Wolf FMJ on Steel Targets

[sammy]

I am attending a tactical rifle match next weekend and have Golden Tiger and Wolf FMJ in 7.62x39. Both are made with a steel jacket and lead core. Is this going to be a problem with metal targets that are made for rifle rounds? I have searched companies making rifle steel popers and targets and none of the sites I found say you cannot use rounds with a steel jacket. They do however say no armor penetrating or FMJ .223 ammo. Has anyone here had any problems or imput with this? Thanks Sammy

 

[RP88]

if FMJ .223 is going to cause a problem for those targets, then you can bet that something similar or harder while in a larger caliber will as well. At least, that is what it sounds like to me. I would say that if FMJ .223 will ruin the target, then FMJ x39 will do the same.

 

[General Geoff]

never seen steel jacketed ammo. Usually it's copper jacketed, steel case.

 

[sammy]

Apparently all the current Wolf, Golden Tiger, Brown, Silver and golden bear for 7.62x39 has a steel jacket, lead core and a very thin layer of copper on the bullet. Here is a link with a good explanation. http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=268

 

[Hoppy590]

never seen steel jacketed ammo. Usually it's copper jacketed, steel case.

thats what some of the older/milsurp ammo is.

alot, if not all the current production is "bi metal" which is a steel jacket with a copper coating

 

[chris in va]

I can tell you Wolf/Golden Tiger has no problem whatsoever punching a nice hole through 1/4" mild steel I bought at Home Depot. At 100 yards.

Even if the poppers are hardened, I'd suspect they'd do some pretty good damage after a while.

 

[greyling22]

I've shot straight through 3/8 steel at 50 yds with winchester white box 223 fmj. in fact, our rule of thumb at the range is "only shoot steel with a pistol or a lead bullet. preferably both."

 

[briansmithwins]

We shoot a lot of steel at our local matches. It's prohibited to bring any ammo that will stick to a magnet out. Having steel jacket or cored ammo will actually get you kicked out of the match that day.

Our steel is primarily AR500 armor plate. 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO don't damage it at all. The steel jackets on Wolf (either .223 or 7.62x39) do cause minor damage that leads to bullet 'reflection'. Damaged targets have to be replaced for safety reasons, which is the reason for the magnet test.

Ask the guys that put on the match, they will let you know. BSW

 

[SN13]

Comparing the penetration of a Rifle round through Mild steel you picked up at Home depot to that of what it will do on an AR500 Armored Steel Target, is similar to comparing Mild-Bimetal Steel jacketed Bullets to hardened AP Steel Core Ammo.

They aren't even close.

 

[Halo]

The mild steel used in the jacket material is not much harder than copper. Steel jacketing is common in European ammunition, and not just dodgy milsurp stuff either. If a target is rated for FMJ in the caliber you are firing, then you are fine. The mild steel jacket is more about economics, it's not even remotely like a hardened AP round.