Alisske

I just purchased a lot of Lake City 85' original factory loaded AP ammo.

It looks legit and the guy seemed legit too. (Gunsmith)

How can I confirm it is not reloads or demilled? They have the sealer on the primers with the offset dot of sealer. (I can't see the color due to being color blind) The ammo looks in great shape ( no pull marks or wierd neck crimping) the paint is actually pretty good on them too. They are magnetic etc...

Anything I should know?

Thanks in advance

ripcord

USGI armor piercing ammo has black-tipped bullets.

Alisske

Yes, I meant to say the black paint on the tip is in great condition. (in past it is usually tumbled off or just worn off)

The color which I cannot see well is the color of the primer sealant.

Sorry for the confusion.

jbrooks

If the crimp is still around the primer, it should be OK, and bright clean black tip also is a good sign. Primer sealant can be applied to reloads, so sealant alone is not an indicator. The cases should show a good annealiong color at the neck, and if you look closely about 1/4" above the base of the cartridge, on the side, you should see no evidence of resizing. The consistency of the brass surface should be uniform. Use a lupe to check all this out.


P_R

M14E2

Lots of unscrupulous gun show hucksters will dip regular ball ammo in black paint and try to pass it off as AP. Real AP was never officially released. A magnet will tell.

davecampperry

"A magnet will tell." Not necessarily, some hucksters will tell you that "If it attracts a magnet, it is AP" and then "prove" it by using (difficult to find) M59 ball. I had one guy tell me it "...has to be AP" when it was nothing more than M59. I bought one round and cut away the jacket, then cut the core with a pocket knife. I saw him some weeks later, still selling the M59 as "AP". Some M80 ball, expecially from foreign countries, will attract a magnet. The jacket is copper washed steel, as opposed to US all copper.

M14E2

Ture , but I was strictly refering to original LC 85 headstamped ammo. If it doesn't attract a magnet , it's definately NOT AP.

I don't believe LC used a bi-metal jacket for a long time.

bfoosh006

Pull one round apart, move the brass case and propellant to someplace safe.... put one bullet (note; just the bullet, not the fully loaded round..that was for all the legal/anti common-sense folks)...in a vise....and tighten away...if it's lead cored....it will mash good n' flat (you can also use a hammer n' concrete floor, but if it is real steel core it will "shoot out somewheres you don't want it to go"). The real AP ammo has a pretty tough steel core, you'll know when you reach it.

Larry Gibson

Pull one off the bullets and weigh it. If it weighs 150+/- gr and it has the steel penetrator in it then it is most likely 7.62 M61 AP. If the bullet weighs 165+/- gr and is flat based then it is the '06 M2 AP bullet that has been reloaded in the LC 85 cases.

Larry Gibson

csacpt

Seems like I read somewhere that there was a tungsten core AP. Anybody know anything about this? I don't much trust my memory anymore.

Alisske

I wanted to thank everyone. Unfortunately, the ammo turned out to be reloaded 85" LC cases. The projectile was 165+/- gr and was flat based. I did not really notice any resizing, but I did notice there was some variation of the overall length on about 30% of them.

I contacted the seller and he will accept them as a return. I lost a couple of bucks on shipping, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

If anyone has some legit AP they want to part with at a reasonable price, let me know. I just like to have atleast a hundred on hand. (I know this is wishful thinking)

Nonetheless, thanks for all the input. I just figured I would follow up with you all.

Anthony

tankerG

[QUOTE=Alisske;410789) I just like to have atleast a hundred on hand. (I know this is wishful thinking)[/QUOTE]

This is not wishful thinking - it is prudence at work! I snagged some M2 AP for my Garand from Gary's Exotic Ammo. He had it for $1 a round. But I think he list's some .308 AP as well.

mack7.62

The 30-06 M2 AP had a tungsten core.

Alisske

Tanker - Thanks! I picked up some AP and API from Gary. Good guy.

I tried to research what am m61 projectile looks like, but cannot find an image. To confirm, it should have a boat tail ?

Any input would be great since I cannot really stomach the thought of tearing apart a round from Gary at the price they were.

Any help appreciated.

Anthony

Old Sarge

To the best of my knowledge, AP in 7.62 is not legal to own.