Indian surplus .308?

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Col. Plink

Col. Plink

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Hello,
Saw an add for some of this stuff, '80s production.

Is it good or to be avoided? Some headstamps better/worse than others?

Thanks in advance!

-Plink
 
I actually thought it was pretty good. The stuff I shot was marked OLFV 88 and was brass cased and boxer primed. Shot clean too.
 
have seen ads for Pakistani 308 surplus for $.50/round. Is it any better?
 
I still have a good bunch of Indian .308. I've fired hundreds and found it to be decent milsurp ammo. The brass is great for reloading.
 
I've been through thousands of rounds of the stuff that I ordered back in '05 or so when everyone and their brother hated it. $100/k shipped in bulk or less from J&G at the time.

You have to inspect the rounds, there are occasional problems from delinking (1-2 per k).

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are bad batches out there somewhere.

But it's been the absolute best value in .308 I've ever had, it shot as well as Hirt and SA in my Fals and 51s.
 
70's Indian is good stuff, when production was supervised by the Brits

80's and 90's production can range from junk to downright dangerous, when there was little to no quality control.

visit an M14 forum called "The Firing Line" for more info on this topic
 
after the Brits left the middle east for good, ammo in the central asian countries was typically loaded with gunpowder, and anything else they could fit into the case, that wouldn't rattle around, and make necessary weight. Sand, soda powder, ground up cement or pebbles, anything they could make fit.
I would never get any milsurp ammo from Central Asian countries, made after the 70's, period.

I tried a few years ago, several diff lots, and types of Indian and Paki ammo that was milsurp.
I would single shot load them in my rifle, turn my head, and fire.
A couple of times after firing, I expected to see my bbl peeled like a banana, or after a very unusual and loud sound, I would wait for the ringing in my ears to go away, after asking of course,
" God, is this Heaven?" I would then check my head with my hands, for any material left behind, gunpowder, parts, blood, etc.
Never again, will I use any of that crap...
 
70's Indian OFV = good stuff, boxer primed, overseen by the Radway folks. Bought many K of it for a quarter apiece on strippers & bandoleers in 50 cal cans. Did not disappoint.

80's & 90's Indian OFV = crapshoot. Some is OK. Some is not. Some is dangerous. Won't know till you shoot it. Seen some with mixed stick & ball powder in the same case !! Brass is reloadable as long as it is in OK shape. But you can definitely tell the difference between 70's and the 90's stuff by looking at the cases (nevermind the dates).

Paki is not reloadable (Berdan primed).

I wouldn't pay 50 cents apiece for Paki when you can still find Portugeuse for that price, or Federal X762.
 
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