South African Ammo..Ya or Na?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - South African Ammo..Ya or Na?

Posted: 9/7/2002 3:11:50 PM EDT

Im looking for a good deal on ammo. I have been paying $52.00 for 250 ( about $0.21 per round )from Cabela's here in Micihigan. I found that www.sportsmansguide.com has South African ammo for $309.00 for 2700 ( $0.11 per round ). I spoke with a local gun shop ( who wants $0.19 per round )and they said they quit buying South African Surplus because it was constantly jamming. Has anyone ever used this stuff? I dont want to spend 300 bucks on garbage. Thanks in advance for the info.

Posted: 9/7/2002 3:15:42 PM EDT

[#1]

I use it and like it. It doesn't jam on me anymore than other surplus type ammo.

Posted: 9/7/2002 3:17:45 PM EDT

[#2]

I shoot lots of SA .308 & occasionally in .223 & I have no problems. You have to understand you're asking a shop for something they don't have in stock so they're going to badmouth it & try to switch you over to something they have in stock.

Save your money on shipping & go to gunshows & you'll find lots of ammo at good prices. I can get .308 per 1000-1200 rds for about $140. .223 usually goes for $120-130 per 1000rds.

They only ammo I avoid is the steel case Wolf ammo from Russia.

Posted: 9/7/2002 3:19:33 PM EDT

[#3]

I use this ammo all the time and have never had a problem with it. Good ammo at a good price.

Posted: 9/7/2002 3:21:08 PM EDT

[#4]

Buy some - as a matter of fact I just turned my brother on to it today at the gun show in Orange County, NY. He was using Wolf with lacquered cases until now, which just doesn't seem right to me for some reason...I love the stuff. Never had a stoppage and it's CHEAP.

Posted: 9/7/2002 3:25:30 PM EDT

[#5]

I've used south african and q3131a and havn't had any problems with either one. Buy some and try it.

Posted: 9/7/2002 5:04:31 PM EDT

[#6]

For all you 5.56 ammo information needs, read the excellent FAQ done by our esteemed board members.

www.ammo-oracle.com/

Posted: 9/7/2002 5:50:11 PM EDT

[#7]

I use it also and like it

Posted: 9/7/2002 5:56:46 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
I spoke with a local gun shop ( who wants $0.19 per round )and they said they quit buying South African Surplus because it was constantly jamming. .

they probably said that becaus ethey don't like to sell it becaus the profit margin in SA battlepacks is very low, i think they only end up making like 4 or 5 dollars on each one.

i live about 15 min from cabelas in monroe, i buy the sellier & belloit stuff from them for about 3.00 a box, and i've never had a prob with it, it's not exactly match grade, but it won't f up my extractor like the wolf did,it's good blasting ammo. (i'll never use that wolf crap again).

personally, I LOVE SA. it's almost ALL i shoot, in fact, friday, i think i cleaned all of the vendors at the MT Clements gunshow out of their supply of south african!!!!!

Posted: 9/7/2002 6:18:09 PM EDT

[#9]

SA for recreational use: Ya.

Posted: 9/7/2002 6:25:47 PM EDT

[#10]

Its great plinking ammo. And the price is

Posted: 9/7/2002 6:32:17 PM EDT

[#11]

I love the stuff. Sure its 16 year old ammo, but it works great. I'd have no problems using it for shtf. Others on this site will say they wouldn't depend on that old of ammo, but I've shot alot of WW2 surplus ammo and it all goes bang. Get it while you can

Posted: 9/7/2002 6:39:27 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
I shoot lots of SA .308 & occasionally in .223 & I have no problems. You have to understand you're asking a shop for something they don't have in stock so they're going to badmouth it & try to switch you over to something they have in stock.

Save your money on shipping & go to gunshows & you'll find lots of ammo at good prices. I can get .308 per 1000-1200 rds for about $140. .223 usually goes for $120-130 per 1000rds.

They only ammo I avoid is the steel case Wolf ammo from Russia.

May I ask you what rifle you are using the .308 in? My ARS FAL showed today

and I have a chance to pick up some SA Battle packs at the gun show tomorrow. Will this stuff be ok? I've heard it is a little dirty. I think it's 1981 vintage. Thanks.
AB

Posted: 9/7/2002 6:47:07 PM EDT

[#13]

This ammo is far from garbage. Yes, it is surplus ammo. Yes it may jam occasionally. Yes, it is good ammo and it is CHEAP

Buy all you can now before it is gone. I use this stuff exclusively.

Posted: 9/7/2002 6:56:09 PM EDT

[#14]

It is good plinking ammo, cheap too.

Posted: 9/8/2002 2:31:46 PM EDT

[#15]

I've gone through 600rnds of SA .223

In 3 different rifle with no problems

Posted: 9/8/2002 2:35:53 PM EDT

[#16]

I love it. If you happen to have a slower twist i.e. 1:12 or 1:14, it will be better than you could have ever thought. In a 1:9 it is pretty good also.

