8mm Armor piercing ability?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 8mm Armor piercing ability?

Posted: 9/14/2001 5:13:22 PM EDT

All the surplus 8mm ammo I've got looks to be steel. So, I'm curious how it compares to AP 30-06. Of course I don't know if it's solid steel or how hard it is, but a magnet sticks... If it's AP, what are it's abilities?

Posted: 9/14/2001 5:47:57 PM EDT

[#1]

BTT

Posted: 9/14/2001 6:00:30 PM EDT

[#2]

One way to find out if they are armor piercing or not is to try to cut the bullet with a pair of cutters. If it is true armor piercing you will find that it will not cut all the way through like lead will.
The problem with the old 8mm is that it is usually corrosive.
As far as ballistics go, the 8mm is supposed to be quite similar to the 30-06. If this is true than I would think that you would get similar armor piercing potential from it.
Even non-steel core 30-06 is considered armor piercing because it will penetrate enough steel to be considered armor piercing.[uzi]

Posted: 9/14/2001 6:13:58 PM EDT

[#3]

Your ammo is steel-jacketed, not steel cored.

-Troy

Posted: 9/14/2001 6:36:30 PM EDT

[#4]

I built a swinging steel plate target out of 1/2inch steel plate, and a 8x57mm rounds went clear through it at ranges out to 200 yards (my range has a max of 200 yards). The 30-06 round from my 03A3 dented the plate but didn't go through.

The 8mm ammo I was using was surplus Egyptian, the 30-06 was 165gr boat-tailed soft points.

OSA

Posted: 9/14/2001 6:43:38 PM EDT

[#5]

Thanks for the info. I'll try some cutters and shooting it at some steel plate if I can. I figured it was steel all the way through. Why would they plate the ammo in steel? Due to the cost of copper maybe?

Posted: 9/14/2001 6:48:13 PM EDT

[#6]

No steel in the Turkish stuff.

Posted: 9/14/2001 6:59:40 PM EDT

[#7]

I wonder how the Ecuadorian 8mm would affect the 1/2" plate?

Posted: 9/14/2001 7:15:09 PM EDT

[#8]

There are a LOT of types of 8X57 Mauser ammo out there..
Some, like the German WW2 AP ball is frightening in it's effectiveness..

Even the common 190 grain surplus ball is pretty good, but not in the same class as the U.S. M-2 AP ball

Some description of the headstamp, and the packaging if any would help me to find out more about you ammunition's possible performance against plate.

Meplat.

Posted: 9/14/2001 7:23:54 PM EDT

[#9]

I think mine is Turkish, but it's definitely steel plated. I just pulled a bullet and looked at the back. I've also scraped the bullet. No doubt it's steel.
The headstamp goes like this: T (* C / 1942 / FS / 7.9
The (* is a moon and star, which leads me to believe it's Turkish. If I wanted AP 8mm, what would I look for?

Posted: 9/14/2001 7:31:25 PM EDT

[#10]

if u want to know if its steal core or jacketed test it with a magnet if it sticks its atleast steal plated

Posted: 9/14/2001 7:41:47 PM EDT

[#11]

A target stand at our MG shoot is framed with 2 inch wall hydraulic line, very hard steel. A few stray shots from a 1919A4 struck and easily penetrated one side. Sorry, forgot to mention it was set up for 8mm and we were using AP.

Posted: 9/15/2001 12:34:06 AM EDT

[#12]

I have some of that "Ejercito Ecuatoriano" from Ecuador. The headstamp has "7.92" at 12:00, "1955" at 6:00 and the letter "A" at both 3:00 and 9:00.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 8mm Armor piercing ability?

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