Black tip 30 cal

[M1NM]

I've got some black tip 30 cal bullets. I've had them for about 30 years anybody know it they are copper jackets or just copper colored steel. If they are steel I don't want to shoot them in my NM but will save them for my next CMP M1.

[Sub95]

WWII vintage bullets with a steel penetrator (also know as AP )

[kurac]

Yup, there is a pointy steel penetrator in there surrounded by a very thick copper jacket, a litte bit of lead in the tip so it doesn't move around and then a copper cup in the base.

[Munk]

They are AP, they have a small steel penetrator. Do not load these in a pistol caliber.

The penetrator ignores at least one type of ballistic glass i've played with, and it'll cut through a few types of steel without issue ( haven't tried it on AR500... and I'd hate to ruin someone else's target at a range to test).

The jacket is copper, so you can shoot them if you like. Unless you're going through a great many rounds, you don't have to worry too much about going through a couple hundred and damaging your barrel.

Just remember, these are basically milsurp pulldowns, so consistency isn't the highest. Don't expect match grade performance.

[stilly]

They are AP, they have a small steel penetrator. Do not load these in a pistol caliber.

The penetrator ignores at least one type of ballistic glass i've played with, and it'll cut through a few types of steel without issue ( haven't tried it on AR500... and I'd hate to ruin someone else's target at a range to test).

The jacket is copper, so you can shoot them if you like. Unless you're going through a great many rounds, you don't have to worry too much about going through a couple hundred and damaging your barrel.

Just remember, these are basically milsurp pulldowns, so consistency isn't the highest. Don't expect match grade performance.

Does this mean that one can not shoot them out of their PTR-91 .308 pistol?
Then would it also mean that one can not shoot them out of their home made ak pistol also if they got loaded into a 7.62x39 shell?

[Sub95]

if you read the laws which will make your head hurt and confused, i took it as .308 is a no go for loading them. but a 30.06 was ok, any pistol round of this type would land you in a not so good place.

[gunboat]

AP is no harder on your barrel than regular GI ammo --
30/06 ap bullets can be used in a 308/7.62 using recipe for the proper weight.
Actually they can be used in most any 30 cal rifle you want --

[Munk]

Does this mean that one can not shoot them out of their PTR-91 .308 pistol?
Then would it also mean that one can not shoot them out of their home made ak pistol also if they got loaded into a 7.62x39 shell?

This is specifically why I said a "Pistol caliber" rather than just "for a pistol".

The reason I made that warning is because armor piercing handgun ammo is still a pretty significant no-no.

Those two are still considered to be a rifle caliber, even when used for pistol. Until the distinction goes away at least... which is unlikely. Otherwise, the T/C encore and a few custom pistols mean that every caliber would be for a handgun, up to and including .50bmg.

if you read the laws which will make your head hurt and confused, i took it as .308 is a no go for loading them. but a 30.06 was ok, any pistol round of this type would land you in a not so good place.

.308 is still largely considered a rifle round, which makes it OK to load these for it.