What type of surplus 308 ammo to avoid!

[Wyseguy]

A few months ago I built a FAL, which is the only firearm I have in 308 cal. Mostly I've just been picking up a few boxes of 308 ammo here and there, but I'd like to buy some bulk 308. I don't reload (yet) so Berdan vs Boxer isn't a problem at the moment. I have heard that some surplus ammo should be avoided, but I don't know which or why. For all you FAL owners, is there anything I should particularly look out for (good or bad)? Thanks

[JoeC]

There is an issue when it comes to corrosive and noncorrosive ammo. Corrosive ammo should be avoided if possible because it can really mess up your gun if you don't clean it really well after every time shooting it.

Non-corrosive ammo will still dirty your gun, but it doesn't eat away at the metal if its not cleaned constantly.

So I suggest looking for non-corrosive ammo first, if you cant find it then get some corrosive, but also invest in a good cleaning kit with it.

[Black Majik]

For the most part, Indian .308 is THE ammo to avoid. Some headstamps are ok to shoot, I dunno which since I avoid it all.

[popeye4]

Over on The Firing Line, the Indian Ammo warning thread has mixed results, but it looks like 1980s and beyond manufacture Indian ammo was suspect. The Brits apparently still managed the plant in the 1970s.....

Here is a list of results I copied from one of the posts over there (from "XXIV Corps"; I don't know the gentleman's name, otherwise I'd attribute it to him) that shows what ammo might be good:

1, M118LR Lake City from 2003. Top score of 200-13X, on a SR-1 NRA standard 100 yard target, 1-20 round mag only with my NM M1A.
2, M118SB Lake City from 1985, a 199-12X.
3, Portuguese m/963 surplus from 1979, a 199-10X.
4, M852 Lake City from 1985, 198-13X.
5, Radway Green surplus from 1985, 198-9X.
6, South African surplus from 1980, 198-6X.
7, Santa Barbra surplus from 1980, 197-14X.
8, Australian MF surplus from 1966, 197-10X.
9, Argentine surplus from 1983, 197-8X.
10, Austria surplus from 1980, 197-6X.
11, Greek surplus from 1980, 197-6X.
12, German DM 41, surplus from 1960, 197-6X.
13, Singapore surplus from 1986, 196-11X.
14, Australian ADI surplus from 1988, 196-8X.
15, Radway Green surplus from 1990, 196-8X.
16, Yugoslavia surplus from 2002, 196-6X.
17, Malaysian surplus from 1983, 194-9X.
18, Lithuanian surplus from 2003, 194-6X.
19, Yugoslavia surplus from 1989, 194-2X.
20, Venezuelan surplus from 1989, 194-2X.
21, Denmark, surplus from 1993, 193-2X.
22, Chilean, surplus from 1976, 191-4X.
23, Portuguese m/963 surplus from 1978, 190-4X.
24, Austria surplus from 1978, 190-3X.
25, Belgium surplus from 1977, 189-7X.
26, South African surplus from 1981, 189-1X.
27, Indonesian surplus from 1985, 187-1X.
28, Pakistan military surplus from 1980. Score of 180-0X only.

[bohoki]

up till a couple years ago indian was only worth pulling the bullets

[Blademan21]

308 ammo to avoid

I also avoid Indian/Pakistan surplus ammo in 308. To hard to keep up with the years that are OK,so I avoid all of it. Like others have said,only worth pulling the bullets.