Korean Surplus M80 Ball, Is It Hot?

[Duckford]

I've burnt through a 460 round case of South Korean surplus M80 ball, started on my second case, getting ready to reload my brass soon. What I've found funny is that the primers on half or more of the cases look over pressure, they are bulged out strangely and look concerning to be honest. Mind you this is in all three of my battle rifles, M1a, DSA 58 FAL, as well as my PTR-91 G3, Other reviews of purchasers seem to have no problem with it, there's nothing else to indicate any type of dangerous overpressure. I noticed that when I set my gas system on the SA 58 that it will not cycle Russian steel with the gas settings, I have to manually operate it between shots. Still, that's not really a sign of too much pressure either.

Otherwise the rounds are accurate and work well in all three rifles. Any reason for concern, any similar stories?

 

[alwslate]

Pics would help diagnose any problem you might have.

 

[alaskavett]

Did you segerate the brass as you shot it, as too what you fired it in? Or is it all"mixed" at this time? You may have an issue, with one or more rifles. I have had good luck with this ammo in several M-! Garands and not had this problem or worry. Kyle

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have also used a lot of that ammo in a Garand, a 1903-A3 and a 1917 with no issues at all. It does not seem "hot" to me. Is it impossible you are misinterpreting what you are seeing? Like said above, pics would help.

 

[rwsmith]

Can't be 'hot'....

Garands use slightly reduced loads compared to a 1903 because the operating rod can bend. I doubt the ammo was 'hot' if made with the M1 in mind

 

[alwslate]

The OP is asking about 7.62 Nato, .308, not 30-06.

 

[4506517]

M-1 Garand: 7.62 x 63mm
M1A (M14): 7.62 x 51mm

I have only heard positive reviews of the Korean stuff. I shot some out of my M1A and it didn't seem any different than any other assorted surplus I had.

The only I think it would be "hot" in comparison to would be the Radway Green stuff from the 90s.

 

[Duckford]

From left to right:
Old Lake City 177 grain match, fired M1a flat primer clean divit
M80, M1a with similar appearance to LC for comparison
M80, FAL almost similar to LC but with small primer flowback
M80, FAL with more primer flowback
M80, M1a with more primer flowback
M80, PTR-91 with severe primer flowback against firing pin

The ol G3 style seems to have the effect the most pronounced and most common. With the other two battle rifles the effect is much less severe, but you will find brass with that type of primer raised "volanco" effect in all three guns. Went through my other used LC brass of that old match stuff from my father's, I found one primer backed out more, but nothing like this effect in this Korean ammunition. Even if you can't see it too well in the pictures, you can see it and it will catch a fingernail easily from all weapons used.

Is it the primer perhaps? I don't shoot these rifles enough to have severe headspacing problems yet. Is it pressure, is there a better explanation that I'm ignorant of?

 

[alwslate]

Your fired cases appear to be arranged from right to left rather than left
to right. Your M80 ammo might have slightly softer primers than the LC
ammo and or slightly loose primers. Your G3 rifle may have a
slightly oversize hole for the firing pin in the breach face. I see nothing
"severe" in your pics or any signs of excessive pressure.

 

[Frank46]

The only 7.62x51 mil surp ammo that came in at remotely hot was the West German M80 ball with the steel jacketed ball. Was shooting it in my rem 700 Sendero and recoil was very noticeable from what would normally be shot in that rifle. Frank

 

[Milton]

Look at the curved radius of the outside edge of the primers,they are still round not flattened; no sign of high pressure here.

 

[loc n load]

I bought a quantity of PMC M80 back in the 80’s. Since then I have shot over 10,000 rds of this ammo through HK 91’s, FAL’s, M1A’s, M1 Garands chambered for 308, SR 25’s and an assortment of other gas and bolt guns.
It has always been accurate, reliable and the brass is some of the most consistent I have ever reloaded.
This ammo is my “ go to” ball load along with my WCC ball.
Shot some Friday through a Recon II, DPMS LR and a FN bolt gun. You can see differences in the primers,depending on what they were shot in, which in my experience is normal. Several of the pictured primers are almost punctured, in this instance - not a ammo issue. I can tell you which rifle did that and consistently does that regardless of brand of ammo.
I have never had any pressure issues, always been accurate, clean, reliable ammo and good brass to reload, a win-win. I would buy more if I needed it.
In examining your photo I see nothing to be alarmed about, different rifles have different spec’s and tolerances and as I show in my photo, three different rifles, three different looking fired primers. The third photo is examples of two fired cases from each rifle, two left, two center, one right and one above.

 

[old tanker]

Looks to me like primer is flowing around the firing pin. According to my copy of TM 9-1005-223-35 Direct Support and General Support and Depot Maintenance Including Repair Parts and Special Tools List For Rifle, 7.62-MM, M14

The diameter of the firing pin hole in the bolt face should be .0785" +.0035 (.082" max.)

Firing pin protrusion should be: Min. .044 Max. .060

 

[Duckford]

Thanks for the replies, I was just concerned because this hasn't occurred in any other ammunition I've used in them, I'm quite the worrier when it comes to high pressure things. Some of the other primers I have are pretty flat in this M80 lot, but they had the same appearance as the Lake City classic rounds, so I assumed high pressure but normal. The G3 cases with the most severe primer flows have the roundest primers, if that's because of metal flow or pressure, but if its safe that's all I care about. I like the stuff and I'm happy to keep blowing through the next case. And, better to ask a foolish question then to do something foolish, in my own philosophy.

Only time I've had punctured primers was with my new Thompson TM1 after trying to break it in as per Auto Ordnance's orders because of terrible feeding problems, once it started to pierce the primers they finally broke down and did the warranty work to make it right. Not sure what started to cause that either, but anytime anything looks wrong I get concerned.