On 28 August 2004 at English Range, Fort Benning, Georgia, an incident occurred with the use of the Korean produced M2 Ball, Lot PS-2-158 in a Remington Manufactured US Rifle, M1903.  After several successful firings with US Lake City produced M2 Ball through this weapon, a switch was made to the Korean Produced M2 Ball ammunition.   When the second PS-75 round was fired, the case ruptured (split), causing hot gases and brass fragments to be thrown back into the face of the shooter.  The shooter came a way with a bloody face that looked much worse than it actually was.  Several brass fragments hit his face causing many tiny cuts.  There were also some minor flash burns from the hot gasses.  Fortunately this shooter was wearing safety lenses and received no fragments in his eyes.  23 nicks were counted in the lenses of his glasses caused by brass fragments.

For those among you who may be more inclined to worry about the Rifle than the shooter, be advised that the US M1903 Rifle came away also unscathed save for the first inch of the weapon's bolt having been instantly brass coated.  This was easily wiped off.  No mechanical problems were observed.

 

 

Remington M1903     A Great Weapon!

Almost Liquefied Brass Coating

Almost Liquefied Brass Coating Wiped off with a rag

 

Reported Problems with Korean PS 75 M2 .30 Cal Ball (.30/06) By Lot Number

PS 2-027 (couple of positive reports - one report of one dud out of 400 rounds fired)  PS 2-033 (one report of unspecified problem and one report that 400 rds shot OK)  PS 2-035 PS 2-053 (one positive report on about 400 rounds fired)  PS 2-083 (one positive report based on less than 200 rounds fired)  PS 2-088  PS 2-089 (two positive reports based on 280 rounds fired)  PS 2-090  PS 2-093  PS 2-094  PS 2-096 (some black corrosion, otherwise positive report on very few rounds fired)  PS 2-097  PS 2-098  PS 2-100  PS 2-101  PS 2-102 (one positive report based on 200 rounds fired)  PS 2-103  PS 2-104 (two positive reports based on a few hundred rounds)  PS 2-105 (one positive report based on a few hundred rounds)  PS 2-106  PS 2-108  PS 2-122  PS 2-123 (report of one dud round out of 400 rounds fired)  PS 2-124  PS 2-127  PS 2-128  PS 2-134  PS 2-135  PS 2-138  PS 2-142  PS 2-144  PS 2-145  PS 2-146 (one positive report- number of rounds fired not reported) PS 2-147  PS 2-148  PS 2-149  PS 2-150 PS 2-151 (maybe OK - based on VERY limited information) PS 2-152 (VERY BAD - DANGER - numerous reports of ruptured heads!)  PS 2-153 (VERY BAD - DANGER - Nasty split cases...all the way to the head of the case)

PS 2-154 (VERY BAD - DANGER - multiple negative reports splits and ruptured head)  PS 2-155 (VERY BAD - DANGER - multiple negative reports splits and ruptured head - One report of three unfired cracked cases found in personal lot)  PS 2-156 (BAD - multiple reports of serious splits)  PS 2-157  PS 2-158 (VERY BAD - DANGER - Nasty split cases...all the way to the head of the case)  PS 2-159 (one positive report based on 400 rounds fired)  PS-2-160 (one positive report of 300 rounds fired with no problems PS 2-161 (reports of leaking primers, one blown)  PS 2-162  one positive report 100 rounds fired) PS 2-165 (One report of over 2,000 round fired with no problems. – multiple reports of leaking primers and one report of serious split case from mid-case into head, but not through rim)  PS 2-169  PS 2-171 (one negative report of blown primers)  PS 2-172 (one positive report based on approximately 200 rounds fired)  PS 2-173  PS 2-174 (one positive report based on 200 rounds fired)  PS 2-177  PS 2-179 PS 2-180 (Positive report - one misfire in 400 rounds)  PS 2-181  PS 2-183  PS 2-184  PS 2-185 (one report of blown primer and one unspecified negative report)  PS 2-186  PS 2-187  PS 2-189 (one positive report)  PS 2-192  PS 2-193 (some of this lot badly corroded, otherwise positive reports)  PS 2-194  PS 2-195  PS 2-198 PS 2-199 (one report of 60 rounds fired, one blown primer) PS-2-200 PS 2-202  PS 2-204 (one positive report- number of rounds fired not reported) PS 2-205

 

Problems with Cal .30/06, KA, M2 Korean Ball

KA-73, Lot KA 282  (One Report.  Numerous bullets were crooked in the cases and some bent the necks).  KA-73, Lot  KA 329  (One Report.  Numerous bullets were crooked in the cases and some bent the necks).    PHOTO AT RIGHT:   Top and Center are KA-73 with with crooked bullets.  BOTTOM photo is a HXP with properly seated bullet, used for comparison. KA-??, Lot KA-473  (One report) Seven misfires.Out of 96 rounds fired
KA-77, Lot KA-462  One Report.  Severe case splits. Headstamp KA-77, Lot KA-462 This was fired in an IHC M1 Garand. The bolt was jammed closed in battery.  A large piece of wood was used to strike the op rod handle to to get the bolt open.  No damage to the rifle or shooter occurred.