User Panel
Posted: 2/7/2006 7:09:08 AM EDT
Is Q3131 the same as Q3131A. I know one is made in Israel and loaded to full power.
Is the US Q3131 also full power 5.56 ammo? |
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IN one area it equates them as the same... your correct, but I have shot them both and the "A" Israeli made, is hotter ammo, IMO.
The ammo faq also states this: Q. Holy ear-ache Batman! This Q3131A/Lake City XM193 is really loud and it launches a FIREBALL from my muzzle! Everyone at the range is looking at me now. What gives? Yep. Q3131A and XM193 are Mil-Spec M193. They mean business. They are loaded hotter than most commercial loads and you're likely to notice that as soon as you fire them--especially out of a 16" post-ban barrel without a flash hider, you are going to get quite a bit of blast and a fireball. Some M193 may have flash retardant, but it's just no match for a short barrel without a hider. Prepare yourself for surgery on your ears if you have one of those short barrels and a muzzle brake. Always wear eye and ear protection when shooting! At one point in time I believe they were loaded the same, but the few Q3131 boxes I have left laying around are not as hot as the Q3131A I stock, hence my comment above.... Mike |
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I thought I heard something about a new Q3131 that was just like the "a".
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Yes. It meets M193 spec. The 'A' version is made by IMI and seems to have better QC, but I did some Chrono tests a few years back and it varried by lot which was hotter (Q3131 or Q3131A) but both met the spec for M193. (well except for that one lot of Q3131 I picked up in 1999 that was running well OVER spec - up to 150fps faster IIRC). |
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When I shoot XM193 or Q3131A out of a 14 1/2" equiped with a Izzy I wear ear plugs and muffs. Not to mention the fireball. I have had experienced shooters ask me if I was shooting over presssure reloads.
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ARE YOU KIDDING!? Man I need to try a box of this stuff. I'm shooting Black Hills 55gr Blue Box which seems pretty hot. I think it's rated over 3,000FPS. But dang on the fireball stuff. who's got a box? I've got PayPal! |
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Right now it's on a 10% off sale here in MD. $4.04/20. Not a great price, but it will do. |
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I still have a few bandoliers of 99 Q3131 VERY HOT and I kept it for that reason
just to get a Idea Q3131 had 27.1grs of ball type powder also the Win M855 also had 27.1grs. Q3131A had 26.2 grs. of ball type powder! also LC M855 26.2grs. Santa barbra SS109 26.0grs SA M193 powder ball type 26.2grs. |
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I just looked on Bass Pro's website and couldn't find any??? Am I missing something? I want to get a few more boxes but don't want to pay the $5.++ Gander Mt. is selling it fore. Thanx,Stang |
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I think it is a -10% "In Store" special.
Which sucks for me. We don't have Bass Pro shops in Utah. |
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Click on the Bass Pro link in ammo prices and it will take you right there.
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Exactly. Winchester ran the Lake City Arsenal up to 1999. Q3131 stamped 1999 and older is mil-spec and identical to todays Federal Lake City XM193. Post 1999 Q3131 is great ammo, but not mil-spec. Q3131A is mil-spec and made by IMI for Winchester. |
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So what's your definition of mil spec? The new Q3131 is a 55 gr. FMJBT bullet, is cannelured, crimped, loaded in 5.56 brass, 5.56 pressure, sealed, etc. etc. Seems just as mil spec as XM193. |
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OLD Q3131 is M193
Q3131A is M193 Newer Q3131 is M193 All the Q is hot and M193 specs I perfer Q3131 over any type of M193 or 223 55FMJ But thats Me AE 55fmj wont bang up your AR15 and is very accurate! ALL WinQ/ M193 is suppose to have 3270FPS |
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Not my definition. (I rarely come up with any new thoughts.) See the Winchester Press Release and the Ammo Oracle. |
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WHERE in that press release, OR in the Ammo Oracle - do you find anything that states, as you put it:
Nothing in those articles state that? How is new production Q3131 NOT up to M193 spec? All I have seen is conjecture from people who said it "didnt feel as hot" in previous threads. The only way to tell, is to take a known quality reference barrel, and chronograph the loads. Disassemble a catridge, and examin the primer, sealants, and bullet type. Perform gel testing to ensure fragmentation is consistent with previous M193 gel tests. I havent read anything definitive yet that demonstrates that new production Q3131 is not in the M193 spec. |
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The Winchester press release just explains the difference between .223 SAAMI and 5.56mm ammo. Last time I looked, Q3131A is still marked 5.56mm ammo, so I am not sure exactly how this supports your claim that post-1999 is somehow different from pre-1999. I don't think that ammo is mil-spec just based on where it is made. If you want any further proof of that just look at XM193PD. It is made at Lake City; but I am pretty sure military specs don't allow Federal to use bullets that look like they were squeezed in a vise prior to loading. |
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Some of you guys make my head spin...
