Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

[mudstud]

Local money pit got in some Winchester white box 7.62x51 147gr. FMJ ammo for $16.99/20. I noticed the brass is WCC marked, and has the little NATO circle doohickey on it. Would this ammo be worthwhile for general plinking in a DPMS LR-308? Is the brass any good for reloading? Are the primers crimped? Thanks for all responses!

 

[T44]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

Q3130 is darned good NATO fodder, and the answers to your questions would be "Yes"...

 

[mudstud]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

Thanks, T44! I believe I will pick up some of that tomorrow!

 

[Falar]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

If your range doesn't allow magnetic ammo, then you won't be able to use Q3130. It uses a steel jacket with a thin layer of copper.

 

[Halfnutz]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

The primer will have a slightly depressed ring around it if the primers are crimped, you will need to swage it out after depriming, or use a chamfer tool to cut it out. Otherwise it is regular winchester brass and will be fine for reloading.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

That's interesting. I wasn't aware that any commercial ammo used crimped primers. Thanks for the update.

Greg

 

[mudstud]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

Is this steel jacket hard on barrels?

 

[mudstud]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

As a follow-up to this thread, this Winchester ammo is Q3130, as previously pointed out. The brass is head-stamped WCC 08 and the primer pockets are crimped. The bullet is NOT magnetic. I checked several with a magnet, and even verified my magnet was working! I also had heard on another forum that Q3130 was IMI, not Winchester, but I see no indication of that, the boxes say "Made in U.S.A. Olin Corp."

 

[Falar]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mudstud</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As a follow-up to this thread, this Winchester ammo is Q3130, as previously pointed out. The brass is head-stamped WCC 08 and the primer pockets are crimped. The bullet is NOT magnetic. I checked several with a magnet, and even verified my magnet was working! I also had heard on another forum that Q3130 was IMI, not Winchester, but I see no indication of that, the boxes say "Made in U.S.A. Olin Corp." </div></div>

The Q3130 that I have is magnetic. Maybe not all of it is, depending on when/where it is made.

 

[Falar]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's interesting. I wasn't aware that any commercial ammo used crimped primers. Thanks for the update.

Greg </div></div>

This isn't the regular .308 WWB. This stuff is marked 7.62mm and is basically like Federal XM80, identical to military issue 7.62x51mm NATO thus the crimped primer.

 

[bohem]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's interesting. I wasn't aware that any commercial ammo used crimped primers. Thanks for the update.

Greg </div></div>

I have 1 case each from 2 lots of Fiocci 223 ammo. 1 is crimped, one is not.

The first set I reloaded was not and didn't think much of it until I tried putting primers back into the second lot, only to be annoyed that I had about 985 cases to chamfer.

 

[bohem]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mudstud</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is this steel jacket hard on barrels? </div></div>

Yes, I shoot it in an old beater M44 and MN 91/30, my "good" rifles only get hard cast or jacketed stuff.

 

[dj70]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

Wow is that shit expensive!!!!! I bet he's making a bundle on that ammo!

 

[Bigwheels]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

Is there a way to tell if it's crimped without trying to press a primer into it? If mine is crimped, what tool do I need to reload them?

 

[bohem]

Re: Winchester White Box 7.62 ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bigwheels</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is there a way to tell if it's crimped without trying to press a primer into it? If mine is crimped, what tool do I need to reload them? </div></div>

If it has a nice round edge where the primer goes in and no circular or 3 pronged marks then it isn't crimped.

If you push the primer out and see a sharp edge on the primer pocket and/or it has a circular stamping mark it's crimped.

To remove the crimp you need a chamfer or deburring tool, an electric drill is nice too.

Or you can use a swaging tool.