Steel Core Bullets
- Thread starter mkrainc
- Start date
Are you actually cutting the lead in half. A lot are steel Core encased in lead then jacketed.
gewehr76
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
There are various types of bullet construction for 123 grain bullets in 7.62x39. Some comblock countries used steel core encased in led then formed in to copper alloy jacket. Some have used steel jacket covered in thin layer of copper and stuffed with led. All will have steel in them and weigh roughly 123 grains. Any way you look at it is the use of steel that reduce price per bullet. When you produce millions of rounds its cheaper to use as much steel as possible. As long as bullet weigh close to 123 gr it makes no difference what its made of.
wrenchbender4
CGN Regular
- Location
- SE of Western canada
I have a couple of thousand rounds, makes fireworks when hitting steel or rocks.
All military surplus, as well as the Russian Barnaul and Tulammo cartridges always have STEEL jacketed bullets (lightly copper plated) sometimes with a steel core sometimes with a lead core. That steel jacket makes fireworks.
About a year ago we were shooting both 7.62x39 and x59R at a target and the backstop was a huge pile of dirt. We have found lots of those steel core penetrators inside the pile of dirt after it was disturbed. They were intact...Steel core from a 7.62x39
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
They’re not really “pentrators” because they are dead soft steel. They’re just cheaper filling than lead is, and you can get a longer bullet for the same weight. Longer bullets tend to be more stable/accurate if my understanding of ballistics is correct.
The first AK 74 was smuggled out of Afghanistan when they were fighting the Soviets by SOF and given to the CIA along with ammo to test ,had a long bullet with an air pocket in the nose so when it struck bone it would keyhole making horrific wounds.I know not the same round but interesting bullet concept none the less.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
You must have a knack for achieving the statistically improbable. I have never seen a combloc surplus 7.62x39mm cartridge that did not feature a steel cored bullet.
The only lead cored I have seen is new production (post 1990) made primarily for the US market (Norinco, Tula, Barnaul, Silver Bear, etc.).
Lol yeah! Damn auto correct, 54R. Gramma Nazi!!
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
That's not Military Surplus ammunition. At best it's re-manufactured ammunition, if not plain new from the get go.
If you pull the bullets you will find 2 lengths of 123gr bullet. The short ones have a lead core. The long ones have a steel core. I have milsurp of both flavours.
A quick test is done with a side cutter. You can cut the lead bullet. The steel core will hurt your hand...
A quick test is done with a side cutter. You can cut the lead bullet. The steel core will hurt your hand...