To summarize: Yes Winchester Q3131 should meet the "milspec" for M193 ammo, just like Q3131A. One batch or lot of Q3131A might be hotter than one batch of Q3131 but both should meet the velocity spec for M193 ammo. What "feels" hotter dosn't really mean much. Actual velocities are what counts. IMHO either Q3131A or Q3131 would be a better choice than Federal XM193. Look at it this way: Federal XM193 is most likely left over components loaded on LC equipment, and may or may not actually meet the "milspec" for M193. The last case of XM193 I bought was lot 109, and it had case headstamps that varied from LC 01 to LC 04... this stuff isnt exactly first run, top grade ammo. Does it work most of the time...sure. Is it hot... sure... Both Q3131A and Q3131 are more likely to have better QC and meet all of the specs fo M193... and if I had to guess, they are also top grade... not just thrown together leftover components. |
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Strangely enough, XM193 rates higher than Q3131A and Q3131A in the ammo review. Whether it's statistically significant is another question... |
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You guys need to get off the key board and go shooting!
Q3131 has been around for ages! Q3131 is Fine 3270fps whats your malfunction!!!! Lake City/ Federal /XM193 is good ammo I have 500rds kept for a rainy day! But I like Q3131 and would pick it over the xm/Federal/Lake city any day of the week! I have shot this Winchester Round since the 80`S I have NEVER found any problems! Relax everything is okay! Wes des rat you are a wise man. And besides they Robber/zombie you shoot aint going to know if its Q3131 or AE 55fmj wich is 100 t0 200 fps slower!! I would worry more wich round SHOOTS BETTER!!! |
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Recent (i.e., 2004 and later, since Olin got a second-source ammo contract) Q3131 is M193-class ammo, intended to be sold to the US military and made on USGI-type SCAMP production equipment. Winchester acquired this machinery as part of their contract, since Lake City couldn't keep up with demand despite their ongoing expansion.
Just like XM193, Q3131 is Grade 2 ammo, meaning there was a small problem of some kind that caused it not to pass QC, and therefore not be accepted by the US military. Those problems are generally minor enough not to be noticed, but you may see some dented or otherwise visible problems occasionally. -Troy |
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From: XXX [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 6:10 PM To: Nowak, Paul F EALT Subject: Winchester Q3131 Please confirm that the recent USA manufacture Winchester Q3131 is made to the same milspec as the Winchester Q3131A. Thanks, Brillo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is. Sincerely, Paul Nowak Senior Technical Specialist Winchester Law Enforcement Ammunition |
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And there we have it. Thanks brillo. |
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BUSHWACKER Thanks!!
Its not about wich M193 is Faster but wich one is more accurate! I would be more concern with accuracy than how much hotter is XM193 compared to Q3131! Ive shot the Q3131 since the 80`S Q3131 3270 fps Q3131a 3270 fps Q3131 3270 fps |
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Once again Brillo and Troy provide invaluable information on a highly debated issue. |
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