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2/18/2008 5:32:03 PM EDT
I am looking to stock up on 500 surplus rounds of .308.

is pakistani surplus ammo any good?

how about serbian?

I hear lithuanian is really good, and so is the australian, is this correct?

I hear the south african is only so-so.

so what say you hive mind, whats teh best .308 surplus ammo
2/18/2008 5:38:08 PM EDT
[#1]
Your choice basically boils down to what you can actually find for sale.

Aussi
Port
HP [Hirtenburger]
Dag
Men
SA
all good surp ammo. Some is more accurate but all works perfectly fine. If your rifle can't runs SA, it's your particular rifle or the fluted chamber in some makes. Runs great in M1As and FALs.

Indian, SOME is fine, the older 70s stuff works perfectly fine, the 80s stuff Bleh.

Lithie don't know, never fired it personally same for serbian stuff.

2/18/2008 5:40:47 PM EDT
[#2]

Quoted:
Your choice basically boils down to what you can actually find for sale.

Aussi
Port
HP [Hirtenburger]
Dag
Men
SA
all good surp ammo. Some is more accurate but all works perfectly fine. If your rifle can't runs SA, it's your particular rifle or the fluted chamber in some makes. Runs great in M1As and FALs.

Indian, SOME is fine, the older 70s stuff works perfectly fine, the 80s stuff Bleh.

Lithie don't know, never fired it personally same for serbian stuff.



is that in order of best to worst?
2/18/2008 5:43:45 PM EDT
[#3]
SA > Paki > Indian (1970's manufactured; stay away from other years, especially 2000s)
2/18/2008 5:46:24 PM EDT
[#4]
I've seen brand new Federal and Winchester ammo cheaper than 20+ year old surplus.

I'd buy the new(reloadable) stuff long before I bought some 20+ year old ammo that no longer met specifications for that lot.

YMMV
2/18/2008 5:48:23 PM EDT
[#5]

Quoted:
I've seen brand new Federal and Winchester ammo cheaper than 20+ year old surplus.

I'd buy the new(reloadable) stuff long before I bought some 20+ year old ammo that no longer met specifications for that lot.

YMMV


where is federal or winchester 110$/200 like lithuanian and australian?

better yet where is it 60$/140 like SA

isnt australian and lithuanian both reloadable? I know they are brass cassed and boxer primed
2/18/2008 5:50:24 PM EDT
[#6]
There is no such thing as "surplus" ammo.
2/18/2008 5:50:53 PM EDT
[#7]
For all the complaints about SA, there are only a few rifles that have a problem with it. Fluted chamber rifles and seems to be some 308 ARs.

After running a couple K of it with no issues thru a Garand, M1As, and FALs I have to say that I place more blame on the rifles or the import builders then the ammo.

Old Painless did a test on accuracy of Surp 7.62x51, the SA did perfectly fine for what it is. It is not $1.00 a round match ammo but it will go bang every time in a maintained rifle. It is also one of the few that is copper jacketed lead core with no steel in it, much of the other stuff is steel jacketed with a copper coating.
2/18/2008 5:51:49 PM EDT
[#8]
INdian sucks.  I have 80 rounds left of a 200rd battle pack and at least 1 of 20 doesn't fire.  Primer strikes are solid too.
2/18/2008 5:53:33 PM EDT
[#9]
Pass,get what ya' pay for
2/18/2008 6:03:28 PM EDT
[#10]

Quoted:
For all the complaints about SA, there are only a few rifles that have a problem with it. Fluted chamber rifles and seems to be some 308 ARs.

After running a couple K of it with no issues thru a Garand, M1As, and FALs I have to say that I place more blame on the rifles or the import builders then the ammo.

Old Painless did a test on accuracy of Surp 7.62x51, the SA did perfectly fine for what it is. It is not $1.00 a round match ammo but it will go bang every time in a maintained rifle. It is also one of the few that is copper jacketed lead core with no steel in it, much of the other stuff is steel jacketed with a copper coating.


really? where is this test, I owuld love to see it.
2/18/2008 6:08:19 PM EDT
[#11]
I have had zero problems with SA in two roller lock/fluted chamber rifles. One is a German HK91 the other is a CAI CETME (stainless cast receiver). The Portuguese is the best in my expierance. But the Aussie and SA have non ferus bullets.
2/18/2008 6:10:35 PM EDT
[#12]
what about that igman bosnian stuff?
2/18/2008 6:16:32 PM EDT
[#13]
oops
2/18/2008 6:17:08 PM EDT
[#14]
You'll probably get a lot better info in the ammo forum.  

www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=3&f=16
2/18/2008 6:17:24 PM EDT
[#15]

Quoted:
what about that igman bosnian stuff?


