What's this stuff

emmab

emmab

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Hello I wa s going to put this in the "ammo" section but I figured some black rifle toting SOB might know this. Just picked up a couple boxes of this stuff thinking it was the original ball only to notice that it's soft point. Two boxes with different headstamps, FNM 80-7 and WCC 79. Anybody come across anything like this before or are these reloads. Cases look unfired no ejector scratches. Thanks
 
It is not M193 ball ammo. All mil. ammo is full metal jacket. The casings and the load themselves could be authentic M193 with a soft point projectile. More likely, the boxes were re-used in an attempt to convince some unsuspecting shooter that he is in fact purchasing mil spec ammo. This usually involves paying more money. When in fact, the ammo is commercial soft point.

TDC
 
Are they factory rounds? If you're 100% sure maybe you could look at firing them in a 223 bolt action. If you can't tell if they are reloads or not I wouldn't shoot them, Never shoot someone elses reloads.
 
If the origianal primers are properly crimped in, the original M193 ball bullets have been replaced with softpoints. This is not all that unusual a practice, BUT, you don't know anything about the rounds.
I, like ian in vic, am hesisant about shooting unknown loads. Personally, I would break them down, and load them which a known charge of powder, appropriate for the bullets.
 
Pull a projecticle and weight the load (and the round if you care)

Looks like a standard 55gr SP -- unlikely to be factory loaded in those casings...
 
Even the brass is not from that box. I used to buy those boxes from Milarm all the time, and it was all lake city brass from the 90s. Also the FNM headstamped stuff should be brass from Portugese surplus m193, I've got a bunch of that stuff and its all stamped FNM.
 
I have many boxes of WINCHESTER WESTERN SUPER X (X223R), 55 Grain, Pointed Soft Point that look very similar to what you have. They came in white boxes similiar to the 55gr FMJ ones. I beleive they are "old school" hunting rounds.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice.... b wing proved the point to me by mentioning the FNM headstamp is a portugese ball. I realized this ammo wasn't Ball before I bought it,but was intersted to see if it was factory made. I'll put them away or donate them to a reloader or hit them with a rock. I don't know enough about the ammo or reloading identification to risk blowing up my new AR. Much appreciated.
 
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