American Eagle Green Tip

[DaveInOroValley]

Before moving a buddy gave me a couple of boxes. I decided to load up some new MagPul magazines same as the one that came with my S&W MP15 and noticed afterwards that I had a couple of very small brass slivers in my hand.

Almost to where you can't see them with the naked eye, like an annoying cactus hair size.

Having not had this brand before just curious if anyone else had this happen. I know, weird question.

[parap1445]

Pmags use plastic followers and bodies, so probably not in the mags. Maybe there is a sharp edge on the feedlips scraping brass from the cases?

Maybe not brass, but copper from the jackets. If during loading at Federal (Am Eagle), the case mouths were not beveled, they could shave the bullet jackets a bit causing the fine hairs you're talking about. Then it's hanging onto the ammo, or maybe in the ammo box?

In general, Am Eagle is good quality and the green tip ammo might be the same as Lake City XM855 NATO ammo. If it has LC brass, probably is. Otherwise if FC brass, probably has the same SS109 bullet if green tips.

[tabascoz28]

Pics, I've seen brass flakes from my reloads from Fed, American Eagle or LC brass. It could be their reloaded brass?

[DaveInOroValley]

Pics, I've seen brass flakes from my reloads from Fed, American Eagle or LC brass. It could be their reloaded brass?

They were small enough that I doubt a camera would pick them up. They were small enough that it took a strong magnifier and tweezers to remove.

[tabascoz28]

Magnifier, then you might have your answer. I have tons of brass inside my chamber, still works. The chamber is usually pretty dirty for an AR anyway, so unless you're shooting for accuracy and minute of flea then run it. I wonder if it's something in their process that makes them "shed". I'm going to clean that chamber and run some PMC brass on my next trip. See if it's my lanolin or just LC brass.

brass.jpg

[parap1445]

I guess you didn't say whether the shavings were left over after firing or just from the act of loading them in your pmags. If left over after firing and it's a relatively new AR, most of the time the bolt lug abutments on the barrel extension have sharp edges and the 2 by the feedramp will scrape on the neck and sometimes the shoulder of ejected brass. You'll see a pair of matching lengthwise scrapes and it is very common. If sharp enough, they can scrape away brass shards.

So if you are talking about post-firing, always check your fired brass - it will usually tell you what's happening.

[DaveInOroValley]

I guess you didn't say whether the shavings were left over after firing or just from the act of loading them in your pmags. If left over after firing and it's a relatively new AR, most of the time the bolt lug abutments on the barrel extension have sharp edges and the 2 by the feedramp will scrape on the neck and sometimes the shoulder of ejected brass. You'll see a pair of matching lengthwise scrapes and it is very common. If sharp enough, they can scrape away brass shards.

So if you are talking about post-firing, always check your fired brass - it will usually tell you what's happening.

This was just from loading two brand new out of the package never used magazines and an unopened box of American Eagle.

[tabascoz28]

Don't worry, it's going to get a lot dirtier than that once you fire the gun. Maybe they are cutting costs by not wiping it down when finished, those machines are moving fast.

[parap1445]

Does it look like the cases have been scraped by the magazine? Fresh shiny lines on the brass? If not, it was from the factory and most likely the bullet jacket material being peeled when seating in a sharp, nonbeveled case mouth.