7.62mm battle rifle guys...do you use JHP or JSP?

[natedog]

I was talking to a friend of mine about his ammo choice for his M1A (his "SHTF" gun), and he remarked that he didn't stock anything other than FMJ, because ".308 is deadly enough even in FMJ". That struck me as a little odd, as I like to use a cartridge to its fullest potential, which often means expanding or fragmenting bullets. What do you have set aside?

 

[jobu07]

I buy my ammo FMJ by the case, it's just cheaper that way in most instances, plain and simple economics. Remember, it's all about shot placement

 

[Bwana John]

FMJ - For price and relibility.

 

[Raygun]

I use both FMJ and JHP as there doesn't seem to be much of a price difference when it comes to 7.62x39mm. I use the Barnaul "Brown Bear" stuff almost exclusively. My rifle seems to like it best and there's a shop that stocks it here, so I can buy what I want when I want it, by the case or by the box.

 

[Scottmkiv]

FMJ- Surplus is so much cheaper to stock up on. I think it is something like 4 FMJs for every 1 Hunting round.

FMJ should give better barrier penetration, which is a consideration.

With JSP, I would think you would have problems with the point being mangled by the magazine.

 

[AK103K]

For practice, I mostly use surplus, mostly because its cheap. With the mags in my gear, I split it 50/50 with 150gr Santa Barbara FMJ and my reloads of Nosler 165gr Ballistic Tips. They shoot pretty much the same POI, but the Nosler's are about twice as accurate. The spec MOA for military rounds is usually 3 MOA +/-, with the SB consistently shooting around 2 and I can easily get 1 MOA or less out of the Noslers. I do the same thing with my AR's. I havent shot anything big with the Noslers, but the little ones sure do tear up little critters. In my AK's, I use the Barnaul SP's. They seem to be the most accurate and consistent and also a little hotter than the others. I've never had any problems with them feeding.

 

[GW]

FMJ for SHTF
You would need lots of ammo and surplus FMJ is the least expensive and most reliable way to do it.

 

[Preacherman]

For training, I use milsurp FMJ. For social use, I bought a decent supply of Hornady TAP 165gr. ammo, and my "social" rifle is zeroed for this load. Nasty stuff - for the one on the receiving end, anyway!

 

[DMK]

Need a multiple select on that poll

I have a whole bunch of surplus 7.62x51 FMJ in mags and Enblocs for my FAL and Garand.

I have a whole bunch of Barnual 7.62x39 HP in mags and strippers for my AK and SKS.

I also have a whole bunch of M193 5.56 in mags for my ARs.

I have a whole bunch of 12ga #00 buckshot in bandoliers for my Mossberg and about 100 rounds of .45 FMJ in mags for my 1911s.

All stored in 50cal ammo cans.

If I needed a rifle, I'd probably grab one of the ARs, but I like to leave my options open.

I do have a few enblocs handy loaded with Fed. 168gr. HP for the Garand and a couple mags of Black Hills 75gr. HP handy for the ARs. Those would be what I loaded in the rifles when I first grabbed them.

 

[cpileri]

hmmm

While expensive, i could see loading up on some of that new Hornady TAP FPD ammo in 308 WIn.
More terminal tissue damage than FMJ, and at most ranges will still penetrate whatever someone might think he/she needs it to penetrate.
Big bucks, though.
C-

 

[boofus]

I like the NATO surplus battle packs.

 

[chevrofreak]

Cheapo Wolf 7.62x39 122gr bimetal JHP. It penetrates steel like crazy, which is something I like. It went nearly completely through a 5/8" thick piece of railroad steel.

Engine blocks be warned

 

[PAC 762]

FMJ. Penetration is a key factor in the effectiveness of a rifle. .308 FMJ are plenty effective on people, anyway.

 

[iamkris]

If the SHTF I'll use what is most plentiful in my gun room...that would be the 4000 rounds of NATO surplus and 2000 rounds of commie surplus.

 

[Bear Gulch]

It SHTF we'll be shooting what ever we got. Well be cobbling together components and doing what needs doing. Always good to stock some extra ammo in calibers you may not even own.

 

[MoeMentum]

FMJ, can punch through cars, and buildings.

 

[beerslurpy]

Of the 7.62x39, only ulyanovsk em3 hollowpoints seem to expand well. The others all go banana-shaped and dont really expand.

The FMJs behave all more or less the same, tho wolf FMJs seem to be half empty (the front half) so I would imagine they yaw very quickly like M67. Uly EM1 match is solid lead with a dimple in the rear and a nipple on the front. It yaws after about 2 inches and stays yawed for the next 14, slowly tumbling.

I'm down to about 7-800 rounds of Uly EM1 match and about 500 rounds of barnaul JHP. Thinking about snagging some sapsan/em3 for home defense. Ulyanovsk seems to make the best Ak ammo right now.

 

[Matthew748]

I handload 90% of the .308 and .30.06 ammo I shoot. I usually use 147gr FMJBT bullets from Winchester or 150gr spire point Remington Core-Lokt bullets.

 

[goon]

I have used JSP handloads in my FAL but it doesn't really like them. The tip of the bullet does get deformed on feeding and you really have to yank and release the charging handle with all you have to have the first round in the mag feed correctly. After that they do feed just fine and despite the deformed nose they still shoot pretty well out to 300 yards which is the farthest I have done any real shooting with it.
My AK will eat anything but I use FMJ just to give that extra edge of reliability. I prefer ulyanovsk FMJ.

 

[Tankcommander]

I think FMJ will give you less feeding problems since all battle rifles were designed to feed FMJ. It will work best and its readily available.

TC

 

[mainmech48]

I buy 7.62x51 FMJ by the case for my Garand and SMLE 2A-1 whenever it's cheap. The only HPs I've ever run through them have been 168 gr. Match ammo when I used to compete with the Garand regularly. I save the SPs for my hunting rifles.

Simple matter of economy for me, as surplus FMJ costs a small fraction of what commercial HP or SP does. I reload .308 for my hunting, but stopped doing so for the Garand as I can buy all the plinking/hoarding ammo I can use as surplus cheaper than I can crank it out myself.

In 7.62x39, I go with whatever's got the best price at the time. I've run some commercial SPs through my Mini-30, but have steered clear of them in my SKSes after a memorable FA event several years ago. FWIW, I haven't run across a brand of HP that would expand reliably, Russian, Chinese, or whatever.

 

[cookekdjr]

FMJ - For price and relibility.
Ditto. Although I hear 7.62x39 hp does not expand, but it tumbles. Appears it penetrates well, too, and feeds well. Perhaps a good alternate.

 

[9mmMike]

FMJ .308 = cheap & readily available & cheap.

Mike