A question about surplus ammo

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - A question about surplus ammo

Posted: 12/21/2005 12:12:10 PM EDT

I just bought a 140 round sealed battle pack of 7.62X51 ammo. It is supposed to be South African so there will not be a NATO stamp on the case head. The label on the pack reads "ROUND 7.62X51mm ball R1M1" (quotation marks are mine). It is Lot 140/A/11/79 which I am assuming it was manufactured Nov. 1979. My packing slip says SA (South African) but the supplier also sells Indian 7.62X51mm and I simply want to be sure it's not Indian manufacture. Thanks for the help and also thanks for the tip on the XF7 lube. I just ordered some.

Posted: 12/21/2005 12:45:00 PM EDT

[#1]

What ever the package label says don't mean diddly.. you need to see the headstamp of the rounds... that will tell you what the ammo is.....

Posted: 12/21/2005 1:11:38 PM EDT

[#2]

Where'd you get it from? I've been thinking about buying a case or two of South African from AIM Surplus. Can I depend on them to deliver as advertised?

Posted: 12/21/2005 2:10:02 PM EDT

[#3]

I got it from here http://www.classicarms.us/htm/ammunition.htm . Scroll down to the bottom of the page. The South African ammo is supposed to be NATO spec brass. It sells for $29.95 per battle pack of 140 rounds in a sealed battle pack or a 1260 round case for $209.95. I ordered a battle pack Monday and received it today. I live in NC though and that is where the store is.

Posted: 12/21/2005 2:28:24 PM EDT

[#4]

Just an update. I found R1M1 ammo on a web search here http://www.conjay.com/Ammunition%20for%20Armor%20Testing%20NATO%207.62mm%20x%2051.htm . The R1M1 is indeed Republic of South Africa 7.62X51mm ball ammo. I checked the headstamp on some from a box in the battle pack and they are all stamped R1M1. They seem to be boxer primed. So now I can go shoot.

Posted: 12/21/2005 2:37:56 PM EDT

[#5]

I have purchased this from AIM...they delivered as promised. BTW, their price goes up for this on 1/1/06. They are now $22.99 per battlepack.

Posted: 12/21/2005 3:41:54 PM EDT

[#6]

Hey Wolfgang, do you know what it's going up to?

Posted: 12/21/2005 3:51:15 PM EDT

[#7]

Their website (AIM) stated $23.95 for a 140 round battle pack.

Posted: 12/21/2005 5:28:13 PM EDT

[#8]

my local surplus store has the battle packs for $27....not a bad price if you consider shipping costs when ordering via the internet....

I ripped open on pack to check the headstamp and sure enough it's R1M1.

Posted: 12/21/2005 5:36:58 PM EDT

[#9]

MSG, have you used R1M1 before? If so how do you rate it?

Posted: 12/21/2005 5:46:07 PM EDT

[#10]

I have shot quite a bit of it through my FAL and have never had any trouble at all. It seems to be loaded to NATO spec too.

Posted: 12/21/2005 7:43:52 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Where'd you get it from? I've been thinking about buying a case or two of South African from AIM Surplus. Can I depend on them to deliver as advertised?

Yes, I have bought 8 cases of it and it all was as advertised. $147 per 980 rounds in a steel case. Berdan primed, 147 grain bullet, brass case. NEVER found any corrosion on any of it. Always clean and shiny.

Posted: 12/22/2005 3:22:49 AM EDT

[#12]

Yup, same experience for me.....always clean and never a malfunction. obviously not the most accurate, but then again I'm not trying head shots at 400 either so it doesn't matter that much to me.

Posted: 12/22/2005 7:14:33 PM EDT

[#13]

I've bought two battlepacks at gunshows at about $23 each. Clean and reliable stuff my my Poly doesn't like it for shit accuracy-wise. Others have reported better accuracy with it, though.

Posted: 12/23/2005 7:03:06 AM EDT

[#14]

Yeah, unfortuneately my '83' M1A doesn't like it for accuracy either. Can only get 6" groups at 100yds. 2" with Austrailian. Of course I just got the rifle and haven't shot it much yet either. But for $22 and change from the local ammo guy, it's still good for getting experience with the rifle. Greg

Posted: 12/31/2005 3:46:11 PM EDT

[#15]

Sounds like we need to be stocking up on the .308 surplus before its gone.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - A question about surplus ammo

Armory » M1 / M14 / M1 Carbine

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