I found Prvi Partizan PPU 30.06 FMJ 150grn 500rd can for $329.95, which is quite a bit cheaper than the CMP charges for old NATO surplus.

But I need to know if it's good to go in a Springfield 1903A3. It says "Designed and tested for peak performance in M1 Garand rifles". Good for Garand, should be good for 1903, right?

 

Anyone have any experience with this ammo in a 1903?

 

Thanks

If its good for a Garand it'll be fine in an 03A3. Garands are more sensitive to pressure being semi-automatic than bolt action rifles. Too much pressure in a semi-auto can cause all sorts of problems, some of which are dangerous so if the vendor is promising these rounds are good for garands, they'll be adequate at the least in any other rifle.

Garands are limited to a max pressure of about 50k psi and a pressure curve generated by medium speed powders and bullets less than 175 gr. Exceeding this will damage the gas system usually bending the oprod.

 

The 03 or 03A3 being a bolt action is not constrained by these limits. It can safely shooot any factory load with any weight bullet.

You mentioned CMP....Why not stock up on the Greek HXP for .48 per round? Excellent ammo and it's gonna be gone at some point.

+1. The cmp is still cheaper than this stuff and the Greek HXP ammo is top notch.

Thanks for the advice.

 

RE: CMP Greek ammo

I was reluctant to try the old Greek ammo because the put this picture right above the product description. You can even see the guy's got crud on his fingers from handling it.

 

I once ordered 880 rounds Portugese NATO 7.62 that said 10-to-15% may exhibit "discoloration due to minor corrosion." It was so badly corroded that I had to polish it with Kroil and fine steel wool to get it to function properly in my M1A. It took my hours.

 

Is that just a CYA photo? How is the condition and how much cleaning is needed?

Don, the only Greek HXP ammo currently available at the CMP is loose packed, de-linked, belt-fed machine gun ammo. As such, its pretty much guaranteed that a few rounds per 200rd can will be unusable due to physical damage (dented cases, bent cases, mangles bullets) from the delinking process. Additionally, the corrosion issue is quite real and varies from can to can. I've gotten cans where the ammo is all bright and shiny with no corrosion or tarnish to speak of. Other cans i've opened where every round is absolutely filthy and covered with oily, gritty grime and would need to wiped down before use and several rounds in the can are tarnished and unusable like that one you pictured above. Still, the price for HXP is the best bargain out there and all in all, its good ammo, but its not perfect and you'll have to accept an attrition rate of a few rounds per can. Thats the straight truth.

 

I'm actually curious to try some of that prvi M1 ammo, but don't want to commit to an entire can if its not that much better than HXP. The brass will be a lot nicer i'm sure and just as reloadable as HXP without the crimped primer pockets. I'd be willing to go in halfsies with you on a case if you also want to try it out. Let me know.

I appreciate the offer, JonF. But, the wife and I just did the bills this evening and it looks like I am going to have to behave myself for a couple months. A new kitchen table is more important than making loud noises putting small holes in paper. I have to pass on this one.

Sorry.

Thanks for the advice.

 

RE: CMP Greek ammo

I was reluctant to try the old Greek ammo because the put this picture right above the product description. You can even see the guy's got crud on his fingers from handling it.

 

I once ordered 880 rounds Portugese NATO 7.62 that said 10-to-15% may exhibit "discoloration due to minor corrosion." It was so badly corroded that I had to polish it with Kroil and fine steel wool to get it to function properly in my M1A. It took my hours.

 

Is that just a CYA photo? How is the condition and how much cleaning is needed?

 

Maybe dumb luck, but with 20 cans of mixed loose, spam can and enbloc....never had a single round looking like that. HXP 63-77 is mainly what I get and IMHO it matches up to US surplus in quality of components and finish. The story I was told is that Remington was chosen to set up the Greeks on their ammo manufacturing.