Question: Anyone use Hornady steel 7.62x39 SST tip in AR?

doofus47 · June 5, 2015, 10:31 AM

I bought 50 of these a year or two ago to use in my AR with Bushmaster 7.62x39 upper while deer hunting dark timber. They were poly-coated. Function was great.

Fast forward a few years of zeroing, practice, etc and I'm running out.

So I bought a new box of 50 from Graf and they arrived and "Surprise!!!" these are lacquer covered. I didn't even think lacquer-coated ammo was being produced any longer.

Has anyone shot lacquer-covered 7.62x39 steel in their AR? Did anyone have the dreaded "lacquer build up" in their chamber from shooting this ammo type? The last headache I need is for my bolt to stick at the moment of truth (or any point for that matter).

I"m expecting ballistic and terminal performance to be equal (enough).

Any input helps. AK guys are welcome to chime in.

skizzums · June 5, 2015, 01:41 PM

I stand vehemently against lacquered ammo. I have always preferred the coating that tulammo uses. That being said, I have shot lots of it, in al type rifles, and no, it has never caused an issue and have never seen build-up or residue. But it just looks like it would be bad for the gun, but in reality I don't that's actually the case and its all in my head. Even IF it did cause an issue, it wouldn't be anything catastrophic anyways and could be easily cleaned of the bolt or chamber.

Mobuck · June 5, 2015, 10:05 PM

I don't think lacquer coated will make much diff unless you try to make your AR run like a full auto.

doofus47 · June 6, 2015, 11:46 PM

Thanks.
I'm probably going to use to use it for scope zero and practice and just scrub, scrub, scrub.
I"ll save my poly for hunting.

Mobuck · June 7, 2015, 09:11 PM

I've used the lacquer coated Hornady 5.45x39 w/V-max bullets for 3-4 years and had no problems. No difference in actual use between the lacquer and polymer coated cases. I do think the primers in the lacquered cases are slightly harder than the more current cases. I had a few fail to fire due to insufficient primer indention last winter in below zero temps with the lacquered cases while the newer cases fired consistently.
Since I wanted to use the older ammo first, I installed the recommended stronger hammer spring and that solved the problem.

Fishbed77 · June 8, 2015, 10:34 AM

Considering the small number of rounds fired in a season of deer hunting, I don't see how a lacquer coating could ever be a problem (assuming you clean the rifle at least once a season).

June 5, 2015, 10:31 AM	#1
doofus47 Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent Posts: 2,483	Question: Anyone use Hornady steel 7.62x39 SST tip in AR? I bought 50 of these a year or two ago to use in my AR with Bushmaster 7.62x39 upper while deer hunting dark timber. They were poly-coated. Function was great. Fast forward a few years of zeroing, practice, etc and I'm running out. So I bought a new box of 50 from Graf and they arrived and "Surprise!!!" these are lacquer covered. I didn't even think lacquer-coated ammo was being produced any longer. Has anyone shot lacquer-covered 7.62x39 steel in their AR? Did anyone have the dreaded "lacquer build up" in their chamber from shooting this ammo type? The last headache I need is for my bolt to stick at the moment of truth (or any point for that matter). I"m expecting ballistic and terminal performance to be equal (enough). Any input helps. AK guys are welcome to chime in. __________________ I'm right about the metric system 3/4 of the time.

June 5, 2015, 01:41 PM	#2
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	I stand vehemently against lacquered ammo. I have always preferred the coating that tulammo uses. That being said, I have shot lots of it, in al type rifles, and no, it has never caused an issue and have never seen build-up or residue. But it just looks like it would be bad for the gun, but in reality I don't that's actually the case and its all in my head. Even IF it did cause an issue, it wouldn't be anything catastrophic anyways and could be easily cleaned of the bolt or chamber. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

June 6, 2015, 11:46 PM	#4
doofus47 Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent Posts: 2,483	Thanks. I'm probably going to use to use it for scope zero and practice and just scrub, scrub, scrub. I"ll save my poly for hunting. __________________ I'm right about the metric system 3/4 of the time.

June 5, 2015, 10:05 PM	#3
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I don't think lacquer coated will make much diff unless you try to make your AR run like a full auto.

June 7, 2015, 09:11 PM	#5
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I've used the lacquer coated Hornady 5.45x39 w/V-max bullets for 3-4 years and had no problems. No difference in actual use between the lacquer and polymer coated cases. I do think the primers in the lacquered cases are slightly harder than the more current cases. I had a few fail to fire due to insufficient primer indention last winter in below zero temps with the lacquered cases while the newer cases fired consistently. Since I wanted to use the older ammo first, I installed the recommended stronger hammer spring and that solved the problem.

June 8, 2015, 10:34 AM	#6
Fishbed77 Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2010 Posts: 4,862	Considering the small number of rounds fired in a season of deer hunting, I don't see how a lacquer coating could ever be a problem (assuming you clean the rifle at least once a season).