Surplus .308 ammo for the M1A

E

ether

New member
I'm shopping for a case of surplus ammo for my M1A loaded. So far, it looks like a toss-up between Portuguese, British Radway Green, and Argentine. Does any one of these seem to be any more consistant than the others? I read every "surplus .308" thread I could find here, and I only found a couple of posts referencing the Argentine stuff....but every person that commented on it had very positive things to say about its accuracy. Does it have a steel or copper jacket? I gots to have copper...so the Hirtenberger from AIM Surplus is out. Your input is appreciated.
 
I've shot 1k+ rounds of the Southern Ammo tarnished with no problems thru my FAL or M1a. I would also recommend the Radway (little light though) but it is not as good of deal right now.
 
Of the ones you mentioned, Portuguese is by far the best. I've shot a lot of it through an FN-FAL. It is clean and accurate.
 
Steel 308?

"Does it have a steel or copper jacket? I gots to have copper...so the Hirtenberger from AIM Surplus is out. Your input is appreciated."

The Hirt that I got from AIM was copper; I have never heard of steel 308 rounds, but I am no expert.
 
Radway Green -- Hirtenberger

I have shot about 800 rounds of Radway Green British through my M1A and I like it, although it doesn't group all that well. Just the same, there's no problem keeping them all in a 6" circle at 100 yards. My best group with this rifle at 100 yards is about 1.25 inches with Federal Match.

I just ordered a 1000 round case of Hirtenberger German from www.tennesseeguns.com, which is supposed to be more accurate.

Good luck.
 
The Hirtenberger and the Porugese that I have both fail the magnet test. I shoot 'em anyway.

If you dig through a bunch of threads on Hirtenberger you will find the explanation, which escapes me at the moment. I think they have a lead-core bullet with a thin steel jacket that is copper washed, but I really don't remember.

The general consensus is that both brands are very high quality, so that's what I shoot.
 
Another vote for Portugese...It seems to shoot well in almost everyone's rifle's. A freind's Remington 700 PSS shot's 1/2" groups with Port!
 
AR-10, thanks alot for the link....I overlooked that thread while I was searching the archives. I wouldn't be so steel-jacket-averse if my barrel was GI chrome-lined. But it makes me cringe to think of shooting steel jacketed ammo in a NM barrel. Soft or not, steel is gonna wear on your bore more than copper.
 
We're all over......

the map here...............I have some Argentine, that will hold sub 3/8 - 1/2, moa out of a custom rig...........
Lot's dated,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, '83 & '84............
Don't know bout the newer stuff.:)
 
Radway Green is copper jacketed lead core. I chronographed some '85 RG. It was very, very consistent but hot at 2800 to 2840 fps. I also chronographed some '78 Portugese through the same M1A. It was running 2720 to 2800 fps. Not as consistent but the rifle seemed to like it better. Also, my M1As have no problem hitting their targets out to 800 yards with iron sights. I am settled on the Portugese but I would not shy away from the Radway Green if that was all I could get.
 
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