New to me AR, ammo question

[velocette]

I bought a slightly used .223 AR rifle with a 24" stainless heavy barrel.
The rifle came with a little over 400 rds of ammo. This ammo is named MFS, it is 55 gr, zinc plated steel cased and has copper plated steel bullets. I've read that it is Silver Bear ammo with a different name.
My question is: Is this ammo OK to shoot in a stainless steel barrel?
Or should I trade it off for some lead / copper ammo that will not possibly damage my barrel?

Roger

 

[Z-Michigan]

The ammo will not cause damage to your barrel. It may wear the barrel at a slightly faster rate than conventional copper or brass jacketed lead bullets (no steel jacket) but the difference is between small and insignificant. It probably won't be very accurate though.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

This ammo is named MFS, it is 55 gr, zinc plated steel cased and has copper plated steel bullets.

Steel case, I can see. Steel bullet? The answer is as close as your nearest magnet.

 

[velocette]

Lone Haranguer;
Yes they are copper plated steel bullets. Already tested with my friendly local magnet.
I also pulled one bullet & filed on the side of it with a fine file, The plating is not thick
like on a conventional lead core jacketed bullet.
That's what worried me about bore wear.

Roger

 

[aka108]

I read in some gun magazine quite awhile ago that "The Russians are masters at making soft steel" and that bore wear is similar to copper jacket ammo. For what it's worth. I see quite a few guys at the range with AR type rifles. Some run the Russian ammo and others won't touch the stuff. I run Wolf thru my Howa 1500 along with some handloads. The Wolf does pretty well.

 

[rcmodel]

400 rounds of it will not hurt the barrel.

Steel jacket bullets have been used since WWI at least, in foreign and domestic military ammo.

Almost all Russian & Chinese ammo has always used steel cases and steel jackets because neither country has a large raw copper deposit at home like we do.

Most U.S. GI 7.62 M80 ball uses a copper plated steel jacket bullet.

The steel used is much softer stuff then the steel the barrel is made from.
The copper wash provides the lubrication to prevent friction galling.

rc

 

[velocette]

Thank you gentlemen, those 400 + rounds will soon be turned into smoke, noise and holes in paper.

Roger

 

[moxie]

M855 62 gr. green tips have a steel rod in the bullet.