Buzznrose
Member
I recently came into some surplus ammo. Going to shoot it soon, but wondering if anyone had any info/input on this stuff:
Mil surplus 308 ammo from South Africa
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troy fairweather
Member
I try to avoid surplus from hot climate even if it's not to old.
Bwana John
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If it is still in the 140 round uncompromised brown heavy plastic battle pack I'd say yer good to go.
If in the 20 round cardboard box, with no signs of corrosion or being run over by a halftrack I would shoot it.
Remarkably good ammo.... Even better 20 years ago when it was ~$20 / 140 round battle pack.
If in the 20 round cardboard box, with no signs of corrosion or being run over by a halftrack I would shoot it.
Remarkably good ammo.... Even better 20 years ago when it was ~$20 / 140 round battle pack.
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Buzznrose
Member
Got it from a friend who is moving and didn’t want to haul it with him. I have no idea how old it is. It is all still in sealed brown plastic battle packs and in the original green metal ammo cases.
mokin
Member
A guy shoots that in his FAL in local 3 gun matches around here. It seems to work better than the cheap 5.56 the rest of us use.
Bwana John
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There will be a year of manufacture on the cartridges headstamp, and on the 20 round boxes inside the battlepacks. Most of it I got was mid 80's manufacture.
FROGO207
Member
I got some SA 303 BRIT ammo dated 1980. It was quality stuff. You should be fine.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I remember getting a couple of those brown plastic packs of that ammo 18 or do years ago. I remember it being very good ammo.
I am not positive about this but I believe the primers were staked. If you reload this could be a hassle. I may be confusing this with some other ammo.
I am not positive about this but I believe the primers were staked. If you reload this could be a hassle. I may be confusing this with some other ammo.
FROGO207
Member
Mine was staked in 3 places and Berdan primed.
I have some and it is excellent.
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Buzznrose
Member
It is still in the battle packs unopened, in the metal box it originally came in.
I don’t know how it was stored from 1980 to today. I just took ownership of it a couple months ago.
I was given almost two full cases...so a bit over 2000 rounds. I plan on shooting some this weekend, so I’ll take pics when I open a bag up. The guy who gave it to me is a fellow veteran. Good dude! Sorry to see him leave the area.
If it shoots okay, I plan on passing some out to some of my veteran and retired LEO shooting buddies who have .308’s. I’ll keep half or so, but I won’t shoot through it all, and I’d hate to see it go bad.
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Buzznrose
Member
LOL! I graduated high school in 1981...Brother, you ain’t old!
jobu07
Contributing Member
GBExpat
Member
Adding my voice to the chorus, that is some of the Good Stuff, Buzznrose.
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Buzznrose
Member
Thanks! No, I’m not a reloader, although I do save brass for folks who do.
I was given one full case and one almost full case. All ammo is still in sealed bags. May break a bag open tonight and check it. Will send pics.
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Buzznrose
Member
Thanks to all who responded. I’ll let you know how it shoots. Appreciate all this feedback!!!
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Buzznrose
Member
So I opened one of the battle packs. It was still totally sealed. These are the pics:
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Buzznrose
Member
The ammo looks fine on the outside. No telling how much heat exposure it’s seen. Guess I’ll find out when I start shooting it...
On an unrelated note, I was also given some loose .308 rounds, all factory ammo. About 3-4 per hundred rounds are a weird (to me) copper color. Never seen this before. Inputs welcome...
On an unrelated note, I was also given some loose .308 rounds, all factory ammo. About 3-4 per hundred rounds are a weird (to me) copper color. Never seen this before. Inputs welcome...
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Hooda Thunkit
Member
That rose-colored ammo looks like copper washed steel. Stick a magnet to it.
Pop open a couple. Can you hear powder shake back and forth? If you can, that at least tells me it isn't fusing together unless it's slightly compressed when loaded. If you can, and some don't, open one of those.
I hope it is all good, but doesn't hurt to check.
IMI .308. TZ82 brass.
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
I have some in 400 round battle packs I bought in 1996.....no issues!
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Buzznrose
Member
So...thanks!!!! Simple stuff I probably should have known, but didn’t. I really don’t mess with this stuff but a gift was hard to reject.
the loose ammo: copper cases are steel. And all the loose ammo I have as given is steel core. Kinda disappointing but at least I know beforehand that I can’t shoot metal targets with it!
The sealed battle box stuff is not steel core rounds, and I can hear the loose powder when I shake it. Very glad to know this. I was honestly thinking it would be the other way around.
I’ve used the magnet test on 7.62*39 and 5.56 before...why I didn’t think of it with the .308 is just not using my head.
Really appreciate y’all!
the loose ammo: copper cases are steel. And all the loose ammo I have as given is steel core. Kinda disappointing but at least I know beforehand that I can’t shoot metal targets with it!
The sealed battle box stuff is not steel core rounds, and I can hear the loose powder when I shake it. Very glad to know this. I was honestly thinking it would be the other way around.
I’ve used the magnet test on 7.62*39 and 5.56 before...why I didn’t think of it with the .308 is just not using my head.
Really appreciate y’all!
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