SOG Surplus M2 Ammo

[rcathey]

All,

Took a mild gamble and bought a can of this:
30.06 MILITARY SURPLUS AMMO - Southern Ohio Gun

Anyone have any experience with it? I'll post my impressions once it arrives.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Bruce McAskill]

It's Korean made and head stamped KA plus the date. It is very good ammo BUT it is corrosive primed with boxer primers so clean accordingly.

[rcathey]

“Very good” sounds like a good gamble for $100 plus shipping!
I’ve read some reports of people receiving considerably less than the advertised quantity...but if I receive the quantity they say, sure seems like the projectiles and brass would be worth the price.

[rcathey]

Just a quick update before this arrives: shipping was only $14. For a 30 cal can filled with 30-06, that seems very fair.

[Bruce McAskill]

I would say that's more then fair for the shipping.

[rcathey]

All,

The ammo has arrived.
As was mostly expected, this looks like delinked machine gun stuff. Here's the breakdown of headstamps:

108 - KA72
98 - KA71
27 - KA67
7 - KA73
2 - KA70
and some good bonus stuff:
21 - LC69
4 - SL56 (made just down the street from me, 62 years ago)
1 - LC68
1 - SL54

So for a total of 269 rounds, I paid $115.97 included CC fees and shipping. Or, 43 cents a round, plus a free ammo can. For reference, JG Sales is selling cans of 250 KA stamped 30-06 for $209.95!

I have attached some pictures.
Image 1 shows the whole lot and the ammo can it came in.
Image 2 shows the dirtiest round I could find. Most have very little thick tarnish - just a thin layer of grime.
Image 3 shows my hand after sorting through all 269 rounds. Yeah, the ammo is dirty, but it's not filthy or anything.

I may take the time to give all the rounds a good wipe down.

I've read reports that the KA is corrosive and the PS headstamp isn't. However, I've also read that the PS cases have a tendency to blow up with some lots. Anyone have first hand experience with KA Korean ammo?
Given the options, I'd rather shoot KA and clean really well than shoot PS and risk a bomb going off a half foot in front of my face!

[rcathey]

Thought I'd give this one bump in case an interested party missed it. At least with the batch I got, it seems like a pretty decent deal.

[Bruce McAskill]

That is about the size of it with the PS and the KA. The PS is non corrosive but there are a number of lots that have defective rounds for sure. Mostly splitting in the area of the head and sidewalls of the cases. No reports of any defective KA ammo has been reported. Only thing as you stated is the corrosive primers. But it was made and loaded for use in the M1 Garand.

[Sunray]

"...in case an interested party missed it..." SOG's site says they have none anyway.

[rcathey]

"...in case an interested party missed it..." SOG's site says they have none anyway.

Bummer. I was thinking about ordering another can.