[DMK]

Somebody told me that SA 7.62x51 surplus is too hot for a Garand.

Is there any truth to this or is it just GSC talk?

[Blain]

Heck I hope not! I planned to buy some.

[DMK]

Heck I hope not! I planned to buy some. Yea, I know what you're saying. I have like 4K of the stuff and it's real cheap over at AIM Surplus.

.

[Ian Sean]

Of the surplus, from what I have found the SA is actually a little light. Compared to the Portugese surplus that was abundant last year. I had to play with the gas adjustment on my FAL. It was set for Portugese and when I ran out and switched to SA it wouldn't cycle the action consistantly in 2 different FAL's.

I am sure the Garand action is strong enough to handle any milsurp. It's the commercial hunting ammo you have to watch for being hotter.

[Navy joe]

I honestly don't know, but to me it seemed to be hot. I shot 20 rounds of it through my match chambered(tight) M-1A and I had the extractor rip two case rims off. Never had this problem with any other ammo. Maybe a powder speed that gives a pressure curve the M-1 types don't like?

[Dave R]

Or maybe that ammo is a little generous in diameter, and is too tight in your tight chamber? Might not be pressure. Might just be a too-tight fit.

[ChairborneRanger]

As above. What you need is a mil spec chamber----tearing the rims off, is a sign of "diameter" problems, not pressure.

[BenW]

I shoot the South African stuff in my M1A all the time, and have seen no evidence of pressure problems or other "hot load" indications. I've put maybe 2K rounds through with no problems. Just getting ready to slice open a Portugese battle pack and give that stuff a try.

[DMK]

Just getting ready to slice open a Portugese battle pack and give that stuff a try. That stuff shoots sweet in my Garand.

[Noban]

I have a case of the stuff and shott it through my M1A and FAL. I've had no problems at all. In fact, my M1A shoots tighter groups with the SA than with commercial ammo.

On the FAL, I have to close the gas port half a notch for proper function with the SA when compared to the Hirtenberger I usually shoot. That suggests lower pressure.

[Navy joe]

No Chairborne, I do not need to take a reamer to my chamber and kill the accuracy. Port shoots fine through the gun but I stopped at 1 battlepack due to barrelwear concerns. Fed Gold Medal, Black Hills, Hornady, PMC all shoot fine in the gun.

The ripped cases to me suggest higher op-rod speed or crappy soft brass. either way, I'm not dealing with it.