Ammo questions re: Surplus and Remanufactured

[Hazcat]

I want to shoot my bigger guns more so I've been looking at some CMP 30-06 stuff and some reman .308 on Ammoman and Outdoor warehouse.

On CMP they have Greek at 400 rounds for $100 and Lake City mixed head stamps at 250 for $70. Pros or cons on each (both)?

My use would be to shoot more, practice at all ranges out to maybe 5 or 600 yards (might as well use that 3x9 on the gun!).  Not for 'target' but to see how the rounds fall and get used to hold overs etc. for hunting and such.

The .308 is reman and runs a bit more (basically .50 a round). Same use. Any better deals on .308 or 7.62 NATO? (milsurp gun)

I do want to stay with boxer primed for reloading.

I have access to a 1000 yard range and want to 'have some fun' but want to have it cheap for these rounds.

Gimme yer thoughts all.

Thanks

[PegLeg45]

I bought some 30-06 rounds from Sportsman's Guide several years ago. They usually have fair prices on mil-surp ammo.
It was 200 rounds (for $36.00) still in the M1 Garand clips, still in the bandoliers.
Headstamp is "KA".
It was advertised as 70's manufactured in Korea. I think it is 147gr, and it is FMJ.
Ad said it was non-corrosive. It shoots 'dirty', so I clean well after each time I shoot it.
Fairly accurate, but I really bought it because of the price (to get the brass) so I could reload it after shooting it up.

[Big Frank]

The Greek ammo ($.25/each) should be NATO spec and I would expect it to be okay. Lake City cranks out some pretty good ammo ($.28/each). I think they always have. Mixed lots aren't going to be as accurate as a single lot, but you can sort them out. If you're going to buy ammo from Sportsmans Guide, join the buyers club and get discounts on everything for a year. I never bought remanufactured ammo and can't say if it's good or bad.

[TAB]

IF your range will let you shoot stuff that attracts a magnet, the greek surplus 30.06 from CMP is by far the best deal going around.  In clips it ~ 32 per shot, other wise its ~25 per shot.   I bought about 1000 rounds of it a couple months ago, only had one that I deemed not safe to shoot do to some corrsion.

[m25operator]

I never thought I'd see the day that 25 cents a round for military surplus was a bargain, except for ..50 BMG, and Lake City match ammo, that aside, I'd stick with milsurp, especially from the cmp, especially in a military designed rifle. The military, ours or Nato, orders simple, We want this bullet weight and design at this velocity, at this pressure,  with these primer and sealant specifications.

Now if you know your remanufacturer, that can be a bonus, even if it is a bit higher, I've known mine for 30 years, and trust his company completely,, He usually cuts me a good deal at the shows if I hang back and approach him with no witnesses. With todays climate, even his prices give me sticker shock, but he's still the best deal in town.

I'm so glad I stocked up way back when.

[Sponsor]

[Hazcat]

IF your range will let you shoot stuff that attracts a magnet, the greek surplus 30.06 from CMP is by far the best deal going around.  In clips it ~ 32 per shot, other wise its ~25 per shot.   I bought about 1000 rounds of it a couple months ago, only had one that I deemed not safe to shoot do to some corrsion.

One out of 1000 is OK by me! My range has no problem with this type ammo.

 How was it for accuracy?  I'm not looking for tack diver stuff (though my Savage is capable) just "it hits the target close to where you pointed" and even more important that the ballistics are close.

[ellis4538]

Lake City puts out quality "Match" ammo and was the choice of a lot of shooters at Camp Perry.  I don't know if they put out anything but match ammo.  If so it is probably OK.  CMP ammo is OK too.

Richard

[TAB]

Never really tried it for accuracy... off hand with my M1 I can hit a pie pan at 100 yds every time.  There is a very good chance its more accurate then I am with open sites.

[m25operator]

Lake city  manufactures combat cartridges as well as match cartridges, high quality with boxer primers. Military none the less, with my Garand, 2 1/2" was normal,  with LC surplus, and it held up real  well out to 900 yard, at 1,000 everything went to hell. I had a really good shooter, explain the facts of 1,000 yard shooting to me, and I felt better.. My bullets were going subsonic, and when in the pits, you can't even hear the bullets hit the paper (  1000 yards ) , or see the impact of the bullets,, unless your watching closely.

I'm lucky , I have a large surplus of 147 grn, czech ball, that in my M1a shoots 89% possible score if I do my part. That's 1 1/2" at 100 yards + with iron sights.... Really good out to 600 yards.

Haz, what can I say, the golden era of good  surplus is gone. In sporting rifles, military ammo is hit and miss, some primers are too hard for consistent ignition, usually US will go bang, but some Euro stuff, won't.

Give us a report on your findings.

[Lmccrock]

The CMP Lake City ammo is Vietnam-era surplus. In my rifles, the Greek ammo is more accurate, the groups are half as big as with LC. From CMP, both are steel jacketed. That is, lead core, steel jacket, copper washed bullet. If I were buying more right now, it would be Greek HXP from CMP.

Lee