AP Bullet Components

[nrakid88]

I want to buy some .30 Armor piercing bullets. Preferrably 180 grain, and then load them up myself with a press. Anyone know where i can buy the bullets only? As in not ammunition just the bullet? And anyone have any source of information on AP ammo?

[Mssr. Eleganté]

Polygunbag and Pat's Reloading both used to carry the surplus M61 style AP projectiles, but they don't show them as available anymore. I haven't seen them anywhere else in a long time. You might try calling Polygunbag to see if he has a few left that aren't worth listing on his site.

The M61 projectiles are only 150gr, since they were used in 7.62 NATO ammo. The earlier 30-06 AP projectiles were around 165gr, but they are very hard to find now. You won't find any surplus 180 grain AP projectiles with a .308 diameter.

[CHS]

You won't find any surplus 180 grain AP projectiles with a .308 diameter.

To the OP, realize that AP bullets generally use a hardened steel core with little to no lead in the bullet. Naturally, they are going to be lighter in weight than a copper-jacketed lead bullet. 180gr would be a very long .30cal bullet due to the weight of steel.

AP bullets work because of their velocity and the materials they are made of. NOT their weight.

[westcoastr]

gunbroker usually has someone selling AP projectiles. be wary of fakes with black painted tips

[nrakid88]

I thought it had to do with the hardness of the materials and the kinetic energy, which doesn't equal velocity but is relative to velocity and mass of the projectile, and being hard just keeps it a .30 projectile so it wont mushroom and loose its penetration powers. But good point on the steel round not being able to feed if it was 180 grains. I wonder why no one is producing these anymore? Seems pretty dumb no one would jump on a market that has no other manufacturers supplying it.

[CHS]

I thought it had to do with the hardness of the materials and the kinetic energy

That's basically what I said, in a different way.

I wonder why no one is producing these anymore?

Because they're a novelty. No one really cares all that much. People don't like shooting THROUGH metal plates, they like shooting AT metal plates. AP bullets are designed to fulfill a few very specific military needs that don't reflect anything that anyone on the civilian market does.

I'm not saying civilians shouldn't have them, I'm just saying that outside of novelty value, civilians don't need to or don't want to use them. Hence, the market is very very small.

[westcoastr]

an AP 150 grain pill isn't going to have an appreciable different velocity than a standard round. thus they will have roughly the same kinetic energy, which is a function of mass and velocity (i.e. 150 grains and 2800 f/s +/-). a 150 grain piece of watermelon traveling at 2800 f/s will have the same KE as these bullets (if it were possible!).

so a higher KE isn't why they are AP. the AP rounds will have a hardened steel penetrator inside, 80ish grains i believe. this core will better resist the armor's effort to break up the pill into little pieces and prevent it from penetrating.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

Pats Reloading has 147gr AP's listed:

308 147 AP projectiles, 500-$124.99, 1000-$239.99,

[CSACANNONEER]

That's a heck of a lot cheaper than the gunbroker whores are asking.

[nrakid88]

Will these 147 grain 308 AP rounds increase barrel wear?

[CSDGuy]

No, they typically won't. They're usually some kind of copper-clad steel penetrator. All the barrel "sees" is the copper. Therefore, you won't see any more wear than a regular copper-clad bullet.

[Utha Schleigle]

Many AP bullets have a hard lead wrapper then the jacket. I think standard barrel wear.

More modern ones would have a thicker jacket only and the steel AP projectile. I would think higher barrel wear and cup pressure.

When bought my pump action Romanian 7.62x39, I was warned that shooting steel ammo would make it harder to operate and extract. Same casings must be differant relation ship between projectile hardness and pressure.

If you were to load these rounds up, I would be carefull not to overload the powder or try to get the bullet micro close to the lands. For a super maggium target load AP with no hard lead wrapper - could spell danger or high wear - fast barrel burnout.

If you are thinking target-match grade AP rounds you might as well look into the TEFFLON paint for tipps only. Won't even ask why-venue-target-distance. GOOD LUCK Have funn.

Most bullet vendors show a cross section of bullet.

[OptionX3]

Have you shot 1/3" thick Mild steels with 308's? I've seen 308's blow through so many things, I don't even want to know what AP bullets can do.
Here's an example ~200yrds, typical .308cal 147gr FMJ vs .223cal 55gr

[Utha Schleigle]

Love the pictures. Even if you hiding behind a water heater - OUCHIE!!!!

I would use powedered telfon lube powder and clear nail polish.

If the only the steel core part you want. Take a strong magnet to your local gun show and test the surplus ammo. Best part is magnetic Baude = price low. Assuume corrosive.

What I love about the Chinese is that they will anyone anythang to get your money or be allowed to import. I can hear the chinese broaker now - "NO NO, not AP - biemetal - no lead good for BAMBY. NO NO not hardened steel core - GOOD bullets - nice price. Sportman's Bullet - NO PROBLEM". Paperwork sighed Imported. Milk Malamien (example). I have some NORICO .308 I bought long ago and it is magnetic as hell. Any surplus ammo - magnetic is what you are probably looking for.

Even a Modern "Bi" Metal projectile will be different than heavy hardened lead.

Also sniff around eastern block projectiles. Bulgarians made some 7.62x54R silver and gold tip bullets that would do the jobb. Some where there might be some surplus or preemo projectiles for sale.

[Timberland]

When bought my pump action Romanian 7.62x39, I was warned that shooting steel ammo would make it harder to operate and extract. Same casings must be differant relation ship between projectile hardness and pressure.

What? They were refering to the case being steel not the round, and do you really trust gun store advice?

If you are thinking target-match grade AP rounds you might as well look into the TEFFLON paint for tipps only. Won't even ask why-venue-target-distance. GOOD LUCK Have funn.

By tefflon do you mean MOLLY coat, or some kind of gimmic black paint, advertised in random gun rags? Either one will not be AP, and wont do what you are thinking.