swilliams
6.5 Creedmoor
PSA keeps sending me offers for a mini-can of 5.56. Of course, it's always "temporarily out of stock", too.
What is Steel Core Ammo?
- Thread starter swilliams
- Start date
Don't confuse steel core with steel case. In steel core ammo the inside of the bullet there is a smaller steel projectile surrounded by lead and jacketed in copper. Steel case ammo is just the brass case being replaced by the cheaper metal steel. Steel case ammo is cheaper and steel core ammo is most often more expensive.
swilliams
6.5 Creedmoor
Thanks!
freddy
.308 Win
Steel core ammo can help defeat some lower-spec body armor, correct?
Yes, it can penetrate many types of armor. That's what ballistic plates are for, although they are not very effective(the plates).
Whoa, whoa, mild steel core is not about penetrating armor, it is about being cheaper than a lead core to produce. AP ammo has a hardened steel or tungsten core. Alot of European budget ammo incorporates mild steel in the jacket or core to save money. Mild steel is pretty soft so it will flatten almost as easily on a hardened surface as lead.
The OP mentioned 5.56. I'm not aware of anybody using mild steel in 5.56 bullets. I could be wrong.
Isn't the russian stuff mild steel core? Maybe just copper washed steel jacket.
Maybe steel jacket???
Yeah, that cheap stuff is magnetic so there is steel in there somewhere. Its common practice for European ammo manufacturers to use a soft steel jacket with a thin layer of gilding metal over it, often copper but somtimes tombac or cupronickel.
freddy
.308 Win
I am thinking of M855 specifically.
M855 has a steel tip, don't know what kind of steel though but I don't think it's hardened.
I was always under the assumption that steel core ammo was for two reasons.
1. Increased barrier penetration. Traditional 5.56 55gr lacks enough energy to defeat barriers efficiently. The steel tip helps the sectional density properties.
2. Terminal ballistics. There's a theory out there that when this type of bullet enters flesh because the steel is a different density as the lead in the rear it creates an off balance situation. This results in the bullet yawing and creating more damage. This was looked at as a loophole around the houge convention. Personally I don't know if this is a true reason but in the off chance this is true I could see the merit of having this type of ammo.
As far as steel cased ammo. This stuff is made to save money. Steel is cheaper than brass. There is some "good" steel cased ammo out there. You need to make sure you try it in your firearm before relaying on this type of ammo, because there have been reports on certain rifles not being able to cycle or feed it properly.
1. Increased barrier penetration. Traditional 5.56 55gr lacks enough energy to defeat barriers efficiently. The steel tip helps the sectional density properties.
2. Terminal ballistics. There's a theory out there that when this type of bullet enters flesh because the steel is a different density as the lead in the rear it creates an off balance situation. This results in the bullet yawing and creating more damage. This was looked at as a loophole around the houge convention. Personally I don't know if this is a true reason but in the off chance this is true I could see the merit of having this type of ammo.
As far as steel cased ammo. This stuff is made to save money. Steel is cheaper than brass. There is some "good" steel cased ammo out there. You need to make sure you try it in your firearm before relaying on this type of ammo, because there have been reports on certain rifles not being able to cycle or feed it properly.
The Russians and other countries have and continue to use mild steel cores and steel jackets on the bullets to save production costs. And it works fine. Though bullets supposedly present a greater ricochet hazard with this construction.
FRANKIE
.308 Win
The 7N6 in 5.45x39 comes to mind. Mild steel but truly steel core.
Yup, und as it says a copper coated steel jacket too. We are pretty much the only country that still uses pure lead cores and pure copper jackets for baseline infantry ammo, its a very expensive way to produce ammo.
Robin
.475 A&M Magnum
Well S, if you didn't know before, you should be totally confused now.
Robin
Robin
What's confusing? I guess it would help if I saw a link to the ammo refered to.
swilliams
6.5 Creedmoor
Here's the link: American Eagle 5.56mm 62gr FMJ Steel Core Ammunition 120rd Mini-Can - XM855LPC120
I already bought some, so I hope it's okay.
I already bought some, so I hope it's okay.
That's a good deal for that ammo. I still would hope to see it 5cents cheaper.
swilliams
6.5 Creedmoor
I'd like to see it free, lol. I saw that Celt had said he wouldn't buy anything over $.34, so was going off that. I still don't have my lower, so this is my first purchase of 5.56 and I wasn't sure what to expect. Good to know I didn't get screwed.
The 62gr steel core ammo is the "better" more expensive 5.56 ammo. I personally prefer it. There is better stuff out there but you will see the price per round close to the $1 a round range. Ever since Sandy Hook the 62gr steel core ammo has been close to $0.40 a round. That's why that's a good deal. Before Obummer you use to be able to find that ammo in the $0.25 range. What I find crazy is cheap FMJ is going for $0.30 a round, absolutely absurd!
