Gary G23
Member
My local dealer has some South African 300 round 5.56mm battle packs manufactured in 1986. Is this ammo corrosive or not?
South African Battle Packs
- Thread starter Gary G23
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No, it is not corrosive. It's considered excellent plinking ammo. Anything in the low $40-ish range is a good price.
It is USUALLY not considered acceptable "just in case" ammo, as it is so very old and you may have a few misfires per pack.
See www.ar15.com or www.ammo-oracle.com for more info on the SABP's.
It is USUALLY not considered acceptable "just in case" ammo, as it is so very old and you may have a few misfires per pack.
See www.ar15.com or www.ammo-oracle.com for more info on the SABP's.
Matthew_Q
Member
Are these becoming available again? They dried up in the later part of last year, and I haven't seen any since. I used some in a match with a 20" A2 AR-15, and managed to get a 183 1x in one string (the best string), so it's capable of decent accuracy. Out of the one 300rd battle pack I had, there was not one misfire or misfeed. If I find any more at the gunshows, I'm going to snag some!
I lived in South Africa for a while, and got to talk to a lot of people there that served in the military-it's not hard, it was compulsory for whites to serve in the forces for 2 years. Make no mistake about it, they know how to make ammo. South African ammo is actually my preferred favorite as far as surplus goes. Keep in mind that it is important for any military to make accurate ammo for their soldiers. South Africa supplies 60% of the African Continents electric power and 40% of all the continent's machinery. They are a very modern country and know what they are doing.
I personally stay away from a brand called Cheetah. They make mostly AK 47 ammo. It is made in Zimbabwe, and that is my problem- Zimbabwe is the wonderful place that takes away white farmer's land and "redistributes" it to blacks who could care less about farming. By the way, I would feel the same if the country was taking away property from Black farmers and giving it to white people. But I won't monetarily support Zimbabwe in anything as long as Robert Mugabe is leading the country.
South African Ammo is good stuff and I wouldn't consider ammo "old" unless it is getting on to be 30 years old or so.
john L
I personally stay away from a brand called Cheetah. They make mostly AK 47 ammo. It is made in Zimbabwe, and that is my problem- Zimbabwe is the wonderful place that takes away white farmer's land and "redistributes" it to blacks who could care less about farming. By the way, I would feel the same if the country was taking away property from Black farmers and giving it to white people. But I won't monetarily support Zimbabwe in anything as long as Robert Mugabe is leading the country.
South African Ammo is good stuff and I wouldn't consider ammo "old" unless it is getting on to be 30 years old or so.
john L
RustyHammer
Member
Thanks, John, good review.
V.Oller
Member
Actually, as long as it is well made ammo, the age shouldn't make a differance. I have and still shoot WW2 ammo and that's over 50 years old. Less than 10 years old and in sealed packs shouldn't be bad.
I'm about half way through a 2700 round tub of SA .223, not a single problem so far. Excellent plinking ammo, fairly accurate and very reasonably priced if bought in bulk (check the sales in Sportsman's Guide). Oh yeah, it's non-corrosive also.
All of the South African BP's I've seen are early to mid-80's production, so they are a bit "aged".
I am not saying anything bad about the ammo mind you... It has been the primary ammo used at the twice-monthly CQB matches at my favorite range. That's where I've seen the occasional failure to fire. Never seen a misfeed.
I asked one of the "ammo oracles" the same question about the "sealed packs", and the reply was this (more or less).
Although the ammo is sealed, it is legitimately surplus ammo from South Africa. You don't have any idea how many days it spent next to a tent in the 110' sunshine, followed by 40' nights, or how long it sat on a dock waiting for it's boatride to the US....
But as I said the first time... It's excellent stuff for plinking and matches. I just personally would prefer something a bit newer if I were trusting my life to it. (Winchester Q3131A for example).
Use and enjoy...
thanks for the info, i'll be calling my supplier and grab some up...the ups will not be happy about unloading this stuff. i've been really happy with the last batch i got...i believe it was made by PMP
Chipperman
Member
I've burned thru a lot of S African .223 and .308 with NO misfires.
I'll buy lots more if I can find a good price on it.
I'll buy lots more if I can find a good price on it.
Wil Terry
Member
IN THE AMMUNITION BUSINESS 1986 IS CONSIDERED LAST WEEK.
