7.62x51 MilSurp: which is copper jacketed?

[ksuguy]

The local indoor range here does not allow steel jacketed ammo. They say it damages the backstop and they check it with a magnet before you go in. Therefore I need to find some copper jacketed to use in my FAL as soon as I get it done.

I checked some Malaysian, Hirtenberger, Portugese, and Singapore that I had. Only the Singapore passed the magnet test. What others out there are coppper jacketed, and where can I get them? Is South African copper? I've seen some decent prices on that.

[ August 10, 2001: Message edited by: EMDII ]

[stargazer]

I just tried the magnet on some South Afican, ALL COPPER! I was suprised to find out the Port is steel. It is so accurate through these Fal's! Now I will not feel bad shooting steel cased ammo like Barnaul's or the upcoming Wolf Brand if it happens to be steel too. There's been a lot of Port put through these Fal's and they continue to shoot tight groups. Must not harm it.

[Mr pogo]

Radway Green is non-steel.

[EMDII]

Nearly ALL the surplus is copper (gilding metal) jacketed. The trick is that much of the third-world stuff is steel-cored.

The Belgians convinced the British to NOT use steel cores in the early 7.62x51mm ammunition trials as they 'did not contribute to accuracy', and were harder on the rifle.

[Grinder]

Let's keep steel jacket, steel case, and steel core separated. They are all different.
Israeli and Spanish are also copper jacket.

[ July 07, 2001: Message edited by: Grinder ]

[EMDII]

VERY little ammunition is STEEL-jacketed. I don't really know ANY small arms ammo that is, but I don't surf ammunition much. Lots of stuff is steel-cored (MS means mild-steel). LOTS of Russian and ex-ComBloc countries use steel cases.

MOST small-arms (especially off-shore stuff) is MS-cored, because it is easier to manufacture, and lead is a strategic metal. As grinder says, let's make sure ksuguy's range owner is checking steel cores, not steel cases or jackets.

Some humor-
Cowboy analytical chemist w/ six shooter (http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/media/strangematter/Sb.gif)

[J MOSBY]

Wolf, Hirtenberger, Portuguese and Malaysian , at least what I have is DEFINITLY steel jacketed lead core. Of course Wolf is also steel cased.

[Mr pogo]

Having shot at indoor ranges that allow rifles, all of them ban any ammo with steel in the bullet, jacket or core. If it fails the magnet test, it fails period.

[ksuguy]

Exactly Mr. Pogo. It doesn't matter to them if it is steel jacketed or steel cored. Anything that sticks is forbidden. The case does not matter. I bought some copper jacketed wolf that comes in a yellow box for my AK and that checked out all right. It's just the stuff in the projectile.

Anyone know of anyplace selling Singapore right now? I bought mine off a guy at the gunshow about a month ago. I wish I would have had more money so I could have got a case instead of a box. He had good prices on just about everything.

[EMDII]

Originally posted by J MOSBY:
<STRONG>Wolf, Hirtenberger, Portuguese and Malaysian , at least what I have is DEFINITLY steel jacketed lead core. Of course Wolf is also steel cased.</STRONG>

Steel jacketed? Did you section it to determine this?

FWIW:
Hirtenberger, Malaysian, and FNM (Portuguese) are copper gilding metal jackets. They are however, magnetic, indicating a steel core.

Most Russian is copper-washed steel jacket, in addition to the lacquered steel case.
Most.

[ July 07, 2001: Message edited by: EMDII ]

[Tupperware]

I have seen Hirtenberger both ways. The stuff with green lacquer sealer on the primers is magnetic and the red lacquered primers are not magnetic.

[EMDII]

Good update!

I wonder if the FNM is the same? My FNM- magnetic- has green sealant.

[Dano]

The Hirt I have has a 79 headstamp. I pulled one of the rounds and sectioned the bullet. It is a copper washed steel-jacket bullet with a lead core.

[EMDII]

VERY interesting! Did you melt out the lead? I'm curious as to how much this jacket weighs.

Damn, and I thought I'd learned enough today! Good job, Dano! Now I'm going to figure out how to section a bunch of this stuff.

WECSOG, anyone!?

[J MOSBY]

I just cut it apart with a grinder. After removing it from the case. I did not melt the lead but it is soft and cuts with a knife.

[ July 07, 2001: Message edited by: J MOSBY ]

[Grinder]

EMDII, any 7.62X51 with a steel core is not importable because of AP ammo regulations.
Many 7.62X51 ammo manufactures outside of US used mild steel jackets as J MOSBY said. Copper is not very common as in the US. Most AP is black tipped (Israeli and US).

[mikusctc]

ksuguy....www.dansammo.com has some singapore at 139/1000 and free s/h east of the mississippi..hope it helps

[ksuguy]

Thanks, too bad I am west of the mississippi. :mad:

I'll see about ordering some if I don't see any at the next gun show.

[70 SS 454]

I have several year samples of WCC headstamp and it is ALL magnetic??

thats the last ammo i THOUGHT would be..

why is winchester magnetic?
steel core or steel jacket??

[KeythL]

I just visited the site mentioned above(Dan's Ammo) to check out current prices. The site shows almost every 5.56 Nato, 7.62X39, and 7.62X51 offering as being temporarily out of stock. It's pathetic how people react to world events. As if the Taliban(or Anarchy itself)will be laying siege to their neighborhoods in the weeks to come.

Keyth
:rolleyes:

BTW: SOG has a a good deal on Hint ($149.75/1000) I guess it's steel jacketed/or cored though. Can you find an outdoor range?

[ October 25, 2001: Message edited by: KeythL ]