I fired 5 boxes of the Privi stuff in my fal just to check it out.   It all went bang.   Really could not tell the difference between it and SA.    I might actually buy some more if it came down to the $0.30/rd range.  
2/18/2008 6:24:56 PM EDT
[#16]
Used both a BUNCH of Indian (70s) .308 and Austrailian .308 in my CAI 91...it all cycled fine and pretty-much hit what I aimed at.

No complaints.
2/18/2008 6:47:07 PM EDT
[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
what about that igman bosnian stuff?


I fired 5 boxes of the Privi stuff in my fal just to check it out.   It all went bang.   Really could not tell the difference between it and SA.    I might actually buy some more if it came down to the $0.30/rd range.  


Igman and Prvi Partizan are not the same.  I haven't shot the Igman, but have heard good things about it.  Prvi is very good ammo, IMO (Wolf Performance Gold is actually reboxed Prvi).  I've had good luck with the SA stuff too.  My PTR91 eats it all up.  It likes Silver Bear too.
2/18/2008 7:18:54 PM EDT
[#18]
I've fired Aussi, Port, HP, SA and factory Winchester in my M60E4, and it all functions fine.
2/18/2008 7:23:50 PM EDT
[#19]

Quoted:
You'll probably get a lot better info in the ammo forum.  

www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=3&f=16


isnt that mostly for 5.56?
2/18/2008 7:28:30 PM EDT
[#20]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I've seen brand new Federal and Winchester ammo cheaper than 20+ year old surplus.

I'd buy the new(reloadable) stuff long before I bought some 20+ year old ammo that no longer met specifications for that lot.

YMMV


where is federal or winchester 110$/200 like lithuanian and australian?

better yet where is it 60$/140 like SA

isnt australian and lithuanian both reloadable? I know they are brass cassed and boxer primed


The last time I looked Federal and Winchester both were around $140 for 200. I also looked at surplus and it was a little higher than that. Prices may have come back down a little since then? Either way, $.42-$.55 a shot is ridiculous for surplus 20 year old ammo that no longer meets specifications.
2/18/2008 7:38:00 PM EDT
[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
I've seen brand new Federal and Winchester ammo cheaper than 20+ year old surplus.

I'd buy the new(reloadable) stuff long before I bought some 20+ year old ammo that no longer met specifications for that lot.

YMMV


where is federal or winchester 110$/200 like lithuanian and australian?

better yet where is it 60$/140 like SA

isnt australian and lithuanian both reloadable? I know they are brass cassed and boxer primed


The last time I looked Federal and Winchester both were around $140 for 200. I also looked at surplus and it was a little higher than that. Prices may have come back down a little since then? Either way, $.42-$.55 a shot is ridiculous for surplus 20 year old ammo that no longer meets specifications.


where can you get federal for 140$/200?

that sounds pretty good.
2/18/2008 7:44:48 PM EDT
[#22]
I've fired thousands of rounds of SA through FAL's, M1A's, a HK91, a CETME, and an AP4 with nary an issue: no misfires what-so-ever. SA may not possess match grade accuracy, but has been fine for range usage.
2/19/2008 6:54:46 AM EDT
[#23]
For general plinking, dont rule out wolf.
2/19/2008 9:35:18 AM EDT
[#24]

Quoted:
I have had zero problems with SA in two roller lock/fluted chamber rifles. One is a German HK91 the other is a CAI CETME (stainless cast receiver). The Portuguese is the best in my expierance. But the Aussie and SA have non ferus bullets.



Same here. I've had zero problems with SA ammo in my PTR-91. Glad I still have about 2000 rounds from before the price went up.
2/19/2008 9:57:54 AM EDT
[#25]
Ooh look No Headstamp-Oh My some Rarity Indeed



No prize for Indentity BTW(cuz you know who)Snicker,Silent Snickers
2/19/2008 10:04:48 AM EDT
[#26]

Quoted:
I've fired Aussi, Port, HP, SA and factory Winchester in my M60E4, and it all functions fine.


Same here, same weapons system.  Good stuff.




ETA:  Pg. 2 claimed for all M60E4 owners
2/19/2008 10:09:52 AM EDT
[#27]
so what about laquer coated stuff, is it really that bad?
2/19/2008 10:24:43 AM EDT
[#28]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Your choice basically boils down to what you can actually find for sale.

Aussi
Port
HP [Hirtenburger]
Dag
Men
SA
all good surp ammo. Some is more accurate but all works perfectly fine. If your rifle can't runs SA, it's your particular rifle or the fluted chamber in some makes. Runs great in M1As and FALs.

Indian, SOME is fine, the older 70s stuff works perfectly fine, the 80s stuff Bleh.

Lithie don't know, never fired it personally same for serbian stuff.



is that in order of best to worst?
Hirtenberger is By Far the best.
Then I'd go to Radway Green, IMI next if you can find it, then Aussie and SA.

