30 Cal 163gr AP projectiles info?

[armorpl8chikn]

Does anyone load these, and what kind of data are you using?

Are they safe to shoot in a match barrel? Why would/wouldn't you shoot them in a match grade barrel?

 

[Col Kurtz]

Re: 30 Cal 163gr AP projectiles info?

You can use any load data listed for a 165 gr. bullet. As far as why one wouldn't want to shoot them in a match barrel, I don't know of any. The tungsten core is totally inside the copper jacket, except for maybe a little showing inside the base. Nothing will, or can touch your barrel besides the same copper jackets that touch it with every other bullet.

 

[rg1]

Re: 30 Cal 163gr AP projectiles info?

I've loaded and shot them in a Rem 700, Rem 742 semi-auto and in Garands. I agree that 165 grain data can be used to work up loads for the 163 AP. With 46.5 grains of IMR 4895 in the 22" barreled Rem 742 I was getting 2530-2550 fps. With some remanufactured Talon 30-06 163 AP I was getting approx. 2660 fps in the same Rem 742. Haven't chrono'd them in the Garands.
In a Rem 700 30-06 22" barrel using IMR 4350 powder and the 163 AP starting at 52 grains at 2500 fps---53 at 2550-2580 fps---54 grains got approx. 2600 fps---55 grains got 2640 and I stopped at 56 grains for 2687 fps. All the above loads in RP brass shooting pulled sized 163 AP seated to 3.320" using RP 9 1/2 primers. They have become scarce and sometimes sell for one dollar "each". I don't see where they would cause any problems in a match barrel. Just be careful that they don't jam into the lands if your match chamber is shorter than standard. Info I've read on the 30-06 163 AP bullets is that before 1942 they did indeed have 4% tungsten. They stopped using tungsten in the hardened steel cores because tungsten was needed elsewhere during WWII. After 1942 the hardened steel cores were made with a manganese molybdenum alloy. The hardened steel core weighs approx. 78 grains. Don't shoot them at close range steel targets or you could get jacket material richochets back at you.

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Re: 30 Cal 163gr AP projectiles info?

Thanks fellas. I just wanted to confirm using something like 165 data, making sure there were no surprises. I had concerns that there would be a bit of difference in the bullet's ability to "give" to the rifling due to the hard core.

I believe the ones I have are of Korean era vintage, as the loaded rounds that I have are stamped 52 and 53. I was fortunate to purchase these many years ago for $20 per hundred. I have noticed of late they are bringing in excess of $1.00 each. No I do not have any for sale

Thanks for the 30-06 data RG.

 

[BuzzBoss915]

Re: 30 Cal 163gr AP projectiles info?

I would be skeptical of the accuracy, if your intent, using a match barrel, is match shooting? Maybe they shoot the same as a lead core bullet and maybe they don't? I always look at a FMJ type bullet, meaning the base is where the lead or tungsten is inserted as "not as accurate" as a flat base, lead core hollow point.

If these AP163 are selling for a dollar each, maybe the "survivalists" are driving it? Why don't you sell them rather than shoot up all those "valuable" bullets?

A long time ago, I bought a Remington 11-47, or was it 11-48? from a guy that always had a shotgun stacked behind the door, you know, just in case? This shotgun came with about 200 1 ounce slugs. One day, I was on a cliff overlooking a lake with some mudhens kind of rafting way out there. I fired off every one of those slugs, didn't even scare them, like a mortar with the butt on the ground and the shotgun at a 45 degree angle. I think I should have just sold those slugs to some deer hunter that likes to "pattern" slugs? Maybe I couldn't get a dollar a piece, but I might have got something useful like a couple cases of beer?

I wish I still had that shotgun, though? BB

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Re: 30 Cal 163gr AP projectiles info?

BB I like your style and I admire your penchant for irreverance. You and I agree on a lot of stuff here in the reloading forum.

Advice is advice and I can take it or leave it as I was the one who asked.

I will respectfully decline selling any of these projectiles. I have no compunction to explain why I choose not to trade my valuable assets for paper that becomes more worthless with each passing financial quarter. I like beer as much as the next guy but comparing them as useless against a case or two of beer that will ultimately be converted to an asset of piss is the height of folly in my humble opinion.

I believe you give the "survivalists" a bad rap here as they are not the ones who have driven the price of these projectiles but instead politicians. I make it a point to own more than a few things that make politicians nervous. Anything that makes government fear the people is a good thing to own.

I do not intend to plink these away but instead wanted to know if there were any surprises in loading them that I may need to know about. I do not expect match grade accuracy with these projectiles but want to load a few and find the dope and accuracy to expect. I also wanted to know that they would not do anything harmful to my Krieger barrel. My reasons for doing this and reasons for owning them are my own.

The shotgun was an 11-48.

P.S. I have sold a few off in the last few years but I have kept enough. I have also given some to a few friends that wanted some.

 

[1lnbrdg]

Re: 30 Cal 163gr AP projectiles info?

It was my understanding from books & articles I've read in the past that the Tungsten cored AP bullets were slightly more accurate than the 173gr FMJBT's and also in the past, were favored for practice by some of the military teams.

 

[Clark]

Re: 30 Cal 163gr AP projectiles info?

If one bought 163 gr AP bullets 10 years ago out of ShotGunNews for 5 cents each, then the appreciation he now sees is 20X.

If one bought Apple stock 10 years ago for $7 the appreciation is 90X.