WWI/WWII 30.06 ammo sourcing.

[OutdoorDad]

I have a few 1903's that I inherited several years ago.

Would love to get them out on the range with appropriate ammunition.

Anyone have a source for factory built, age/pressure appropriate ammo?

 

[rosejm]

Are you looking for vintage rounds?

Or simply something safe to fire in a good condition Model 1903?

 

[Leadeye]

I make mine with 3031 powder and 150-165 grain bullets. Works quite well in the 03, BAR or the Garand.

 

[Cldedhnds]

I’ve purchased this when the price was better for a Garand but.....pressures loaded with older weapons considered.


https://www.sgammo.com/product/30-0...150-grain-prvi-partizan-m1-garand-ammo-pp3006

 

[TJ Kackowski]

The Prvi Partizan M1 Garand Ammo (PP3006GMC) cited above is newly made, high quality, factory ammo that's loaded to the proper specs to keep these old war horses running.

Others make a similar M2 ball load ... Sellier & Bellot (SB3006M2A), Federal American Eagle (AE3003M1), and Hornady Match (81171) to name a few. However, (when available) Prvi always seems to be the most economical.

At the moment, SGAmmo has some surplus 30-06 in stock ... https://www.sgammo.com/product/30-0...o-linked-1919-machine-gun-made-men-germany-19

some Hornady Match ... https://www.sgammo.com/product/horn...garand-168-grain-hornady-eld-match-ammo-81171

and even some tracer rounds (if you have a range that allows this type of ammo) ... (400 rds) https://www.sgammo.com/product/30-0...0-06-usgi-mixed-mfg-1950s-surplus-tracer-ammo ... (100 rds) https://www.sgammo.com/product/30-0...0-06-usgi-mixed-mfg-1950s-surplus-tracer-ammo

The only other option is to do as Leadeye suggests ... roll your own.

 

[jinks]

I have a few 1903's that I inherited several years ago.

Would love to get them out on the range with appropriate ammunition.

Anyone have a source for factory built, age/pressure appropriate ammo?

I sent you a PM about some surplus 30-06.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

The Prvi Partizan M1 Garand Ammo (PP3006GMC) cited above is newly made, high quality, factory ammo that's loaded to the proper specs to keep these old war horses running.

Others make a similar M2 ball load ... Sellier & Bellot (SB3006M2A), Federal American Eagle (AE3003M1), and Hornady Match (81171) to name a few. However, (when available) Prvi always seems to be the most economical.

At the moment, SGAmmo has some surplus 30-06 in stock ... https://www.sgammo.com/product/30-0...o-linked-1919-machine-gun-made-men-germany-19

some Hornady Match ... https://www.sgammo.com/product/horn...garand-168-grain-hornady-eld-match-ammo-81171

and even some tracer rounds (if you have a range that allows this type of ammo) ... (400 rds) https://www.sgammo.com/product/30-0...0-06-usgi-mixed-mfg-1950s-surplus-tracer-ammo ... (100 rds) https://www.sgammo.com/product/30-0...0-06-usgi-mixed-mfg-1950s-surplus-tracer-ammo

The only other option is to do as Leadeye suggests ... roll your own.

I've used the German (MEN) 7.62 NATO ammo before and it's good stuff. It's non-corrosive, but it is Berdan primed, so it's not reloadable.

 

[led4thehed2]

+1 for the prior suggestions of S&B and Prvi M2 spec ammo.

M1906 ammo spec was 150 gr. Bullet at 2,700 fps at the muzzle - that's over 100 fps slower than M2 spec.

If you want to roll your own, 47.4 gr IMR 4064 is very accurate in my M1903, and is spec'd at 2700 fps.

 

[Greffy]

IMO, WW1 ammunition, yes you probably could find some that is shootable but it is a coin flip on getting ammo that's safe to shoot vs damaging your weapon or possibly yourself. WW1 stuff would be best just to have for display, my opinion.
You can easily find the specifications and load your own duplicates, and like others have posted, there are lots of ready made commercial products. WW2 ammunition os probably a better bet for shooting the vintage stuff safely. Still a fair amount of caution
in shooting it would be a good way to go with it.