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I posted this in the ctg collection thread and have not received any replies, so I thought Id ask you fellows what you think. I was surprised to discover that quite by accident I have a collection of early SS109 ammo. Several boxes of 50 each from FNH with Lot Number 1 (1981) markings on box and date on head stamp. Then several more boxes of 20 each XM855 Lake City, first produced here to FNH pattern. Then several white boxes of 20 each of Olin Penetrator before M855 was type qualified. Are these collectible, or should I just link them up and run through My Stoner 63? (I got them while working on the Minimi and XM16-A2 with USMC at Quantico in 1981/82). I know the Lot#1 ammo has the original steel penetrator location that wore out barrels. (It just barely came into contact with lands). I think the XM855 corrected this problem. Advice appriciated. Andy | ||
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There was allot of SS109 ammo from the 1980's out there for quite a while. I'd just shoot it up. I have from 1981 to 1986, LC, IMI, and FN. Great shooting ammo out of my DCM. | |||
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How come the steel penetrator could wear out the barrel since it is located inside the jacket and only the green colored tip (as per NATO specs) allowed identification of the first manufactured lots? | |||
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| one of us |
Edmond, I do not think many people are aware that this was a problem as it was corrected very early in the development of the SS109. The steel penetrator is very hard, about C70 on the Rockwell scale. It was covered by the copper jacket of course, but was long enough that that ogive of the bullet (with penetrator underneath) did come into contact with the lands of the barrel. Minimi barrels when I first tested it were only lasting about 5,000 rounds. We thought it was the high cyclic rate which was about 1000-1100 spm. I suggested a bolt buffer which was later adopted. Still had problem with barrel wear at 800-900 spm. Penetrator was redesigned and this solved problem. Barrels lasted about 15,000 rounds after that. Bolt buffer increased effective range of this LMG from only about 300 m to 800 m in my tests. (One hundred percent probablity of a hit on an Echo target at those ranges). Andy | |||
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copy this over to the cartridge collecting pages and see what response you get. Robert If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy. Thomas Jefferson, 1802 | |||
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Thanks for the info, Andy. I had only a few boxes of original first batch of ss 109,FN Belgium original manufacturing, to test in my Colt AR 15 HBar. Then I shot a lot of FNM Portuguese green tip SS 109. I opened one projectile, the saw was unable to cut the penetrator, it was quite short and clearly not in contact with the rifling hence my surprise reading the above post. | |||
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In my humble opinion, ammo that rapidly wears out barrels is not collectible. | |||
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