223 Jacket extends below the base

tlakose

tlakose

Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2022
Messages
8
Hey all,
I couldn’t exactly describe the issue but wanted some input on this. I got a bunch of .223 FMJ bullets at a real good price, 55gr and 62gr. The jacket is longer than the led and creates somewhat of a skirt that extends past the base. Attached is a picture of the bullets on the right. The far left is a Hornady 55gr FMJ bullet for comparison. Nice googled and can’t find anything or find the correct phrase to search for this. Could any issues come if this or is it good to go since that is down in the case and can’t tear off when the powder is ignited. Thanks!
 

Attachments

  • 35C42686-45B9-4A2B-86DD-464CA8550C68.jpeg
    35C42686-45B9-4A2B-86DD-464CA8550C68.jpeg
    89.3 KB · Views: 147
Can you tell us who made the bullets that you are talking about? I have both Bob's bullets 62 Gn and Extreme in 55 Gr and both don't look like the ones on the right in the picture. I don't see anything wrong with them, just shoot them and let us know what your group is!!
 
74man said:
Can you tell us who made the bullets that you are talking about? I have both Bob's bullets 62 Gn and Extreme in 55 Gr and both don't look like the ones on the right in the picture. I don't see anything wrong with them, just shoot them and let us know what your group is!!
Click to expand...
They didn’t have a brand on them so I’m not sure who actually made them. Just sold as blem bullets and advertised as minimal markings, which is true. Honestly, I’ve loaded a bunch of 223 bust used Hornady, Sierra and Berrys. This is is the first time I’ve seen bullets like this. I didn’t want the explosion in the case to rip off the jacketing. I’m not overly concerned about it but was looking more for experience. It’s just for plinking so I’ll load em up and let them fly.
 
Yeah, I wouldn't want to have to use them for accuracy past 400 yards, but otherwise they should be fine. The inconsistency of the bases would make me wary of other inconsistencies tho. Probably why you got them "at a real good price".
 
You didn't get bullets at a good price, you paid for crap that should have been destroyed. I wouldn't waste powder, primers or barrel life on that scheiss.
 
MonkTx said:
You didn't get bullets at a good price, you paid for crap that should have been destroyed. I wouldn't waste powder, primers or barrel life on that scheiss.
Click to expand...
Good point, not sure I would want to waste ten cent primers and the time it takes to prep and load brass on 4 cent bullets that might average 4 MOA.
 
MonkTx said:
You didn't get bullets at a good price, you paid for crap that should have been destroyed. I wouldn't waste powder, primers or barrel life on that scheiss.
Click to expand...

entropy said:
Good for loading up for close in drills, or to hand off to that buddy that hasn't fired an AR before and won't notice to difference.
Click to expand...

If you are buying FMJ bullets of most any sort... you are not expecting MOA accuracy. Or at least you shouldn't be. Bullets are one of those Things that 'you get what you pay for.'

Those RMR bullets I posted above? Are they MOA bullets? I don't know... I didn't buy them for that. Now... if I'm buying Sierra MatchKings? Yes, I'm expecting a little more out of them...

It's about realistic expectations.
 
I have these two targets up over my work bench...

The one on the left was shot with crap FMJ surplus ammos, the one on the right with good production FMJ ammos... There IS a difference, and much of that, I'm sure, is the bullet quality.

...shot at the same time, at the same range, with the same rifle...

qDc3ygYl.jpg
 
The OP knows he didn’t buy anything close to match quality bullets, he just wanted to know if they were safe to shoot, which they are.

The worst 55 Gr FMJ I ever had were Winchester, and they looked OK, but shot like crap. I used them for playing around where accuracy wasn’t important.
 
OP good job for checking in, there is no stupid questions here.

I've got a batch of M193s that are pulled. They also have the "skirt" of copper extending past the core. No problems, actually getting about 1 MOA with them at 100.....which is in par with the best FMJs I've ever had.....
 
Charlie98 said:
If you are buying FMJ bullets of most any sort... you are not expecting MOA accuracy. Or at least you shouldn't be. Bullets are one of those Things that 'you get what you pay for.'

Those RMR bullets I posted above? Are they MOA bullets? I don't know... I didn't buy them for that. Now... if I'm buying Sierra MatchKings? Yes, I'm expecting a little more out of them...

It's about realistic expectations.
Click to expand...

The Hornady fmj pictured above will easily shoot 1.5 MOA or better with a decent barrel. There are expectations and then there is settling for crap.
 
Last edited:
Definitely seconds, also look for uniform bullet length, and they are likely perfectly fine for plinking rounds. I've got both 223 and 308 seconds from RMR that had the skirt issue, and length issues. The 308 deviated so bad I basically gave a thousand bullets away as scrap, they were unuseable, turned out to be two different bullet types in the mix, and within those two types, huge deviation. By the time I opened the box and realized how bad they were, to much time had passed to ask for a refund. Far as yours go, send 'em. Just measure a few from the tip to the cannelure and make sure it's reasonably consistent. Otherwise you'll set up your dies one way, then discover that some are seated way below the cannelure, and some way above. Won't really matter in the great scheme of things for range ammo...long as you know what's going on, and if they are inconsistent, error on loading them slightly longer to make sure you don't inadvertently seat them off the ogive.
 
