O.K ya'll know i am still really novice at this. i am just asking a Q to clear up a rumor. i was told not to shoot full metal jacketed bullets becuase it will damage the riflings in the barrell. i have also been told it wont hurt anything. I just thought you guys would probally know more than my (expert) friends. Thanks in advance

I'd have to say that who ever told you that doesn't know his ass from a hot rock.

Probably couldn't find his ass with either hand either...

Shoot them up, and relaod some more

FMJs are not legal for hunting big game in most US states but they will not hurt the barrel at all...

They work well as varmint rounds or target or plinking....shootem up and have a ball.

The comments above are generally on the money; however, there are some FMJ's that are military surplus that have steel jackets and steel cores. Depending upon the rifle I was shooting them in, the caliber, and load, I'd be more careful with shooting FMJ's if my magnet indicated steel in their jacket or core.

Many of the 7.62x39 rounds from USSR and China have mild steel in them. In service rifles from these countries, I'd not hestiate to shoot them. I'd be reluctant to shoot the same ammo in my Mini 30 because it has a .308 bore and it isn't chrome plated. Kudude

SOme of the monosolids can cause problems in older guns, particularly doubles. You expert friends are probably just mis wuoting somehting they read or heard. Typical lead core FMJ are fine in any firearm made for smokeless powder * jacketed bullets.

Thanks for the reply. I have around 500 that are supposed to be hornady bullets for 224 caliber I was thinking about getting a 22 caliber like a 223 of 22-250 to shoot them with. i figure i already have the bullets, Now all i need is gun, brass, powder and scope. Seems like a shame to give up when I am this close right?

quote:

Originally posted by gunz:
...i figure i already have the bullets, ...

Excellent reason to buy a new rifle!

I agree. Now which one,,,Scratches chin and wonders.... I am trying to narrow the field down. I will post when I get something.

I've got a bunch of those bullets. (Came from Lock, Stock and Barrel as "seconds.") They shoot well in my Savage .22-250.

quote:

however, there are some FMJ's that are military surplus that have steel jackets and steel cores.

Definitely some (armor piercing) rounds with steel cores and copper jackets. These are safe to shoot.

This is the first time I've ever heard of steel jackets.....and I'm skeptical....maybe but I'd like to see proof.

Steel jackets are quite common in milsurp ammo. It's normally coated with a thin wash of copper, sometimes nickel. If you want proof, get some and cut it up yourself. Start with 1950s Hungarian made lead core 7.62z54R "heavy ball" ammo, and 1940s Turkish 7.9mm ammo, just to mention a couple of varieties I've got on hand at the moment. Jacket steel's very soft mild steel, pretty near pure iron. Won't hurt your barrel.

As for steel core ammo, much of it has nothing to do with being "armor piercing." Standard Soviet-bloc 7.62x54R and 7.62x39mm ammo from around 1970 on has contained mild steel in the cores. Replaces part of the lead, which is more expensive than steel.

I've got some Turk (1945) and German (1937) milsurp 8x57.
The bullets in both will attract a magnet, so I'd say they have a steel jacket of some type or maybe a steel core. Haven't dissected any to see what the core (if any) is.

Well i just wanted to get some answers for myself and this is what i found. I took a file to the side of one of these bullets and I did find a steel core, But the copper jacket is quite thick so I really am not concerned with the steel contacting the riflings at all.