South African 7.62. Would you really?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - South African 7.62. Would you really?

Posted: 3/2/2006 12:26:36 PM EDT

I have been shooting Federal 150 USGI over-run for 3 years, and need to re supply. Is the S.A. surplus really ok, or am I setting my NM M1A up for a f-up? I shoot ANYTHING through my 91, but I'm a little concerned about the M1A...Unfounded?

scuze me while I whip this out!

Posted: 3/2/2006 12:36:44 PM EDT

[#1]

I've shot a bunch in my 1919 without a single hitch, and just got another case today. As far as accuracy out of a "precision" type gun I couldn't tell you.

Posted: 3/2/2006 12:50:02 PM EDT

[#2]

I've had 0 problems in my M1A's. Just don't expect super duper accuracy.

Posted: 3/2/2006 12:51:48 PM EDT

[#3]

Don't get me wrong, I use Black hills to "hit" targets, other to shoot stuff. Hell the only reason I have a NM M1A is the fool who traded it to me for a N.I.B. Desert Storm Beretta 92 didn't know what he was doing. I am of the age (don't ask) that remembers bad Grecian 7.62, and explosive Spanish 7.62. Seems to be a lot of folks using the S.A. but I would like to get some M1A shooters input. Bet you go through some ammo with the 19?

Posted: 3/2/2006 12:55:50 PM EDT

[#4]

I run everything through my National Match,never a hiccup.For quite a few years she was my only rifle. Shot lots of South African ball,decent accuracy and 100% reliable.The M14/M1a, even a N.M.,does not need to be babied.Next week, my girl is getting Wolf

Posted: 3/2/2006 1:12:28 PM EDT

[#5]

South african has been good for me and my fulton M14. My rifle REALLY likes portugese, but South African does decently however the brass is kinda soft and I have seen a few torn case necks while loading the ammo. Otherwise it goes bang every time I pull the trigger. While there is better out there, there is also worse...

Posted: 3/2/2006 1:19:03 PM EDT

[#6]

Steel Cases, eh? I won't even do that to my HK...Thanks for the input

Posted: 3/2/2006 1:22:46 PM EDT

[#7]

Explain "torn case necks while loading"

Posted: 3/2/2006 1:57:31 PM EDT

[#8]

I am getting 2.5-3" groups at 100 yrds from my M1A with SA. It will typically do a little better than .5" with handloads.

Posted: 3/2/2006 4:09:14 PM EDT

[#9]

I've shot lots of this stuff through both of my M1A's and never have had a problem. It's a great value for surplus 308. (sorry, better edit to 7.62. That should keep eveyone happy)

Posted: 3/2/2006 6:05:37 PM EDT

[#10]

If a person is really anal about their barrel, they should really like the fact that SA is copperjacketed, leadcore---it don't get no more gentle than that.

In my 2 M1A's, I run Aussie, SA, Port and still have 1500-1700 RG left----they love them all, but Aussie is special

Posted: 3/2/2006 6:38:45 PM EDT

[#11]

The SA has run perfectly in my Poly, no problems at all except it's not very accurate.

About half of those who post about the SA ammo report disappointing accuracy. The other half seem to do okay with it.

Posted: 3/2/2006 11:53:20 PM EDT

[#12]

South African ammo won't win you any matches but you can kill man size targets within reasonable combat distances with it. I've shot thousnads of rounds of S.A. 7,62. Never a problem.

However, I miss Hirtenberger.

Posted: 3/3/2006 4:53:58 AM EDT

[#13]

I have gotten 21/4" - 3" groups (5 shot) @ 100 yds. with SA in my SOCOM-16. The average velocity was 2,504 fps. That was with a very inexpensive red dot sight. The SA gave me better groups than new Remington-UMC fmj stuff that I also shot that day. The Remington stuff was a little hotter @ an average velocity of 2,637 fps. Something I noticed that day shooting was that 3 shots from each 5 shot string (of SA) would almost be touching, and 2 shots in that string would be the ones that opened up the group to the 21/4 - 3" spread. Those 2 shots would also be equidistant from the 3 close holes. BTW I am not touting SA as accurate ammo, only that it shot OK for me.

Posted: 3/3/2006 5:45:54 AM EDT

[#14]

Thanks guys! Ran some through the gal yesterday just b4 dark, it shot into 2.5" at 100 with a 6x42 leupold on top. Cant ask for much better for "cheap" foriegn fodder. Finished up with Black Hills 168's....They shoot into a dime. The S.A seemed a little dirty, but who among us doesn't like to oil up our hands and rub them all over a beautiful lady!

Posted: 3/3/2006 11:31:09 AM EDT

[#15]

I own Portuguese, Santa Barbara, and South African and would rank them in that order. All three are clean and do shoot very well. The Porto ammo is wonderful. The Santa Barbara "sounds" a bit "hot" and has a nice "snap" to it but isn't as accurate as the Porto ammo. The South African ammo is just good plinking ammo, imho, but works find in all my NATO rifles but I wouldn't shoot competition with it.

Rome

Posted: 3/3/2006 3:56:31 PM EDT

[#16]

For the price you pay, it is great get out and shoot M1A ammo. I've got well over 15K of it stashed away for shooting in my FALs, M1As, and .308 Garand.

Posted: 3/19/2006 7:08:30 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
I am getting 2.5-3" groups at 100 yrds from my M1A with SA.

I have put around 1,000 rounds of the SA through my M1A without a hitch. I am also getting a little over 2" groups at 100 yards. The Australian 7.62 seems to shoot a little better but the supply seems to have run out so I am saving what I have left.

Posted: 3/19/2006 9:09:49 PM EDT

[#18]

My M1A ( USGI TRW chrome lined barrel) produces groups that hover consistantly in the 2 1/4" range with SA R1M1 ammo. Groups measured center to center between the rounds furthest apart.
This rifle will produce consistant 1.5" groups with BF Portugese ammo. (100 yrds)

I haven't experienced anything less than excellent performance with SA R1M1 ammo in regard to function with my M1A and FALs.

South African M1A2 and R1M1 ammo is loaded with copper jacketed lead core bullets in Berdan primed brass cases.

Posted: 3/21/2006 7:46:18 AM EDT

[#19]

I've been shooting this ammo a bit but have suddenly, as in the past week, started having problems with it not ejecting. The rifle checked out fine except for a small amount of carbon build up in the chamber. I tried a few other types of ammo, TAP, Aussy, some unknown steel core surplus from a buddy, and they all worked without issue.

Looking at the case mouth on the SA it is getting blown out a bit larger than the other ammo
and causing it to "stick" just enough to prevent ejection. You can see where the extractor is
stripping material off the rim in its attempt to pull it out. Manually extracting the case using
a rod or small flatblade is very easy.

Hopefully a thorough cleaning will make my rifle happy with this ammo again since I have approx 1,000 rounds of it at my house.

Posted: 3/21/2006 3:50:12 PM EDT

[#20]

Damn, from what I can tell above, I think I see 100% acceptance, cool. I have some battle packs coming.

Posted: 3/21/2006 7:38:54 PM EDT

[#21]

I like it too. I shoot it in my M1a and will shoot it with my FAL once I finish building it. I save the cheap Indian shit for my 1919

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - South African 7.62. Would you really?

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