I cross-sectioned a copper washed 7.62x39 PICS

[jason765]

I've seen people go back and forth over what exactly was the make-up of the old Chinese copper washed ammo. Curiosity was getting the best of me, so I pulled a bullet and cross sectioned it. I kind of already knew what I was gonna see. But I had never seen it, so here it is.

 

[Sniper 79]

Is that a steel tip with a hollow cavity?

 

[jason765]

Is that a steel tip with a hollow cavity?

No, my angle was off so I lost the top of the core in the cut. It's a steel core inside a steel shell. The shell is copper washed Inside and out. While I was cutting, the piece of the outer shell just fell off. The only thing holding the core in is where the outer shell is boat tailed and wraps around the bottom of the bullet. Another point of interest, all the copper washed I have came from the same shipment, I pulled 6 bullets. 4 were boat tailed 2 were not. The ones that aren't, are about 1/4" shorter.

 

[Wolfhound]

No, my angle was off so I lost the top of the core in the cut. It's a steel core inside a steel shell. The shell is copper washed Inside and out. While I was cutting, the piece of the outer shell just fell off. The only thing holding the core in is where the outer shell is boat tailed and wraps around the bottom of the bullet. Another point of interest, all the copper washed I have came from the same shipment, I pulled 6 bullets. 4 were boat tailed 2 were not. The ones that aren't, are about 1/4" shorter.

So two different sized bullets from the same box of ammo?

Did you / can you weigh them?

Seems really odd but I guess that's Chinese ammo for you.

I use to shoot this stuff in my SKS way back in the late 80's.

 

[jason765]

So two different sized bullets from the same box of ammo?

Did you / can you weigh them?

Seems really odd but I guess that's Chinese ammo for you.

I use to shoot this stuff in my SKS way back in the late 80's.

I don't have a scale, but I did measure them. There is a 1/8" difference on the bottom side, the tops match all the way down. This would obviously wreak havoc on bullistics. Good thing it's a spray and pray round.

 

[jason765]

The one on the left is Russian 7.62x54 the other two are 7.62x39 out of the same box