Posted: 9/8/2002 2:46:15 PM EDT

[#17]

Make sure it's the older M1A3 Lot. I fired my stash of M1A4 89/14 stamped today....
TOTAL SH!T!!! FTFs, stove pipes, FTEs, constant out of any mag. Load'em with LC XM193, no problem.

This sucks! I swear by the M1A3 86/13 stamped SA, out of the hundreds of rounds I've fired of
it, only 1 dud round.

STAY AWAY FROM THE M1A4 LOT!!!!!!!

Edit:
Known working USGI 30s & US Thermolds.
Re-loaded same mags with LC XM193 - no probs.
Bushmaster 20"HBAR.

Posted: 9/8/2002 2:52:40 PM EDT

[#18]

SA rocks!!! No jams, no probs!! More accurate than xm193 out of my RRA!!!

I have been thru 1200+ rnds of this stuff!!! I just bought more!!! I am goning to buy it all
!!!

Muahahahha!!!!!

Posted: 9/8/2002 2:54:35 PM EDT

[#19]

Wolf/laquered ammo can melt in the chamber if your weapon gets hot enough. If you do enough things wrong, you can wind up with a live round frozen in the chamber. It can ruin your ATF party.

Posted: 9/8/2002 2:56:51 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
It can ruin your ATF party.

???????????????????????????????????????????????/

please explain this one.

Posted: 9/8/2002 3:03:15 PM EDT

[#21]

Thanks guys....I went out this morning and bought 1000rds. of it at the Gun Show. A bit more then if I where to buy it online ( It was about $0.17/rd ). Going to a range tomorrow to try it. Again thanks for the replies it helped alot.

Posted: 9/8/2002 3:03:59 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
SA rocks!!! No jams, no probs!! More accurate than xm193 out of my RRA!!!

I have been thru 1200+ rnds of this stuff!!! I just bought more!!! I am goning to buy it all
!!!

Muahahahha!!!!!

Same here with the SA M1A3 Lot. Will buy more M1A3. BUT:

The M1A4 Lot SA SUCKS!!!!

Posted: 9/8/2002 3:06:38 PM EDT

[#23]

How can you tell what lot it is....On the case it just said "Lot 027"? Hope I didnt buy crap for $180.00

Posted: 9/8/2002 3:20:04 PM EDT

[#24]

Yay! That's why I have about 5k rounds of the stuff sitting beside me

Posted: 9/8/2002 3:31:43 PM EDT

[#25]

I've shot thousands of rounds of the stuff, and have no complaints. For the price, there is IMO nothing out there that beats it.

Posted: 9/8/2002 4:00:57 PM EDT

[#26]

I've put ~3.5k rounds of SA surplus through my '01 LEGP (RRA 16" m4gery). Never had a single FTF, FTE or jam of any kind.

Excellent plinking ammo.

Posted: 9/8/2002 4:09:15 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
How can you tell what lot it is....On the case it just said "Lot 027"? Hope I didnt buy crap for $180.00

It'll say it on the plastic pack M1A3, M1A4....
on the white lable it'll say it under BALL.
The specific M1A4 lot I have that SUCKS!
is 860A89.

I'm not knocking SA at all. I LOVE IT usually.
Never had any problems with it until this newer lot.
I still plan to buy and shoot hundreds more of the M1A3 '86 lot, but I warn of the M1A4.

Posted: 9/8/2002 4:11:54 PM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
Yay! That's why I have about 5k rounds of the stuff sitting beside me

Your M1A4 is good? Mine is labled M1A4 860A89.
This is the first time I've fired any M1A4.
I was thinking it would be as good or better than the M1A3 I was used to shooting.
This really burns me.

Posted: 9/10/2002 6:50:27 PM EDT

[#29]

I'm new to .223,but I've been using .45 SA in my 1911's,no jams,SP's.and cheap!$10.00 a box!

Posted: 9/10/2002 8:39:38 PM EDT

[#30]

SA ammo works for me.. Buy some.. often.. and in mass quatities.. You wont be disappointed..

:D

Rick

Posted: 9/10/2002 8:57:35 PM EDT

[#31]

I hate to be the one naysayer in the group, but the 300 round battlepack I tried a couple of years back had a Fail to Fire rate of about 20%. Maybe I got a bad batch or my AR just doesn't like it, but the frustration turned me off of it ever since.

But it was cheap and the accuracy was OK.

Posted: 9/10/2002 9:14:28 PM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
Quoted:
It can ruin your ATF party.

???????????????????????????????????????????????/

please explain this one.

Well there, Detective,

ATF = Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms = Beer, Smokes, and Guns.

Means that your day at the range may be cut short because you have a Level 3 weapon jam, and forgot to bring your cleaning rod to the range.