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Steel Core?How to tell?

thesoundguy1thesoundguy1 Member Posts: 680 ✭
edited June 2002 in Ask the Experts
I've purchased A variety of 7.62x39mm ammo for my SKS and AK pattern
rifles.Some of this ammo has been represented to be steel core,or
armour piercing.Without chopping up my precious ammo,how can I tell
if this stuff is legit?
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Comments

  • gap1916gap1916 Member Posts: 4,977
    edited November -1
    Try using a small magnet. If it sticks its steel.
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  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,619 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes, but it could be steel jacket with lead core. I like the hacksaw test.

    "Not as deep as a well, or as wide as a church door, but it is enough."
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  • thesoundguy1thesoundguy1 Member Posts: 680 ✭
    edited November -1
    I tried the magnet on the stuff in question and it passed with flying colors,until i tried some stuff that I believed to be just lead core.
    Some of the batches I bought as lead core,adheared to the magnet as
    well!Is it possible I've gotten lucky and some ammo was mislabeled
    FMJ?Or is this just wishful thinking?
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  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    How about bullet weights? Isn't there a difference in weight between ball an AP ammo? Just a suggestion.
    Gino

    "If All Else Fails, Read The Directions"
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  • rick_renorick_reno Member Posts: 186 ✭
    edited November -1
    Pull a bullet, cut it open with a hacksaw. AP ammo has a pointed steel core that is very hard - a hacksaw won't easily cut it. The other stuff is steel jacketed, lead core and is why the magnet test isn't valid. Most of these bullets are right around 122 grains, I've found no significant weight difference in lead vs. AP core ammo.
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  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Another thing on the legality of it. I think, after reading the regulations, armor piercing ammo only relates to use in a handgun, not in a rifle caliber. That's the way I understand it. Someone else may want to comment on this.

    Gino

    "If All Else Fails, Read The Directions"
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  • 74cuda74cuda Member Posts: 417 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ATF ruled a while ago that dealing in the AP sks ammo was now on the no-no list. That is why you don't see it around or advertised as such anymore.....

    "In God We Trust........All Others Go Thru NCIC"
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  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks Cuda. Does that apply just to SKS ammo.
    How about 30-06 AP?
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  • thesoundguy1thesoundguy1 Member Posts: 680 ✭
    edited November -1
    Something is amiss!!I've done the magnet test on about 500 rds.,on
    stripper clips and individually.I even have some hollow points the reacted to the magnet!I'm using a couple of weak 'fridge magnets,
    and touching just the tips on the side of the bullets,nowhere
    near the casings.The ones that reacted,did so every noticeably.And
    of course the others reacted not at all!!HELP!!!
    The ammo that reacted is Barnaul and Norinco FMJ and H.P.The H.P.
    that did not react to the magnet is Wolf.I guess the next test
    will be the hacksaw!!!
    For those interested,I'll let you know in a day or two.



    Edited by - thesoundguy1 on 06/04/2002 21:43:06
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  • gruntledgruntled Member Posts: 8,218 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Go the BATF website. They have all the rules there & they are pretty
    atraightforward considering its a government agency. The last time I checked the 30/06 AP was specifically listed as being legal & oddly enough the .308 was not legal but check for yourself & don't trust my memory.



    Edited by - gruntled on 06/04/2002 21:43:35
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  • 74cuda74cuda Member Posts: 417 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If I remember the story correctly, when a semi pistol was produced in 762x39, that would be the time that the AP ammo would be considered illegal. Oly produced the OA93 in 223 and briefly made a few in 762x39. This started things in motion.

    There was a lot of talk about the TC causing the same, but I believe since it was a single shot, that prevented all the calibers from following the same fate.

    I may be off on some of this but this is what I remember...

    "In God We Trust........All Others Go Thru NCIC"
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  • 101AIRBORNE101AIRBORNE Member Posts: 1,252 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sound,

    Never ever use a saw on an unknown bullet. If you saw a
    "tracer" you are in for an unpleasant surprise. Purchase
    or load your own with known components. Best, Steve
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  • Rob GreeneRob Greene Member Posts: 102 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Why not just fire it at a piece of metal and see what it does? Or better yet,(and safer) just fire it into something that will stop the bullet so you can check it and see what it is. Something like a few 5 gal. buckets of sand in a row to stop it. After the bullet has been fired, there would be no worry about it being a tracer round. Just an Idea...

    **It is your right to posess a firearm. In case of questions, please refer to ammendment 2, United States Constitution.**

    Edited by - Rob Greene on 06/04/2002 22:26:54
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Some of that cheap foriegn ammo is made with soft steel aloys or is even steel jacketed, but does not have the penetrating capabilities of the hardened steel cored ammo. Magnet tests are invalid, unless you know exactly what your dealing with.

    Also I see alot of the steel core stuff in various calibers tends to be marked with a green tip, and the armor piercing stuff with a black tip. But then again I've seen ammo that those markings ment intirely different things.

    If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.

    The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !
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