[Skunkabilly]

I have up to 1000 rounds of this Portugese army stuff thinking it wasn't steel core (??) but a range guy put a magnet up to it and it turns out it is :(

San Gabriel Gun Club and Angeles Ranges won't let me use it, are there any sporting or ranges here in Socal I can use to burn up this stuff?

What's so bad about this stuff if I'm just shooting paper? :confused:

[SDC]

Most likely it ISN'T steel-core, just steel-jacketed. I don't know if the range you shoot at knows/cares about the difference, but unless you're causing range damage, why should they care?

[HSMITH]

It is a steel jacket, not core. Darn good for surplus ammo too. Dunno where you can shoot it out there, but keep looking.

[Schuey2002]

If no one lets you shoot it down there, save it for when you flee California .... :D

[Skunkabilly]

Is there a way I can prove that it's steel jacket and not core?

One range has a website that says no steel jacket, steel core, tracer etc. on the range.

The other one I will call.

[Jim K]

Some ranges are just plain s**t scared of running afoul of the law or the local newspaper that they are afraid of anything that isn't "sporting".

Plus, incredible as it may seem, many of the people, including club members, who run ranges are almost totally ignorant of guns, including some of the guns they own and shoot. I had the president of a local club tell me that a Browning A-5 was gas operated and that .30 AP bullets would shoot through three feet of armor plate.

Jim

[CWL]

Easiest way to tell if jacket or core is to pull the bullet & bisect it.

Even a pair of pliers will work. Just pull & cut.

[Sir Galahad]

Skunk, get you South African surplus ammo. It's all-copper jacket. I tested it with a rare earth magnet and if it didn't stick to that, it doesn't have steel in it.

In the meantime, send me your ammo. I'll shoot it up for you. And I won't charge you a cent.:D

[Badger Arms]

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, YOU'RE WRONG ABOUT WHY. The reason why they won't let you shoot any of that ammo is because of the fire hazard. Steel makes sparks when it hits rocks. Sparks make fire. It's that simple. Now, you can pull the bullets and see if the bullet itself is steel or just the bullet jacket. Do you understand the terms here? You can have steel-jacketed bullets, usually with lead cores. You can also have steel tipped bullets like the SS-109. You can have mild-steel cored bullets like the Chinese imported a few years ago. You can also have steel-cased ammo where the case itself is steel. This is true of most of the Wolf (read CRAP) ammo on the market now. They don't want high-velocity steel starting any more fires out there. If only the case is steel then you have a case to use it at any range you darn-well please.

[MarineTech]

Tell you what Skunk. If it turns out that you're not going to be able to shoot the stuff. Drop me a line and tell me what you're asking for it. If it's a decent price, I'll take it off your hands.

I shoot Portugese surplus .308 at our Rod & Gun clubs outdoor range all the time without a problem. So do quite a few other AR10 and M1A shooters at the range. My local gunshop brings it in by the pallet load for plinking. There's probably at least 50,000 rounds of it total between the 50, 100, and 200 yard berms. Andy you know what.... No fires.

[Gewehr98]

I saw several firing ranges, mostly in Northern Kalifornia, that banned the use of ammunition with either steel cores or steel jackets, to prevent sparks from bullets hitting rocks and igniting a grass or brush fire. Even the range I worked at for 5 years adopted the policy, there was a drought for several of those years. I saw the results of one of those bullet-induced grass fires, too. Although, I'd think the likelihood of a grass fire would increase greatly with some of those blackpowder muzzleloaders, and the sparks they emit...

[cratz2]

I had the president of a local club tell me that... .30 AP bullets would shoot through three feet of armor plate.


You mean they can't?

Where would someone go about finding three feet of armor plating to test this idea? :p

[Redlg155]

Just checked some of my Port Surplus and yep...sticks to a magnet.

I guess it's just a copper wash they put on it to keep the stuff from corroding, hence the color.

Good Shooting
Red

[Destructo6]

Skunk, take it to Lytle Creek or to Burro Canyon. They don't seem to care much, except in the summer months. Even then, they just ask that you not shoot the steel plates with it.

Or, you could give it to me!

[Skunkabilly]

Destructo6, do you have 9mm you want to trade? :D

[tex_n_cal]

Fresno Rifle & Pistol Club had a range fire last year, started by somebody's ammo making sparks.

Don't forget that in CA, it usually doesn't rain AT ALL between May and November, the reason for those notorious California fires.

[Kahr carrier]

Heck just save it until you find a range that will let you shoot it.:)

[El Rojo]

Up here in Kern County, we shoot where ever we want, when ever we want. Come on up, I will take you plinking where the only range rules are common sense and to have fun.

[thumbtack]

I would just keep it until you can find a range that will let you shoot it, take a trip to the desert, or SHTF.

[Frohickey]

Why not hold on to them until you do find a place where you can use them up?
Ammo, especially the milsurp ones are pretty good as far as shelf-life.

[Skunkabilly]

How much is 1000 rds of S. African?

[MarineTech]

Not sure about 1000, but today I picked up 2 140 round battlepacks of South African 143gr. 7.62mm for $57. That's retail from the local gun shop. You can probably pick up 1000 round lots cheaper than by the battle pack.

[El Tejon]

Skunk, you can get the Suid Afrika stuff for about $.16 a round. Just shot some of it this afternoon--I reek of guns.:D (Soon to change that!:D). Good stuff, highly recommend it.

[Blackcloud6]

Isn't all M80 ball steel jacketed?

So is M2 ball from the US Military too, BTW...

[Freedom in theSkies]

At our local range, there is no restriction that I know of, however, I have heard that there is more of a ricochet hazzard with steel jacketed bullets. They don't tend to lose their shape as readily when they impact a target, or glance off of a hard object. This can create a bit of a problem with the neighbours...:eek:

[BamBam-31]

Just fired 120 rounds of the Port .308 through my newly re-barrelled Garand at Burro Canyon. They are VERY lax there with rules, unlike San Gabriel Valley Gun Club. I also fired off the Turk 8mm, which is verboten at SG, and some .303 Brit.

Over at SG, it's the local Fire Department that doesn't allow them to have customers use steel bullets (jacket, core, etc.). I talked to Jim (a.k.a. Sgt. Magneto) about it, and he says the FD got on them for a brush fire started a few months back. Well, if they'd use some of the range fees to hire some gardeners to clear away dried brush....:rolleyes:

Go to Burro. Bring lots of Bowling Pin Ladens. :D