SigSweet
.45 acp
my 14.5'' BCM ELW upper hates 62grain steel core. (1:7 twist) Shoots 55gr wolf gold and 75g hornady great
So i think saying steel core is better isnt really true, i have read they dont stablize that well either but who knows what is true
Before you drop money on ammo without having the lower i would buy different brands and weights to find what the barrel likes, once you figure that out stock up.
So i think saying steel core is better isnt really true, i have read they dont stablize that well either but who knows what is true
Before you drop money on ammo without having the lower i would buy different brands and weights to find what the barrel likes, once you figure that out stock up.
This principle goes for any ammo. You need to function test it before relaying on it.
Oh, okay. Yup you're fine that's just regular M855 ammo, it's the standard 5.56 round. It is a mild(soft) steel tip over a standard lead core encased in a standard copper jacket. It was designed for increased penetration of soft targets and light barriers, not armor penetration.
For contrast these are "Black Tip" M995 AP rounds. They have an embeded tungsten core specifically designed for penetration of hardend armor. Still not much use against most any kind of armored fighting vehicle, but it will zip through most types of light body armor. The orange tips are M855 tracers.
M995 AP is illegal for civilians to buy, sell or own under the ATF's asinine ban on any AP "handgun" ammo.
M995 AP is illegal for civilians to buy, sell or own under the ATF's asinine ban on any AP "handgun" ammo.
swilliams
6.5 Creedmoor
I suppose if it doesn't work, Podmonkey may be getting an offer to buy some ammo at a good deal, since he's the closest.
Sure, I'll take it. But its not match ammo so for anything outside of competition I'm sure it'll be fine.
meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
normally they refer to the M855 already retired from service by the M855A1 that instead of the core steel tip
inside the jacket now it has an arrowhead steel tip exposed like the originally designed by Liberty.
The Army stole the design from Liberty and consequently got sued and they lost so we the taxpayers had to pay for
their poor administration and mistakes.
They call all of these steel core but it can be misleading and it is a common mistake too simplify but rather arbitrary leading
to some people believing these are AP rounds (armor piercing / incendiary rounds) that is not the case.
The Russians they use steel to make a stouter and cheaper bullet but then their performance is unpredictable and not
reliable specially in soft targets. They also use thick steel jackets with the 7.62 and this is not specially gentle with the rifling
over time. They do the same with 5.56 steel ammo bullets. Also some of these can be dangerous for civilians to go plinkin
as there is a lot of ricochet involved. So don't shoot into hard targets like steel and rocks with the russian ammo. I mean,
you should not do that with many bullets specially at close ranges but the Russian is known to come back hard so watch out.
you want to come back home with the same amount of holes in the body you had when you left.
inside the jacket now it has an arrowhead steel tip exposed like the originally designed by Liberty.
The Army stole the design from Liberty and consequently got sued and they lost so we the taxpayers had to pay for
their poor administration and mistakes.
They call all of these steel core but it can be misleading and it is a common mistake too simplify but rather arbitrary leading
to some people believing these are AP rounds (armor piercing / incendiary rounds) that is not the case.
The Russians they use steel to make a stouter and cheaper bullet but then their performance is unpredictable and not
reliable specially in soft targets. They also use thick steel jackets with the 7.62 and this is not specially gentle with the rifling
over time. They do the same with 5.56 steel ammo bullets. Also some of these can be dangerous for civilians to go plinkin
as there is a lot of ricochet involved. So don't shoot into hard targets like steel and rocks with the russian ammo. I mean,
you should not do that with many bullets specially at close ranges but the Russian is known to come back hard so watch out.
you want to come back home with the same amount of holes in the body you had when you left.
meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
IMO the value and effectiveness of the M995 is questionable as there are other superior surplus API rounds perfectly legal to buy.
The only problem is people are taking advantage and charging too much for them...
500 RDS 30 06 ARMOR PIERCING TUNGSTEN STEEL CORE : Rifle Ammunition at GunBroker.com
you also find 308 online and in Gun shows under the M61 surplus denomination either surplus ammo or loose bullets to reload also overpriced.
100 RDS FN AP AMMO 1976 M60 M14 HK91 m61 M 61 : Rifle Ammunition at GunBroker.com
A total waste IMO given the amazing performance of the old M855 penetrating steel same as the affordable 147gr fmj M80 and alike.
I mean, both go through 1/2 of steel where the 7.62x39, blackout and other "defensive" calibers will fail.
IMO if one is going to pay those parasites who take advantage selling ap ammo then one might just as well go and get premium
bullets ordering the steel tip vs. the aluminum one like alco. These high precission bullets are used by operators to provide tactical
advantage specially by the long range capabilities but also by the amazing performance in hard targets.
I think official API makes no sense for the average guy that might be spending more and getting less in the end.