[JMM The SPAMMAN]

Am curious - looking at 308 ammo recently, and I am seeing Zinc plated ammo. This is running less than half the cost of some of the other ammo out there and am wondering if there is any reason I should be cautious of this ammo. An example of what I am seeing is "Colt .308 Win 168 Gr. FMJBT Zinc Plated". Anyone using this? Is there any cautions that one should be aware of when using it?

 

[51smd]

That's the Cheap Russian stuff with the colt name on it right? I wouldn't shoot it in my guns.

 

[GMinor]

That's the Cheap Russian stuff with the colt name on it right? I wouldn't shoot it in my guns.

Why wouldn't you shoot it in any of your guns? I believe that is what the OP is after

 

[JMM The SPAMMAN]

I am looking for users experiences when using the zinc plated ammo. From what I have seen from my searching, there seems to be a concern that the zinc plated ammo does not expand/seal the same as brass cases and will cause problems with more fouling in the chamber and action. It seems that folks have had issues with the stuff in auto loaders like the AR but I have not really seen much regarding use in bolt actions and not much on this site of its use at all. So was wondering if folks here are not using it because of something. I thought that it might be that since is was not high quality ammo that folks here may not be using it strictly because of consistency or accuracy issues, but would find it suitable for use under some circumstances. Of course I could be just making something from nothing. Since I do not reload (yet - been thinking about it as prices continue to rise) am looking for the best bang for my buck and buying something for .50 a round as opposed to 1.00 a round means it only hurts half as much after sending a few hundred rounds down range at the end of the day.

Thanks!

 

[deadshot2]

I am looking for users experiences when using the zinc plated ammo. From what I have seen from my searching, there seems to be a concern that the zinc plated ammo does not expand/seal the same as brass cases and will cause problems with more fouling in the chamber and action. It seems that folks have had issues with the stuff in auto loaders like the AR but I have not really seen much regarding use in bolt actions and not much on this site of its use at all. So was wondering if folks here are not using it because of something. I thought that it might be that since is was not high quality ammo that folks here may not be using it strictly because of consistency or accuracy issues, but would find it suitable for use under some circumstances. Of course I could be just making something from nothing. Since I do not reload (yet - been thinking about it as prices continue to rise) am looking for the best bang for my buck and buying something for .50 a round as opposed to 1.00 a round means it only hurts half as much after sending a few hundred rounds down range at the end of the day.

Thanks!

Case expansion is not the issue when looking at pressures of 50-60k psi. The issue is more that the zinc is applied to prevent rust on the underlying steel case. Zink itself can corrode and leave harmful (abrasive) byproducts behind when fired in a rifle. May even flake off and stick to inside of steel chambers. Zinc is an active metal that can, under the right conditions, "self plate" itself to a substrate like steel. Steel cased ammo is notorious for being hard on extractors.

Best to relegate this stuff to what it was designed for, a Combloc Semi-Automatic Weapon that was designed to survive at least ONE battle.

I prefer to stick with Brass cased, Boxer Primed, ammo that I can use the case over and over again without hassle.

 

[51smd]

Why wouldn't you shoot it in any of your guns? I believe that is what the OP is after

I haven't been precision shooting al that long I also shoot my M1a and I have found cheap ammo shoots but your accuracy suffers also plus the issues mentioned by deadshot. Supply is coming around and pricing is looking better not great but better. If you can spend a little more you can get reasonable results and reloadable brass you can reuse later maybe. Just my two cents.

Check this out as an option.

7.62 x 51mm 149 Grain FMJ 308 NATO Mil-Spec (XM80C) | MidsouthShootersSupply.com

 

[JMM The SPAMMAN]

Case expansion is not the issue when looking at pressures of 50-60k psi. The issue is more that the zinc is applied to prevent rust on the underlying steel case. Zink itself can corrode and leave harmful (abrasive) byproducts behind when fired in a rifle. May even flake off and stick to inside of steel chambers. Zinc is an active metal that can, under the right conditions, "self plate" itself to a substrate like steel. Steel cased ammo is notorious for being hard on extractors.

Best to relegate this stuff to what it was designed for, a Combloc Semi-Automatic Weapon that was designed to survive at least ONE battle.

I prefer to stick with Brass cased, Boxer Primed, ammo that I can use the case over and over again without hassle.

Thanks!

Sounds like I should start looking at reloading more seriously...