Korean PS M2 Ball ammo

[Old Grump]

Anybody here shoot Korean PS 1974 M2 ball ammo. Just shot some today in my brothers M1 and it seemed smokier than I am used to and about half the shots were fliers. Is this a common problem with this stuff or do I have a bum batch. The same rifle shoots Lake City ammo just fine.

[nevada]

I don't know the numbers on my Korean, but it seems to shoot fine. It's about all I do shoot, so maybe I'm used to it. I have the bandoleer and loaded clip cans and a half can left of loose rounds that I reload the clips with. I'm in the house now -0001- and they are in the garage so looking up numbers will wait. I seem to recall some smoke, but nothing to worry me. This doesn't help you, but I think it shoots almost as well as my Cetme in the accuracy dept. Definately better in the reliability dept.

[Perro Del Diablo]

not sure about the PS headstamp, but i have shot a few cans of the KA stamped stuff that was in bandoleers and enbloc clips, and it all shot great. Ive shot 5 cans of it which i think is 2000 rounds?

The only problems i have seen with the Korean 06 has been a very very heavy primer crimp, and most of the flash holes are offset from center and if youre not careful it will break your decapping pin (or move it in the collet) on your reloading die

i had no problem with it besides the primer crimp, and flash holes. And the brass has held up to a 3rd reloading for me so far.


never messed with the PS stamped stuff buy im sure its probably similar

[chili]

I have some PS74 and it does seem a little smokier than LC, not by much though. Could be a variation in the powder. Shoot and enjoy OR give it to me!:icon_biggrin:

[Old Grump]

I have some PS74 and it does seem a little smokier than LC, not by much though. Could be a variation in the powder. Shoot and enjoy OR give it to me!:icon_biggrin:
:nonono:I know that the PS ammo is non-corrosive where some of the KA is so I'm hanging onto it, just will have to use it for plinking and not serious shooting. After 2 quick shots in a light or calm breeze I have to wait before I can see the target for the third shot. I have never fired 30-06 that was that smokey. Could just be this batch, I will find out when I open the next box of it. I have some old stuff that goes back to 1950 that I will try next, Been 30 years since I shot any of that batch and its about time it got used up.

[chili]

:nonono:I know that the PS ammo is non-corrosive where some of the KA is so I'm hanging onto it, just will have to use it for plinking and not serious shooting. After 2 quick shots in a light or calm breeze I have to wait before I can see the target for the third shot. I have never fired 30-06 that was that smokey. Could just be this batch, I will find out when I open the next box of it. I have some old stuff that goes back to 1950 that I will try next, Been 30 years since I shot any of that batch and its about time it got used up.

Hey! I was just trying to help a fellow vet out with some ammo he has concerns with. That's all! What gives :533: Jeez! :rolleyes:

If they still have some left, I suggest you try the Greek '06 from the CMP if you haven't already. It is some very good ammo that is non-corrosive and built to M2 ball specs. Most of it comes on enblocs to boot!

[Old Grump]

Used to have some Greek ammo but some damn fool went and shot it up because it was so............oh wait, that was me, I meant some good looking stud had a good time with it. I have no idea where I got this Korean stuff but it's only a few hundred rounds so it won't last long. Maybe have to do some water jug busting with it or something like that since bullseye shooting is out.

Mostly I was just wondering if anybody else run into the same thing with their Korean ammo.

[Orlando]

Korean KA= Corrosive
PS= Non corrosive


PS Info:

Here is a list of known bad lots. Just because a particluar lot isnt listed as bad doesnt mean it isnt as list is inclusive

PS 2-033 (Bad - one report - unspecified problem)
PS 2-035
PS 2-088
PS 2-090
PS 2-093
PS 2-094
PS 2-097
PS 2-098
PS 2-100
PS 2-101
PS 2-104 (one positive report based on very few rounds fired)
PS 2-105 (one positive report based on a few hundred rounds)
PS 2-122
PS 2-124
PS 2-127
PS 2-128
PS 2-135
PS 2-144
PS 2-145
PS 2-146
PS 2-147
PS 2-148
PS 2-149
PS 2-151 (Maybe OK - based on VERY limited information)
PS 2-152 (VERY Bad - numerous reports of ruptured heads!)
PS 2-154 (Some positive reports / negative report [splits] based on sketchy info)
PS 2-155 (Bad - one report of splits 2 out of 250 rds)
PS 2-156 (??? - there are reports it's fine - one report of splits)
PS 2-157
PS 2-161
PS 2-165
PS 2-169
PS 2-171 (one negative report of blown primers)
PS 2-173
PS 2-177
PS 2-181
PS 2-183
PS 2-184
PS 2-185 (One negative report but only on hearsay)
PS 2-186
PS 2-187
PS 2-192
PS 2-193 (??? - some of this lot badly corroded)
PS 2-194
PS 2-195
PS 2-198
PS 2-204
PS 2-205

PS 2-152 (VERY BAD - DANGER - numerous reports of ruptured heads!)
PS 2-154 (VERY BAD - DANGER - multiple negative reports splits and ruptured head)
PS 2-155 (VERY BAD - DANGER - multiple negative reports splits and ruptured head)
PS 2-156 (BAD - multiple reports of serious splits)
PS 2-158 (VERY BAD - DANGER - Nasty split cases...all the way to the head of the case)
PS 2-161 (reports of leaking primers, one blown)
PS 2-165 (Bad – multiple reports of leaking primers and one report of serious split case from mid-case into head, but not through rim)

[Old Grump]

I found that list too, just before I posted. Naturally my lot is 2-34 which isn't on the list. I wonder what the problems were on the ones where problems weren't listed. No pressure signs, no bulging cases, they feed, go bang, eject fine but yumpin' yimminy, I never seen so much smoke. I have fired some ammo a lot older than this lot that didn't do this. Maybe I have just been lucky till now. I can live with that but odd ball fliers, almost 50% or better.

I would hate to ever have to use this lot for serious shooting. I'm talking 6" group at 100 yards and 16" fliers. that is a clean miss half the time unless I'm shooting at something very large. 200 yards and 300 yards and I'm not even on paper. Oy Vey!

I'm wondering if I didn't get machine gun ammo and/or if I dare try to reload this batch.

[Orlando]

There is no differnce between M2Ball that was used in Machine guns on links or fired in a Garand. Its the same ammo.

[Old Grump]

There is no differnce between M2Ball that was used in Machine guns on links or fired in a Garand. Its the same ammo.

Yeah but I am a fossil and keep thinking of M1 ball which was using the (172?) grain ammo and something I read someplace awhile back about an early batch of PS ammo being loaded for machineguns.

I used M80 ammo taken off a belt for the M60 for a rifle match out to 300 yards in place of the issue M59 ammo and it worked just fine in my Navy issue match grade 308 M1. Don't tell my team Captain, it was an experiment on my part and my scores stayed the same. I was told it was hotter and wouldn't work so you know I had to try it. I was younger than but I couldn't tell any difference. Today I wouldn't do that but young and dumb I was a lot braver.

[chili]

Used to have some Greek ammo but some damn fool went and shot it up because it was so............oh wait, that was me, I meant some good looking stud had a good time with it. I have no idea where I got this Korean stuff but it's only a few hundred rounds so it won't last long. Maybe have to do some water jug busting with it or something like that since bullseye shooting is out.

Mostly I was just wondering if anybody else run into the same thing with their Korean ammo.

I think your expericences with the Korean ammo is about the same as most folks, excluding those with the bad lots of course.