Turkish ammo not for gas gun ?

[OZ]

I know that the Turks 8mm ammo is corrosive and loaded hotter than many other 8mm surplus out there. Someone on the C&R list said that it is not a good idea to shoot the Turks on a gas gun.

I have an Egyptian FN49 in 8mm, since I am out of the Yugo surplus, I started shooting Turks. The FN49 has an adjustable gas system like the FAL. So I have to readjust my gas port sleeve for the Turk. It took more than a full revolution to open the gas bleed to get the Turk cycle just right. So no doubt that this ammo is much hotter than the Yugo.

You can combat the corrosiveness of this ammo with a good cleaning procedure, but is there any other reason for not shooting the Turk out of an FN49 ?

[avanarts]

If it cycles the gun and doesn't break anything, why not. If it gives acceptable accuracy, all the better. The stuff is just the dirtiest ammo that I have seen. If you don't mind the cleaning afterward, go for it.

I have a friend who cleans his guns with soap and water, just like with black powder, after using the Turkish 8mm.

[OZ]

I always use either Windex with ammonia, or the old GI Bore Cleaner that was meant to clean corrosive ammo. I also clean the rifle immediately after shooting (sometimes the barrel was still warm when the Windex-wet patch went in there). After good soaking with Windex or GI BC, and let it works for a few minutes, I ran dry patches till dry, then I proceed with a regular cleaning procedure using Hoppe's BR etc. I do this to the bolt, barrel, gas tube, and piston each and everytime I shoot the Turk.

The Yugo is also corrosive, and I have shot hundreds of rounds thru my FN49. Using the above cleaning method, I have been able to keep rust from forming all these times.

[panzer]

BALLISTOL mixed with water does wonders on corrosive salts and residues. cleans normal stuff well too. ;)

[OZ]

Panzer, I've heard about Ballistol. Where can you buy it ? Why do you mix ballistol with water ? Is there any harm for using 100% ballistol for cleaning corrosive ammo ? I hear it is good for leather conditioning too.

oz

[DABTL]

Turk is fine but remember the silver bullets are MG ammo. A lot hotter.

I shoot it in my Hakim all the time. Works fine.

[fresca]

Try www.Ballistol.com (http://www.Ballistol.com)
I like the stuff, I am curious about mixing it with water, never tried that. I clean just about everything with it. They even claim you can put it on plants to keep bugs away. It is very "environment friendly" and it is non-toxic. I do know of someone who tasted some of it, he instantly vomited, but it did not hurt him (I do not know why you would do that).
Whatever you clean, and the room you were in will smell like mint candy for a day. I guess that beats memory loss and headaches from petroleum cleaners. :rolleyes:

[idsubgun]

Originally posted by fresca:
<STRONG>I do know of someone who tasted some of it, he instantly vomited, but it did not hurt him (I do not know why you would do that).</STRONG>

Wasn't that Mark Powell? :D

Rumor has it that he eats it on his Wheaties for breakfast! :eek:


Disclaimer: Mark really doesn't eat it and I'm not suggesting in any way, that you should eat it on your Wheaties.

[Derby FALs]

When it is mixed with water it is one of the best black powder cleaners going. And you know how corrosive that is. ;)

[OZ]

I heard that Ballistol is made out of coal. It is not petroleum based.

Minty smell ?? Hey, I can use a better smelling cleaner.

Thanks for the Ballistol link.

BTW, what is the best ballistol:water composition for cleaning corrosive stuff ??

Oz

[Skilter]

From what I understand, the Turkish 8mm (and certain types of old German ammo) fires a heavier projectile and is thus loaded hotter but with the same standard 8mm brass. This is not a problem and can actually be desireable in a bolt action for which the Turkish ammo was designed. However, in gas operated weapons where the headspace is designed for certain pressures, the heavier grain and load of the Turkish cartridge can have adverse consequences.

I have heard of serveral case failures in semi-auto's and i have even seen it cause at least 1 FTE per 100 rounds in a 1919A4 where it eventually had a case failure damaging the top cover of the 1919A4 so badly that it had to be replaced!

Bolt Action = Turkish 8mm OK (but corrosive)
Semi = use at your own risk!

[Mad Dog 7.62]

I have a bunch of the Turk, and decided to order some of the Ecudorian stuff to shoot in the 49. It's almost as cheap, still corrosive, but I guess not as hot, dirty or erratic as the Turk.

[7idl]

Originally posted by DABTL
Turk is fine but remember the silver bullets are MG ammo. A lot hotter.....


Well, I'm sure everyone has pretty much heard that the Turk stuff is hotter, but someone please explain why MG ammo ("silver bullets") come on 5 round stripper clips in a 70 round bandolier. :confused:

[Wadman]

Is Turk ammo "hotter" as in High Pressure? Or is it hotter because of its muzzle velocity?

The Turk ammo I tested was a 1949 batch that came in the 70 round cloth bandoliers (20 bandoliers to a crate). It clocked about 2880 fps from a 23.4" barrel. But the projectiles are only 154 grains, not 196-198 grains. To me, firing the lighter bullet from a boltgun wasn't unduly rough. Firing 198 grain Egyptian and Portugese was a lot more vigorous even from the gas operated FN-49.

===============================================

I thought the silvery color meant the bullets are nickel plated. I have some silvery colored 7mm Mauser ammo that comes in 50 round boxes. Does that mean it's MG ammo? I'm thinkin' no.

http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/Wadman2/8mm_Mauser.jpg
These are both 8mm projectiles. The larger bullet on the left was pulled from an Egyptian round. The shorter one on the right was pulled from the 1949 Turkish round.

[Wadman]

Originally posted by Skilter
I have heard of serveral case failures in semi-auto's and i have even seen it cause at least 1 FTE per 100 rounds in a 1919A4 where it eventually had a case failure damaging the top cover of the 1919A4 so badly that it had to be replaced!


You heard of someone firing 8mm Mauser ammo through a 1919A4 Browning machinegun?

[Skilter]

Yes... there are quite a few kits with barrels that allow you to fire 8mm in a 1919 BMG. Here is a link to Gulf Coast Armory. They have a video of one about the bottom of the page.

http://www.gulfcoastarmory.com/mgvids.html

[Skilter]

Oh also... it seems that 1947 was a particulary bad year based on some of the posts I have seen.

[Wadman]

Pretty cool vids of the full-auto stuff. I wouldn't think Turk 8mm is advisable in a converted 1919A4 but not because it's too hot but rather because it's poorly assembled. The lot I have shows bullet runout that's visible to the naked eye. Also, the bullets aren't exactly seated securely. I disassembled one with just my fingers; no need for a kinetic bullet puller. Others have reported good results but I've had a dud rate of about 1 in 30.

[m1shooter]

From what I gather the problem with turk ammo in auto guns is the burn rate of the powder. Its a slower burning powder and isn't finished burning when round ejected thus the bad case blow outs. I found this discussion on 1919A4 board and this seems to be the general concensus. ok for bolts only.

[m1shooter]

http://1919a4.com/cgi-bin/noncgi/Forum1/HTML/001048.html
try this thread