What happened here?

brasscollector · October 9, 2016, 08:00 AM

A while back I pulled down some older 30-06 rounds I had. I was told they were 'military surplus' rounds, had a black painted tip on an otherwise FMJ bullet (AP?). Powder poured out normally though there were a few bits stuck to the base of the bullets. The primers I pushed out all looked like this. Purple coating has a plastic like hardness. What causes this?
DSCF8782.JPG

50 shooter · October 9, 2016, 08:44 AM

Military surplus, more than likely a coating to keep them water resistant.

Old Bill Dibble · October 9, 2016, 08:50 AM

There was a trend for a while at gun shows of painting tips of reloaded surplus brass with a black tip and calling it AP to fetch a higher price. I still see quite a bit of it.

**Unclenick** · October 9, 2016, 02:12 PM

Brasscollector,

Yes, that's called a lacquer seal. A lot of primers have them, though the colors vary. I've seen red, yellow, and green. I don't know who made purple. If they were original military loads I'd expect the primers to be brass color (no nickel plating) and for them to be crimped, making them hard to push out. It's hard to be sure of the color from the photo being on wood, but they look plated so they are not likely original military loads. If they are AP and are not copper-washed steel bullets, a magnet should attract the penetrator inside. If it has a US arsenal headstamp, an AP bullet will weigh between 62 and 68 grains, depending when it was made, and will have a flat base.

Old Bill Dibble · October 9, 2016, 07:29 PM

Quote:

some older 30-06 rounds

Quote:

an AP bullet will weigh between 62 and 68 grains, depending when it was made, and will have a flat base.

solano2482 · October 9, 2016, 10:13 PM

You can still get old ap rounds. Just bring a magnet with you, and you will know it is legit. Prices are steep though.

**Mike Irwin** · October 10, 2016, 06:19 AM

"If it has a US arsenal headstamp, an AP bullet will weigh between 62 and 68 grains, depending when it was made, and will have a flat base."

A US military .30-06 AP round will be a lot heavier than that, about 100 grains heavier than that.

I've never seen one heavier than about 164 grains, though.

T. O'Heir · October 10, 2016, 01:01 PM

"...black painted tip..." Yep, assuming it's not one of Old Bill's fraudulent gun show painted bullets, it's AP. .30 AP(.30-06) used a 168 grain bullet.
7.62NATO AP uses a 150.5 grain black tipped bullet. There are a bunch of odd 7.62NATO AP rounds using lighter bullets too. All of which were declared evil by the ATF.

P5 Guy · October 10, 2016, 01:13 PM

I have some Lake City M2 with purple sealant on the primers.
I bought it from the CMP in the late 1990s. It was said to be from machine gun training and loaded a little weaker than standard M2. All I know is it is not as strong as the currently available HXP surplus.

October 9, 2016, 08:00 AM	#1
brasscollector Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2015 Posts: 526	What happened here? A while back I pulled down some older 30-06 rounds I had. I was told they were 'military surplus' rounds, had a black painted tip on an otherwise FMJ bullet (AP?). Powder poured out normally though there were a few bits stuck to the base of the bullets. The primers I pushed out all looked like this. Purple coating has a plastic like hardness. What causes this? DSCF8782.JPG __________________ He may look dumb, but that's just a disguise. -Charlie Daniels

October 9, 2016, 08:44 AM	#2
50 shooter Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2002 Location: SoCal PRK Posts: 986	Military surplus, more than likely a coating to keep them water resistant. __________________ I see the world thru bloodshot eyes Streets filled with blood from distant lies The dogs of war never compromise, No time for rearranging.

October 9, 2016, 08:50 AM	#3
Old Bill Dibble Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2016 Posts: 802	There was a trend for a while at gun shows of painting tips of reloaded surplus brass with a black tip and calling it AP to fetch a higher price. I still see quite a bit of it. __________________ "Tragedy has been and will always be with us. Somewhere right now, evil people are planning evil things. All of us will do everything meaningful, everything we can do to prevent it, but each horrible act can’t become an axe for opportunists to cleave the very Bill of Rights that binds us."

October 9, 2016, 02:12 PM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Brasscollector, Yes, that's called a lacquer seal. A lot of primers have them, though the colors vary. I've seen red, yellow, and green. I don't know who made purple. If they were original military loads I'd expect the primers to be brass color (no nickel plating) and for them to be crimped, making them hard to push out. It's hard to be sure of the color from the photo being on wood, but they look plated so they are not likely original military loads. If they are AP and are not copper-washed steel bullets, a magnet should attract the penetrator inside. If it has a US arsenal headstamp, an AP bullet will weigh between 62 and 68 grains, depending when it was made, and will have a flat base. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

October 10, 2016, 06:19 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,388	"If it has a US arsenal headstamp, an AP bullet will weigh between 62 and 68 grains, depending when it was made, and will have a flat base." A US military .30-06 AP round will be a lot heavier than that, about 100 grains heavier than that. I've never seen one heavier than about 164 grains, though. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

October 9, 2016, 10:13 PM	#6
solano2482 Junior Member Join Date: September 12, 2016 Posts: 14	You can still get old ap rounds. Just bring a magnet with you, and you will know it is legit. Prices are steep though.

October 10, 2016, 01:01 PM	#8
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...black painted tip..." Yep, assuming it's not one of Old Bill's fraudulent gun show painted bullets, it's AP. .30 AP(.30-06) used a 168 grain bullet. 7.62NATO AP uses a 150.5 grain black tipped bullet. There are a bunch of odd 7.62NATO AP rounds using lighter bullets too. All of which were declared evil by the ATF. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

October 10, 2016, 01:13 PM	#9
P5 Guy Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2005 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,804	I have some Lake City M2 with purple sealant on the primers. I bought it from the CMP in the late 1990s. It was said to be from machine gun training and loaded a little weaker than standard M2. All I know is it is not as strong as the currently available HXP surplus.