Norinco 7.62x51 aka .308.

steamy teabag

steamy teabag

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Has anybody shot the Norinco 7.62x51 in a rifle chambered for .308 winchester?

I'm curious how it performs vs. North American commercial .308 winchester.

Difference in accuracy and reliability etc.

Any feedback appreciated.
 
I agree, a good review. I brought 400 rounds of Norinco copper wash 7.62x51 non corrosive to Ohio to shoot in my buddy's FN FAL (Aussie L1A1) and he told me that the gas plug was a bit tight but the Rifle was pretty clean, surprisingly. I had zero FTE or FTF. I've also shot it in my Norc M1A as well as the Keltec RFB.308. All with good results so I picked up another case from can am!
 
Thanks sam. Thinking of running some of the Norinco through a Ruger Gunsite Scout this summer with my kids. They like to shoot a lot and cost is a factor. The norc ammo is a cheap date and I haven't shot it before so I'm looking for feedback.
 
Cheap and reliable. It's gone bang every time. It's my choice for semi autos. I was lucky to pick up some bulk 7.62x51, 149gr military ball from American Eagle (lake city). It's quality brass and reloadable. I got 1000 rounds
To shoot through my bolt rifles.
 
Everyone I've talked to who has shot it in a .308 chambered rifle has said the accuracy is mediocre at best and complain about copper being left in their chamber from the copper washed cases.
 
Bowie said:
How thick is the copper jacket over the steel core?
Click to expand...
AFAIK they are bimetal jacketed, not steel core. If there is a steel core it's just a steel bit inside the bullet; there is still lead.

Most look like this in cross section:
Wolf%20.308%20bi-metal.png

The bit inside the lead would be the steel core.

I don't know about the Norinco for sure but I've never seen or heard of bimetal jackets where the copper is more than a thick plating or thin foil equivalent. The engraving will displace some of the steel from the jacket but the copper is supposed to remain between the steel and barrel. It still isn't good for some barrels and there have been several people saying 10rnds or less of bimetal jacketed ammo can really hurt a hand lapped match barrel.

Any barrel that is chrome plated should be just fine as they are made for each other (sort of).
 
steamy teabag said:
Has anybody shot the Norinco 7.62x51 in a rifle chambered for .308 winchester?

I'm curious how it performs vs. North American commercial .308 winchester.

Difference in accuracy and reliability etc.

Any feedback appreciated.
Click to expand...

^^^^I have a 2012 "SmithFieldSadalakaNorcinstine" M14 with a trigger job (named Oscar) that I have been shooting for more than 2 years now. Although it has just about all mods that can be done with the exception of the receiver, trigger, barrel and bolt (the only remaining Norc parts) I have shot old Eastern Bloc ammo, Norc copper wash, store bought Fed in 150, 170 and 180 as well as Winchester brand and a couple of other obscure brands and (I know someone will say something about this) I don't even clean it after every use, probably only clean it every 100-150 rounds or so but I don't keep track. To get to the point, much like myself...never a malfunction in the junction as long as it's lubed well:) regardless of ammo type/brand.

Although there are technical differences between milsurp and store bought (milsurp has tougher primers) in the 2 years and over 2500 rounds I have put down the pipe of mine...the only noticeable difference that I have seen between the copper wash and store bought is price. With the casual diff's in accuracy as most store bought tends to have better QC at times. But again... Is more than twice the price.

Happy shooting!
 
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Bowie said:
How thick is the copper jacket over the steel core?
Click to expand...

Here is one I just cut. Bear in mind that I just did a quick job with a hacksaw and file. Also, I am not a great photographer. Ignore the date, the camera is not set correctly.

The ring you see at the outer edge in the second pic is .030". That is the steel with copper coating, the inner is lead. The copper is too thin for me to measure.



 
Have shot a few hundred rounds in various guns.

Checked velocity in a Savage10 FCPK and pretty consistent.

2858
2843
2828
 
I posted my findings in the battle rifles forum last year with this ammo in my Savage 10PC.

The average over 5 five round threads was 2850, and in metres per second, 850 mps (Cdn C21 ball is 840 MPS +/- 5 mps).

My Savage did not like this ammo. During the informal test I did, I could get at least 2" groups with my M305 at 100m when I tried my best. My Savage put out 4" groups at it's best. I stopped trying during the last group as the bolt was stiff when I opened it during the last test.

I will shoot this ammo all day through my M305 or other mil spec 7.62 rifle, anything else I will pay for more expensive ammo or reload for it.
 
recce said:
I posted my findings in the battle rifles forum last year with this ammo in my Savage 10PC.

The average over 5 five round threads was 2850, and in metres per second, 850 mps (Cdn C21 ball is 840 MPS +/- 5 mps).

My Savage did not like this ammo. During the informal test I did, I could get at least 2" groups with my M305 at 100m when I tried my best. My Savage put out 4" groups at it's best. I stopped trying during the last group as the bolt was stiff when I opened it during the last test.

I will shoot this ammo all day through my M305 or other mil spec 7.62 rifle, anything else I will pay for more expensive ammo or reload for it.
Click to expand...

Reloading is not an option right now and regular retail .308 can get pricey. Kids like to shoot the bolt and this summer expressed they wanted to get out more so milspec ammo is the next option. Appreciate the feedback. Thanks.
 
SAAMI says its fine. http://www.saami.org/specifications...1-Unsafe_Arms_and_Ammunition_Combinations.pdf

7.62x51 is NOT on the list of cartridges you don't want to use in a .308.

From a safety standpoint, there is no problem with it. Whether your particular gun likes it at all is the real question.

The .308 is also loaded hotter than the 7.62x51 (max pressures of 62000 psi vs 61191 psi(technically 415 kPa)) because the 7.62 isn't measured in PSI, its measured in kPa. Obviously this isn't a huge difference though.
 
Suther said:
SAAMI says its fine. http://www.saami.org/specifications...1-Unsafe_Arms_and_Ammunition_Combinations.pdf

7.62x51 is NOT on the list of cartridges you don't want to use in a .308.

From a safety standpoint, there is no problem with it. Whether your particular gun likes it at all is the real question.


The .308 is also loaded hotter than the 7.62x51 (max pressures of 62000 psi vs 61191 psi(technically 415 kPa)) because the 7.62 isn't measured in PSI, its measured in kPa. Obviously this isn't a huge difference though.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link Suther.
 
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