303 hunter
Member
Does anyone have experience with German surplus DAG 7.62 x 51? I bought a battle pack to try out. It seems accurate, but a little underpowered; also, what is the bullet made of?
Dag 7.62 x 51
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seasmoke
Member
Not sure about bullet composition, but the DAG runs great in my CETME. Never noticed it to be 'under powered', I would not want to be on the receiving end of one
Pretty clean ammo and always goes bang for me. YAMV
Pretty clean ammo and always goes bang for me. YAMVRanger30-06
Member
I've used it. It's optimized for the G3's 18" barrel so I find it runs a bit better in the shorter barrel .308's. The bullet is made of a lead bullet with a nickel coating as far as I remember. It's great "stockpile" ammo because it comes in a waterproof rubber seal and is packed as tightly as possible!
firesky101
Member
IIRC the nickle-cupro bullet used in that ammo has a tendency to enter a target, yaw and then break in to two nasty pieces
. 7.62x51 is not as hot as .308, but anything you hit with it will regret getting in front of the muzzle.
edit: meant to say cupronickle, thats the problem with relying on that memory thing.
. 7.62x51 is not as hot as .308, but anything you hit with it will regret getting in front of the muzzle.edit: meant to say cupronickle, thats the problem with relying on that memory thing.
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Bill_Rights
Member
I've worked my way through battlepacks of DAG ammo. I wouldn't say it is under-powered, at all! Yes, it is true that some hunting loads with heavier bullets and still high muzzle velocities will give greater felt recoil, but this does not mean that NATO spec 7.62x51mm ammo is under-powered by any means. For ex., I can't tell any difference between the DAG stuff and Winchester White Box or other current-manufacture 145-150 grain FMJ rounds.
FYI, the copper-nickel alloy jacket on the bullets is magnetic. Should be a boon for users of metal detectors. But this alloy is still soft enough to be absolutely fine for the bore and rifling of any barrel, contrary to some popular belief.
Somewhere back in the mists of the past of THR, I asked a bunch of questions about this same DAG ammo. IIRC, someone posted a photo of the cross-section of this bullet. Worth a look - I'll see if I can find it and link to it. That would bear on the assertion:
FYI, the copper-nickel alloy jacket on the bullets is magnetic. Should be a boon for users of metal detectors. But this alloy is still soft enough to be absolutely fine for the bore and rifling of any barrel, contrary to some popular belief.
Somewhere back in the mists of the past of THR, I asked a bunch of questions about this same DAG ammo. IIRC, someone posted a photo of the cross-section of this bullet. Worth a look - I'll see if I can find it and link to it. That would bear on the assertion:
DCoke
Member
Works great in my M1A.....brass is berdan primed but I collect it for my scrap brass recycle bucket.....you get something out of it in the end even if it isn't easily reloadable. Never noticed it being underpowered at all.
Bill_Rights
Member
Well, I found the old THR thread on a similar DAG NATO 7.62 ammo. But it did not have the bullet cross-section photo I am remembering.
Uhhh...errr.... I think there might be some confusion about the various types and variants of these German NATO 7.62 rounds. After a little research on the internet (always a reliable source, right?), there is some conflicting or at least mis-directed or poorly referenced info. I won't go into it, but could you take and post a few photos like the ones on the THR thread I link above? (Unless the ammo you have looks exactly like that, in every detail, and I mean packaging and labeling too.) I am not sure the various internet sources, nor us on this thread, are all talking about the same thing. Thx!
Uhhh...errr.... I think there might be some confusion about the various types and variants of these German NATO 7.62 rounds. After a little research on the internet (always a reliable source, right?), there is some conflicting or at least mis-directed or poorly referenced info. I won't go into it, but could you take and post a few photos like the ones on the THR thread I link above? (Unless the ammo you have looks exactly like that, in every detail, and I mean packaging and labeling too.) I am not sure the various internet sources, nor us on this thread, are all talking about the same thing. Thx!
LemmyCaution
Member
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There's been a lot of discussion on the M14forum about DAG lately. It appears that most of the DAG and MEN surplus that is on the market these days is suffering from corrosion due to the acid content of the cardboard the rounds are packaged in. The corrosion is severe enough in some cases to make the rounds unsafe to fire- pink colored corrosion that has eaten completely through the case wall.
The recommendation is to open all sealed battle packs and inspect all rounds. If green corrosion is found, it can easily be buffed away. Rounds with pink corrosion should be discarded. Remaining rounds should be packed in an airtight container with VCI paper and desiccant for long term storage.
This is unfortunate, as DAG is one of the best quality surplus M80 rounds out there.
The recommendation is to open all sealed battle packs and inspect all rounds. If green corrosion is found, it can easily be buffed away. Rounds with pink corrosion should be discarded. Remaining rounds should be packed in an airtight container with VCI paper and desiccant for long term storage.
This is unfortunate, as DAG is one of the best quality surplus M80 rounds out there.
Double Vision
Member
This stuff works great in my M1A Scout Squad - probably the most accurate of all the ammo I've tried. It was like $85 for 200 rouunds - not bad for that caliber!
I was concerned when I read the posts about the corrosion and opened the battle packs to remove the rounds and put them in zip-lock bags.
If I can find more, I'll get it but it seems to be sold out from the usual sources.
I was concerned when I read the posts about the corrosion and opened the battle packs to remove the rounds and put them in zip-lock bags.
If I can find more, I'll get it but it seems to be sold out from the usual sources.
One of the most accurate 7.62 surplus ammo ever made. I have shot alot of it and have several thousand more rds stockpiled. No corrosion on any of the ammo I have
Best group I ever shot with it was 10 rds ,1 5/8 inch group, 100yds bench with standard M1a,scope
Best group I ever shot with it was 10 rds ,1 5/8 inch group, 100yds bench with standard M1a,scope
armoredman
Member
Might be needing some surplus 7.62x51 stuff - where is this stuff available?
armoredman
Member
Oh well.
henschman
Member
It is almost time to get a new case of 7.62x51, and I was strongly considering getting DAG... until I discovered that for just a few more cents per round, I can get Prvi Partizan, which has reloadable brass. I just recently discovered Prvi for my .30-30, which is all I use for it now since I can get it for under $0.50/round, it's reloadable, and it shoots great. If this 7.62x51 Prvi shoots anywhere near as good as their .30-30 stuff does, I will be a very happy camper.
Bill_Rights
Member
Henschman,
Yes, I have used Serbian Prvi Partizan and it is generally good ammo. I haven't done detailed grouping work yet, but seems good.
So which exact loading of PPU (I guess, strictly, "PPU" is for their hunting loads only) ammo have you found that is so cheap? Could you post a link?
That said, when you move away from old German DAG and MEN, you're giving up that mystical bullet that no one seems to be able to figure out! See above and links there. What is the bullet on the Prvi Partizan cartridge?
Yes, I have used Serbian Prvi Partizan and it is generally good ammo. I haven't done detailed grouping work yet, but seems good.
So which exact loading of PPU (I guess, strictly, "PPU" is for their hunting loads only) ammo have you found that is so cheap? Could you post a link?
That said, when you move away from old German DAG and MEN, you're giving up that mystical bullet that no one seems to be able to figure out! See above and links there. What is the bullet on the Prvi Partizan cartridge?
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