Heavy barrel and surplus ammo

[Katana]

I think I call BS on this one but...

What's the deal with shooting surplus ammo in a factory heavy barrel??? I read a post on another form site that it will lose accuracy

Is that true??? I've got a new to me Savage10CFP and still have about 400 rounds of Norinco FMJ ammo and now I' worried that it might mess it up...

 

[michaelsabre]

No.

 

[Mystic Precision]

A 308 FMJ is no different then a 308 hunting bullet.

We don't have steel core bullets.

Surplus usually shoots poorly simply because of the components used. The bullet designed for suppression fire is not likely made as well as a match bullet.

Powders may not be tuned for your barrel harmonics (no different then just using factory ammo).

So give it a try and see what you get. I am guessing 1.5 MOA at 200yds.

Have fun...

Jerry

 

[Katana]

How does one tell if it is steel core or not and if it is, will the damage the barrel???

 

[tiriaq]

Section a bullet.
Try a magnet. Of course if the bullet has a coated steel jacket, this won't tell you anything about the core.
In steel cored bullets, there is the jacket, a layer of lead, and then the steel core.
When AP was used extensively in US M-1 rifles, barrel life was a bit shorter than when only ball was used. But no, this ammunition doesn't damage barrels.