Beware Steel Jacketed Ammo

[ontargetrange]

[GeoffLinder]

The US Army has been manufacturing 30-06 and 7.62 ammo with bimetal steel/copper jacketing for over 40 years.

It has been proven in military ordnance tests that this does not damage barrels and only increases the wear rate by about 10-15 % in stainless barrels and not at all in chrome lined barrels.

Frankford Arsenal ran a test many moons ago on barrel wear with copper versus bi-metal jacketing and they found there was no difference whatsoever.

This testing was done with US military mfgr. bi-metal jacket ammo with a .008 copper wash thickness over the steel jacket.

Barrels (stainless) are tool steel grade and have a 675 Brinnel hardness rating. Copper jacket has a 35 Brinnel hardness and mild steel jacketing has a 130 Brinnel hardness factor. The bi-metal jacketing would need to have a hardness rating up near 400-500 to cause any actual barrel damage.

IMHO, this is nothing to worry about especially if you have a chrome lined barrel.

[paul0660]

Even once is too many times.

Man I am screwed.

[joelogic]

True or not.
10K rounds of Wolf $2000
10K rounds of PMC $3000

For 1k you could buy 2 JP barrels or 5.5 off the rack barrels. Sounds like you are coming from a good place but seems unwarranted.

[gunboat]

I expect powder erosion will kill the throat before steel jacket kills the bore.

[rsrocket1]

Wow, look at all that lead. I'm drooling.

Sorry, just took up casting.

[Sanderhawk]

Sure would like to have that pile in my garage.

[bumpo628]

That pile of lead is all I can think of too. I could take that load of toxic waste off the OP's hands and dispose of it properly.

[paul0660]

That pile of lead is all I can think of too. I could take that load of toxic waste off the OP's hands and dispose of it properly.

Oh, gets disposed of and paid for.

Ukiah Gun Club did the trap range last year. 100,000 lbs of lead mined off the hillside.

[rg1]

Why don't you allow 50 BMG? Sounds like the range would rather have just copper and lead for higher recycling profits. I too have read several articles stating that there is no adverse effects shooting copper coated steel jackets. The only ones I shoot are M2 150fmj-fb military surplus in my Garands.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

Have you seen what can happen when you confine explosives inside of an expensive machined steel device and then detonate the explosives? It's not pretty. But still, some people insist on using powder and primers in their ammo.

A guy at my local range was telling me he gave away a whole case of Portuguese surplus 7.62 NATO when he found out it had steel jacket projectiles. He didn't want to wear out the barrel of his new M1A. He said he was only going to shoot American Eagle commercial ammo from then on. This was at a time when...

a case of American Eagle 7.62x51 was $500
a case of Portuguese surplus was $169
a new M1A barrel was $300

[ontargetrange]

Please note that none of the rounds pictured are 30-06.

I am showing steel casing on 45acp, 9mm, and 223 rounds. The steel was just flash coated with copper, not a bimetal shell at all. I have seen and shot bimetal for years in my Garand.

That pile of lead is from just 3 months of shooting. It is sold to be recycled into fishing sinkers. If you have done any saltwater fishing here in CA you most likly have used some of my lead.

[problemchild]

The US Army has been manufacturing 30-06 and 7.62 ammo with bimetal steel/copper jacketing for over 40 years.

It has been proven in military ordnance tests that this does not damage barrels and only increases the wear rate by about 10-15 % in stainless barrels and not at all in chrome lined barrels.

Frankford Arsenal ran a test many moons ago on barrel wear with copper versus bi-metal jacketing and they found there was no difference whatsoever.

This testing was done with US military mfgr. bi-metal jacket ammo with a .008 copper wash thickness over the steel jacket.

Barrels (stainless) are tool steel grade and have a 675 Brinnel hardness rating. Copper jacket has a 35 Brinnel hardness and mild steel jacketing has a 130 Brinnel hardness factor. The bi-metal jacketing would need to have a hardness rating up near 400-500 to cause any actual barrel damage.

IMHO, this is nothing to worry about especially if you have a chrome lined barrel.

X2

Weideners sells the lake city round that have the copper flashed steel jackets.

I talked to LMT and they said 10% extra wear.

[ontargetrange]

The US Army has been manufacturing 30-06 and 7.62 ammo with bimetal steel/copper jacketing for over 40 years.

It has been proven in military ordnance tests that this does not damage barrels and only increases the wear rate by about 10-15 % in stainless barrels and not at all in chrome lined barrels..

What is the anmount of time and number of rounds fired? Any wear in addition to normal wear needs to be a qualified number. Is it furlongs per fortnight or after 2000 rounds you have 80% of your barrel left?

This testing was done with US military mfgr. bi-metal jacket ammo with a .008 copper wash thickness over the steel jacket..

I completely understand the thinkness of the copper versus a thin flash coating. With most rifling just a few thousandth of inch, I have read from different manufacturers that they produce anything from .0025 to .006 in height/depth. This clearly would not create a real wear issue with a copper thickness of .008. It is when the copper flash appears to me at most .001 thick that you have issues.

Barrels (stainless) are tool steel grade and have a 675 Brinnel hardness rating. Copper jacket has a 35 Brinnel hardness and mild steel jacketing has a 130 Brinnel hardness factor. The bi-metal jacketing would need to have a hardness rating up near 400-500 to cause any actual barrel damage.

IMHO, this is nothing to worry about especially if you have a chrome lined barrel.

Not so -- if you take even the softest steel and rub it at supersonic speed it will create heat and friction - thus wear. An example can easily be done by taking a simple cast iron or wrought iron bar and press it against spinning heat treated material on a lathe. Spin it at 10,000 rpm and see just how fast both metals get hot and see what marks are left on each. Steel against steel is never a good thing.

[Clownpuncher]

Eventually the barrel will become smooth and all sense of rifling will be gone. Then what do you have?

A shotgun?