Norinco Ammo and Cheap Practice

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North Wind

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Hey folks,

I'm looking to learn a little more about Norinco ammo. Specifically, the 7.62x51 steel-cased/jacketed variety, and whether it can (or should/shouldn't) be used in a hunting rifle for practice (bolt action in .308). I'm somewhat familiar with 7.62x51 and .308, and if I am correct in my understanding anything chambered in .308 can use 7.62x51, but not the other way around?

If you've used Norinco ammo in something other than a M305, have you encountered performance or cleaning issues? Have you observed any unusual wear/tear on your gun as a result?
 
Not all rifles can use the steel-cased cartridges. An example is Troy Defense new series of Pump Action Rifles (PAR). Straight from their website:
"Brass cased ammunition only. Other types of casings can cause malfunctions and may damage the rifle"

I fired a steel-cased 308 cartridge (copper washed steel) in my 700 VTR. Case ejected just fine but the next round got jammed before I could fully close the bolt. Cartridge was stuck. I examined the last ejected case and a ring had broken off the mouth of the case. This proved to be about equal in size to a military case crimp - maybe a millimeter wide. These were factory (berdan primed) cartridges and the bullet was glued not crimped. So, needless to say, that was my first and last steel cased 308 that I've ever shot.

I guess I was just unlucky...
 
308 and 7.72 are fully interchangeable. The ammo is loaded to the same pressures and dimensions are about the same.

With steel case the extraction can be more difficult than with brass. I use steel cases in one of my custom target rifles. The bolt won't open immediately after a shot, but opens fine after a 15 second wait. I am assuming it has to do with steel expanded with heat.

Buy a box of 20 and try them before buying a case.
 
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