Question about ammunition type

[joe2004]

The range I go to they have new rules and they said that NO MORE steel core, steel or bi-metal jacketed ammunition..

How do I know what’s what when you buy ammo?

The guy told me use a magnet to see if it touches the tip then you can’t use it.

So what I want to know is if the case of ammo says FULL METAL JACKET
Can you use it or not. Because I had some 357 mag that said that but the magnet didn’t touch it. is it supose to on FULL METAL JACKET ? im lost :banghead:

 

[Aaryq]

Most domestic FMJ bullets have a copper casing around a soft lead core. Most steel core ammo is imported and it should say on the box "Steel Core." If you're shooting .357/.38, winchester, federal, and remington should be just fine.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Full Metal Jacket refers to the bullet type, it does not have anything to due with bullet composition. Full Metal Jacket means there is no exposed lead on the bullet and is typically a pointed nose bullet. Hollow point means there is a hole drilled into the nose of the bullet and inside that hole the lead will be exposed. Soft point means that part of the lead is exposed at the tip, but there is not hole in the tip, the lead is molded back to connect with the jacket. Round nose, flat nose refers to the shape of the bullet.

Bullets that have steel cores are actually illegal, steel core really doesn't describe what the indoor range is talking about. Bullets may contain a steel jacket which is a layer of steel over a lead core and then a layer of copper over that. Or, the jacket or core may contain a steel alloyed with lead. Either way, if a magnet sticks to the bullet portion of the complete round, the indoor range will not accept it.

Whether or not the range accepts steel cased rounds is completely different. With the steel cased round, the magnet will stick to the case, and may or may not stick to the bullet. Steel cased rounds are not reloadable and also have less recycle value. The reason for the bullet concern is an increase in ricochet hazard. Some ranges don't like steel cased rounds because they lose money selling the scrap metel.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Bullets that have steel cores are actually illegal

For most pistol calibers, yes (many exceptions to this exist).

In most places steel core and even actual AP rifle ammo is OK.

There is tons and tons of mild steel core ammo around--much of it old military stuff from way back. Lots of 8mm Mauser is steel core, for example.

Ranges ban the steel jacketed stuff because it sparks (ferrous metal) and the steel/tungsten (or otherwise AP) because it damages backstops.


A good dealer can answer the question of the metalic composition of the ammo--if they can't, well....???

 

[joe2004]

so when the box says FULL metal should the magnet stick to it ?

 

[Lone_Gunman]

so when the box says FULL metal should the magnet stick to it ?

No, whether its full metal jacket or not has nothing to do whether or not it contains a steel core.

The "full metal jacket" refers to the copper coating on the outside of the bullet.

A jacketed bullet is one that has a steel or lead core, coated in a jacket of copper.

If the bullet has a steel core, it will attract a magnet. If the core is lead, it won't attract a magnet. Steel core bullets are harder and penetrate more stuff than lead. Shooting ranges dont like steel core bullets because it messes up their backstops more than lead.

 

[jimbob1911]

depends

Some have a full metal jacket which is magnetic but still have a lead core...best thing to do is test with a magnet and if it is magnetic pull one bullet and cut it with a pair of tin snips or take a small grinding wheel to it...then you can check the core to see if it is truly steel core. Most steel core is mil-surp and is made that way because scrap steel is cheaper than lead.

 

[def4pos8]

MOST steel-core ammunition is the M855/SS109 surplus ammunition (5.56 NATO/.223 Remington). Some COMBLOC 7.62x39 and other calibers are out there too. The NATO stuff is readily identifiable by the green paint on the tip of the bullet. These rounds have a tungsten steel penetrator inserted in the lead core of the bullet. Your range folks are likely concerned about damage to back stops or overhead baffles. No argument with that! The magnet test will always work. . . .

 

[Neo-Luddite]

True enough on the 'green tip' 5.56. Per ATF that is, by definition, a 'sporting' round (not AP). The Commie 7.62 x 39 Steel core is out there still--but it's becomming a rare bird as further importation has ceased a few years back (NOT 'sporting', per ATF).



What a crazy country.

 

[Sunray]

"...FULL metal should the magnet stick to it..." Not necessarily. Some FMJ has a mild steel jacket. Some a copper or gilding(an alloy) metal jacket. Some FMJ's have a steel core. Some just lead. If a magnet sticks, it's got a steel jacket, a steel core or both.
There are commercial FMJ's too. They're copper jacketed with a lead core. Your .357 ammo is commercial. They're expensive to shoot on a regular basis and useless for defensive ammo.
"...even actual AP rifle ammo is OK..." Few ranges allow AP. .308/7.62NATO AP is illegal. Oddly, .30-06 AP isn't.

 

[jimbob1911]

30-06

30-06 steel core is not illegal because even with a lead core it will go through damn near vest making it AP...Sunray is saying what I was saying which is that just because the magnet sticks to it, doesn't mean it is steel core(could be mild steel jacket with lead core or copper jacket with steel core) The ONLY way to know for sure is to cut one in half and examine it. It is really not that hard to do and you will only be out 1 round.

 

[NavyLCDR]

The bottom line regarding the indoor range and their restrictions is this:

If the range says no steel core bullets or something similar, if the magnet attracts to the bullet, you can't shoot it there.

If the range says no steel cased ammo, if the magnet sticks to the cartridge case, you can't shoot it there.

You don't need to ask salesmen, you don't need to be concerned about what the box says, you just need to do the magnet test.

 

[joe2004]

cool thanks guys

the reason why i asked because i have been looking for some 7.62X39 and 7.62X54R and wanted to makre sure i dont buy them and get stock with it. im talking about the Russian ones and so on.

 

[jimbob1911]

Most 7.62x39 is lead core..there is some steel core still floating around but it is much more expensive than lead core due to people who think "steel core" is something special. However you do need to be careful when buying
x54 because there is still quite a bit of it that is steel core floating around for a cheap price. lots of info on different types of x54 ammo here:

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinAmmo.htm