There was one batch of ammo, I forget where from, the case would rupture about 3%-4% of the time.  The crazy thing was, its accuracy from the non-rupturing ammo was quite good!
2/19/2008 10:30:46 AM EDT
[#29]
I haven't had any troubles at all with the SA 7.62 in a Armalite AR-10. I just bought some Privi 308 but haven't had a chance to check it out yet
2/19/2008 10:34:26 AM EDT
[#30]
I've never shot Hirtenberger or Aussie, and probably couldn't afford them if I could find some.

I bought a buttload of SA when it was 24.00/BP and lower. If I'd only known............
Anyway, it works fine in my FAL.

I've shot a few boxes of Pak, and it did ok as well.

I've reloaded some for the FAL. 150 grain boattails. I tried to keep them around 2500fps, IIRC. I've never shot any commercial .308 in it. I think I read some of the commercial ammo can be problematic because of the pressure curve. You might want to ask in the FAL forum here or at FALFILES.
2/19/2008 12:48:06 PM EDT
[#31]
Don't forget the Swedish Svenska and Norma Ball.
2/19/2008 12:56:10 PM EDT
[#32]
I have several hundred rounds of the 1975 manufacture Paki and it all does go bang but it is not very accurate. Runs ok in my M1A's but not so good in my buddies DPMS .308. It's ok for blasting. I paid $119 plus tax for 400rnds. The shop has several ammo cans of this stuff left but considering the poor accuracy I would never buy it again.
2/19/2008 1:01:49 PM EDT
[#33]
how about the Belgian NATO stuff?
2/19/2008 9:44:58 PM EDT
[#34]
never shot the bel stuff myself; I'd guess it'd be just fine.
2/19/2008 10:41:26 PM EDT
[#35]
Glad I got 1200 rounds of SA 2 years ago for 200 bucks when I did.
2/20/2008 3:41:50 AM EDT
[#36]
Try the Lithuanian 7.62 that came onto the market recently.

It's very good. I got mine from AIM surplus.

Good things about it are it's new production and very accurate.

Have fun,

EMSflyer
2/20/2008 4:11:46 AM EDT
[#37]
Aussie is good stufff.
2/20/2008 4:31:09 AM EDT
[#38]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Your choice basically boils down to what you can actually find for sale.

Aussi
Port
HP [Hirtenburger]
Dag
Men
SA
all good surp ammo. Some is more accurate but all works perfectly fine. If your rifle can't runs SA, it's your particular rifle or the fluted chamber in some makes. Runs great in M1As and FALs.

Indian, SOME is fine, the older 70s stuff works perfectly fine, the 80s stuff Bleh.

Lithie don't know, never fired it personally same for serbian stuff.



is that in order of best to worst?
Hirtenberger is By Far the best.
Then I'd go to Radway Green, IMI next if you can find it, then Aussie and SA.

There was one batch of ammo, I forget where from, the case would rupture about 3%-4% of the time.  The crazy thing was, its accuracy from the non-rupturing ammo was quite good!


That batch might have been from Brazil...CBC marked I think.  There was a recall on that stuff.  I had maybe 100 rds., so instead of sending it back, I just trashed it. FWIW.

dvo
2/20/2008 6:05:00 AM EDT
[#39]
Igman is good stuff.  No complaints on the ammo and the brass is reloadable.
2/20/2008 7:24:44 AM EDT
[#40]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Your choice basically boils down to what you can actually find for sale.

Aussi
Port
HP [Hirtenburger]
Dag
Men
SA
all good surp ammo. Some is more accurate but all works perfectly fine. If your rifle can't runs SA, it's your particular rifle or the fluted chamber in some makes. Runs great in M1As and FALs.

Indian, SOME is fine, the older 70s stuff works perfectly fine, the 80s stuff Bleh.

Lithie don't know, never fired it personally same for serbian stuff.



is that in order of best to worst?
Hirtenberger is By Far the best.
Then I'd go to Radway Green, IMI next if you can find it, then Aussie and SA.

There was one batch of ammo, I forget where from, the case would rupture about 3%-4% of the time.  The crazy thing was, its accuracy from the non-rupturing ammo was quite good!


That batch might have been from Brazil...CBC marked I think.  There was a recall on that stuff.  I had maybe 100 rds., so instead of sending it back, I just trashed it. FWIW.

dvo


Yep, it was CBC from the early to mid 80's. Had one rupture into the extractor groove and it blew off the extractor of my M1A.  One was enough.  No damage to the bolt or rifle amazingly enough.   The rest of the CBC was returned.


To the optimists that expect the halcyon days of 7.62 NATO for less than .40 cents  a round to return - ask the Easter bunny to bring some because that is probably the only way you will get it that cheap again.
2/20/2008 7:53:52 AM EDT
[#41]

Quoted:
I bought a buttload of SA when it was 24.00/BP and lower. If I'd only known............


Yeah same here.  When SA got above $24/bp I said "that's too expensive, no more SA .308 for me!"  Boy was I wrong.    Pricing around here is $65+ per BP, if you can find it.  Lucky for me I got around 7k before I stopped buying.