload and is very pleasant shooting. Oh,...the case capacity is so small, that I've never had any problem with standard small rifle primers igniting any of the ball powders such as WW 296, or H 110.

w748 · April 18, 2010, 11:59 PM

I use any std small rifle primer I have handy , have never seen any difference over the chrono with ww296.

medalguy · April 19, 2010, 12:41 AM

Sevens was right, trimming is very important with this round. Trim every time you reload, or at least check the length. There is a very narrow range of lengths that will function well.

azreloader · April 19, 2010, 10:28 AM

Just wanted to thank everyone who responded to my post about the M1 primers. I got a lot of good info out of it. I'm looking forward to a long time of reloading, and to gaining as much info as I can from everyone on the firingline. Thx!

April 18, 2010, 10:11 PM	#1
azreloader Junior Member Join Date: April 18, 2010 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 5	M1 Carbine Primers Hi, I just started reloading and I recently got my dad's M1 Carbine and M1 Garand. I was just woundering what size primer do I use when reloading a M1 Carbine. I saw somewhere that I should use small rifle primers but I wasn't sure if I needed the Military grade primers or not. Thanks.

April 18, 2010, 10:45 PM	#3
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,775	Welcome. Just wanted to say that loading .30 Carbine ammo is kind of not the nicest round on earth to reload. It looks like a pistol caliber but at the bench, it acts very much like a rifle caliber. You need to use lube when you size these cases or you will get one stuck in your sizing die. Also, the case is prone to stretching and you need to be quite careful when you trim. If it's too long and you don't trim, it won't chamber and go fully in to battery. And if you happen to trim it too short, it won't head space properly and you may get horribly light primers strikes -- or no primer hit at all. I launch mine from a Ruger Blackhawk, and I prefer Alliant 2400 for this one, and I use standard non-mag small rifle primers. It's a hot round and it works around a rifle primer, so stick with them and don't use pistol primers. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

April 18, 2010, 11:14 PM	#4
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 979	The case is tapered, and occcasionally I've had a problem with the bullet falling back into the case. What I do is chamfer the inside mouth of the case real well, and, if it is possible, seat the bullet without neck expanding in order to get a tight gip on the bullet. If the mouth is out of round, just lightly kissing the cartridge with the expander will facilitate seating the bullet. don't let any of this discourage you. The 30 US carbine is actually pretty easy and economical to reload and is very pleasant shooting. Oh,...the case capacity is so small, that I've never had any problem with standard small rifle primers igniting any of the ball powders such as WW 296, or H 110. Last edited by hammie; April 18, 2010 at 11:21 PM.

April 19, 2010, 10:28 AM	#7
azreloader Junior Member Join Date: April 18, 2010 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 5	Thanks Just wanted to thank everyone who responded to my post about the M1 primers. I got a lot of good info out of it. I'm looking forward to a long time of reloading, and to gaining as much info as I can from everyone on the firingline. Thx!

April 18, 2010, 10:26 PM	#2
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Small rifle are fine , military primers are a little thicker & require a positive pin strike, mostly reserved for fully atomatic firearms as to hopefully avoid a chain fire event!!

April 18, 2010, 11:59 PM	#5
w748 Member Join Date: February 19, 2008 Location: High in the Rockies Posts: 89	I use any std small rifle primer I have handy , have never seen any difference over the chrono with ww296.

April 19, 2010, 12:41 AM	#6
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,033	Sevens was right, trimming is very important with this round. Trim every time you reload, or at least check the length. There is a very narrow range of lengths that will function well.