Awhile back I visted a friend who collects machine guns. We put tens of thousands of rounds through his BREN gun without a malfunction nor misfire. All of the 303BRIT ammo we shot up was made in 1904.
He had 50 or more magazines for that delightful BREN and it was amazing how fast we went through all that 303 ammunition!!
Awhile back I visted a friend who collects machine guns. We put tens of thousands of rounds through his BREN gun without a malfunction nor misfire. All of the 303BRIT ammo we shot up was made in 1904.
He had 50 or more magazines for that delightful BREN and it was amazing how fast we went through all that 303 ammunition!!
RustyHammer
Member
Reports sound like it's worth trying. Ordering some today ...
JohnBT
Member
It's been available all along at the gun shows here, but the prices have moved from the $38-$40 range up to $42-$44. I don't know though if this is a new shipment or what they had leftover from last year. JT
South African hunting ammo usually has PMP or Musgrave brand names. (I think "PMP"= Pretoria Metal Products or Pan Metal Products. Anyone know for sure?
I'd think that .303 British ammo made in 1904 would have the old Mk. VI bullet of 215 grains, roundnose stuff. Isn't that BREN sighted for Mk. VII ammo, loaded since 1910?
For a .303 hunting load, look at Winchester's 180 grain. I like the bullet shape best of all the current commercial loads. Federal also has 180 grain spitzer .303, as does Norma, when one can find it. Remington uses a roundnose bullet, which won't shoot as flat, and is less likely to shoot to military sights.
Lone Star
I'd think that .303 British ammo made in 1904 would have the old Mk. VI bullet of 215 grains, roundnose stuff. Isn't that BREN sighted for Mk. VII ammo, loaded since 1910?
For a .303 hunting load, look at Winchester's 180 grain. I like the bullet shape best of all the current commercial loads. Federal also has 180 grain spitzer .303, as does Norma, when one can find it. Remington uses a roundnose bullet, which won't shoot as flat, and is less likely to shoot to military sights.
Lone Star
Matthew_Q
Member
Lone Star,
You're right about PMP. It is Praetoria Metal Pressings. I have a case of PMP .223 at home, and that's what it reads on the box.
I want to try to find some of the PMP .303, as I've heard it's pretty good stuff.
For now, I (haven't started loading .303 yet) am going to load the Rem 180 gr rn bullets.
I am also getting a Parker Hale 5C rear sight for my No4Mk1, so adjustments for non milspec ammo should be easy.
Know any sources of the PMP .303?
You're right about PMP. It is Praetoria Metal Pressings. I have a case of PMP .223 at home, and that's what it reads on the box.
I want to try to find some of the PMP .303, as I've heard it's pretty good stuff.
For now, I (haven't started loading .303 yet) am going to load the Rem 180 gr rn bullets.
I am also getting a Parker Hale 5C rear sight for my No4Mk1, so adjustments for non milspec ammo should be easy.
Know any sources of the PMP .303?
i have about 200 rounds of the PMP .303 that i picked up from century arms.
they had a choice of FMJ or soft point...i thought they were 173gr slugs, but it could be 180grs. it is packed the same as their hunting ammo in nice shiney, boxer primed, brass cases.
they had a choice of FMJ or soft point...i thought they were 173gr slugs, but it could be 180grs. it is packed the same as their hunting ammo in nice shiney, boxer primed, brass cases.
Gee, guys, 1986 is old? Not long ago I fired some .45-70 made in 1884, and it went off.
The ammo companies have been asked how long ammo will last, given good storage (cool, dry, sealed container). The answer is that no one knows, because modern powder and primers have not been around long enough.
A couple of years ago, the lab at what used to be Hercules was asked about powder life. They had samples of their powder made a century ago and every few years they take some and test it. They have found no significant deterioration in performance.
Anyone with a bunch of 1986 ammo that you want to discard as too old, please sent it on. I'll even pay the freight.
Jim
The ammo companies have been asked how long ammo will last, given good storage (cool, dry, sealed container). The answer is that no one knows, because modern powder and primers have not been around long enough.
A couple of years ago, the lab at what used to be Hercules was asked about powder life. They had samples of their powder made a century ago and every few years they take some and test it. They have found no significant deterioration in performance.
Anyone with a bunch of 1986 ammo that you want to discard as too old, please sent it on. I'll even pay the freight.
Jim
Jaco
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