MonkTx said:
The Hornady fmj pictured above will easily shoot 1.5 MOA or better with a decent barrel. There are expectations and then there is settling for crap.
Click to expand...

I'm familiar with the Hornady FMJ's.... I agree they are generally a pretty good bullet. I use them in .308. 'SUB MOA' suggests a bullet that will shoot, well... sub MOA, not 1.5MOA. Following your line of thinking, that junk surplus I shot in my target above is MOA ammo... probably about 10 MOA. :confused:


EricBu said:
The 308 deviated so bad I basically gave a thousand bullets away as scrap, they were unuseable, turned out to be two different bullet types in the mix, and within those two types, huge deviation.
Click to expand...

It's interesting... I bought mine and put them at the back of the shelf while I used up the current box of bullets. About 2 years later, I opened the box and I'm like 'WTH???' I had to go back to the order and see what it was that I actually bought. If memory serves, mine had 2 fairly different bullets, or at least bullets from 2 different lines... the cannelure was markedly different on some of them. I bought them as blasting bullets for the M1a... where they have done a fine job. My load for that is a generic load of IMR4895 seated below magazine length, so if there was some variations with seating depth it didn't really matter, and even deep seating the bullet a smidge didn't matter, either.

90IXoykl.jpg
 
tlakose said:
Hey all,
I couldn’t exactly describe the issue but wanted some input on this. I got a bunch of .223 FMJ bullets at a real good price, 55gr and 62gr. The jacket is longer than the led and creates somewhat of a skirt that extends past the base. Attached is a picture of the bullets on the right. The far left is a Hornady 55gr FMJ bullet for comparison. Nice googled and can’t find anything or find the correct phrase to search for this. Could any issues come if this or is it good to go since that is down in the case and can’t tear off when the powder is ignited. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Good on you for asking! Also, congratulations, you've just accidentally stumbled on why match bullets are built as hollow points and not FMJ.

A conventional "cup and core" bullet is made by forcing a jacket blank through a die, having a lead core inserted, and then having the jacket "closed" over. A FMJ bullet is made with the closed end as the the tip, and the base crimped around the core. The problem is this can lead to inconsistent bullet bases, which is the critically important part of the bullet for accuracy, at least out to a couple hundred yards. Hollow point and soft point bullets are formed in the reverse, providing much more consistent bases, and much more reliable accuracy.

I've used quite a few .224" 55 grain FMJ bullets that looked as inconsistent as the ones you've pictured. The trick is to manage expectations. When the bullets look like that, they're best used for close-range, high-speed, big-target drills. Just don't plan to hit clay targets on the 100 yard berm every time.
 
Hey, that's why they were sold as blems as you know already. Yes, they are safe to shoot. If you're looking for ammo for shooting fun or for checking function of the rifle they are perfect instead of wasting good match or hunting bullets. I have gotten bullets like that and I have gotten bullets that were only slightly off color, both sold as blems or seconds. Luck of the draw lol.

Load them up and fire away, no safety problem there. Nothing wrong with saving money.
 
I bought some about 10 years ago that were "bullet heads" brand and looked exactly like that. They are the most inconsistent projectile I've ever come across, but they were fine for blasting ammo.
 
tlakose said:
Hey all,
I couldn’t exactly describe the issue but wanted some input on this. I got a bunch of .223 FMJ bullets at a real good price, 55gr and 62gr. The jacket is longer than the led and creates somewhat of a skirt that extends past the base. Attached is a picture of the bullets on the right. The far left is a Hornady 55gr FMJ bullet for comparison. Nice googled and can’t find anything or find the correct phrase to search for this. Could any issues come if this or is it good to go since that is down in the case and can’t tear off when the powder is ignited. Thanks!
Click to expand...
We have some 55gr m193 pulls and they look the same as those, so I wouldn't worry about it. Just fling em at 3000fps at steel!
 
Spin those suckers around and load them backwards, then you can say their Hollow Point VLBs.......

I've actually done that, and gotten reasonably decent results from it.......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
  • Locked
.223 Reloading Newbie!!! Help...
Replies
7
Views
621
ace1001
A
M
  • Locked
New reloader question .223
Replies
5
Views
637
kimbernut
K
A
  • Locked
.223 62gr & H-335 reloading question
Replies
13
Views
15K
sourdough44
sourdough44
S
  • Locked
RCBS .223 seating die issues?
Replies
6
Views
2K
Steve in PA
Steve in PA
T
  • Locked
Bulletheads.com .223 review
Replies
11
Views
1K
CynicalShooter
C
Back
Top