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.308 NATO Ball Ammo Okay for an Armalite?

NOTPARSNOTPARS Member Posts: 2,081 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited April 2002 in Ask the Experts
I have an Armalite AR-10A2. which is the .308 model with carrying handle. Armalite says if I use reloads in this firearm I will void the warranty. Those who know how much these costs can understand why I don't want to mess with the warranty. The ammo I have been using is .308, 168 grain BTHP's. They are not cheap (although AAA Ammo in Nebraska sells them for about $16 dollars for 20 and they are real nice folks too.). At a recent gun show I purchased 400 rounds of .308 ball NATO ammo. I believe the country of origin was South Africa but I am not sure. It is, of course, full metal jacketed. Since purchasing this stuff, (I have not tried it yet) I have heard it is loaded a bit hot and may not be good for the Armalite. I don't want to hurt this rifle and I certainly don't want to void any warranty. This is not reloaded stuff but new in the box and plastic case. It looks okay (there is a slight discoloration near the neck of the shells). Anyway, if anyone has any experiences or advice with these rifles and this ammo, I would appreciate hearing from you.
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Comments

  • CS8161CS8161 Member Posts: 13,596 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have an Armalite 308 and I have been shooting nothing but surplus thru it, mostly British and Portugese Nato, with no problem at all. The Armalite is a well made rifle and is designed to function with this kind of ammo. If you can lay in a supply of the British surplus, get it, it seems to be a better quality ammo for the money.
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  • gregrphgregrph Member Posts: 18 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    south african surplus is good stuff, cleaner than the british (radway green) that i've seen. both shoot really well though.
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  • S&W ManS&W Man Member Posts: 208 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The discoloration around the neck is not a problem or a flaw. That is where the brass was anhealed(sp?), a type of heat treating.
    The second admendment GUARANTEES the other nine and the Constitution!
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  • NOTPARSNOTPARS Member Posts: 2,081 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Gentlemen, Thanks for the information. I talk to a lot of people and often get conflicting opinions. But, I have learned that the information from people like you, who actually own and shoot these guns, has always been right on the money. Believe me, with the cost of these rifles, it was a big relief to read your answers!
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  • gunrunner68gunrunner68 Member Posts: 582 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I shoot the reloads from cabelas... 200rnds for 89.00 hollow point bt it is very good I shoot it out of bolt actions and semi auto with great results Have not had a problem with it almost as good as federal gold medal match!!!!!!
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  • farrangerfarranger Member Posts: 20 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Do NOT use Chilean surplus from Chile, which you will find cheap, about 10 cents a round or sometimes less. The pressure is extremely variable and a number of weapons have been blown up by this ammo. If you have any questions go to the falfiles.com, the ammo section and run a search on chilean surplus. German Dag, British RAdway, South african and Portugese are all excellent. Certain of the Israeli years are bad, but I think it is one year that's the real problem, I think these are the ones headstamped TZ 82, but you can check this at falfiles with a search really quick if you run across any TZ. are all excellent.
    freedom isn't free
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  • farrangerfarranger Member Posts: 20 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Oh forgot, there's a lot of malaysian machine gun ammo on links out there, it's a bit hotter, but it shoots fine. There's some real good deals on it as Malaysia was clearing it out.
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