Help Please, Ball .30 AN-M2 ammo

Marlin 1888 · Mar 16, 2009

I have a box of .30 AN-M2 Ball ammunition from Western Cartridge Co.
I believe it is for use in aviation machine guns with light barrels.
I would like to know how this ammo differs from regular M2 Ball.

graydog · Mar 24, 2009

I've got some of that as well as M-1.
Some where in my dusty stacks is an explanation of the M-1/M-2 upgrade.I'll let you know if or when I find it.

Marlin 1888 · Mar 24, 2009

I will appreciate any information you have. Thanks, Bruce

graydog · Mar 24, 2009

Quote from American Rifleman Magazine July 1963
"During World War II,many U.S.Army and Navy items were standardized with the same official names.Such items had the letters AN(Army-Navy)along with the usual name.
The cal. .30 AN-M2 ball cartridge is the same as the regular .30-'06 M-2 ball cartridge,and it is adapted to any weapon that will safely fire the regular .30-'06 cartridge."
As you may already be aware,the cal. .30M1 was developed after WWI to enhance effective range of machine guns but was too hot(172 gr.@2700fps) for the M-1 Garand.
The cal.M-2 is some what milder w/150 grain bullet,better for the Garand,and was the standard from WWII on.