The Browning Hi-Power and hard primers (Italian 4/1953 mfg)
Jun 12, 2017 13:38:18 GMT -5
huntershooter likes this
Post by wags on Jun 12, 2017 13:38:18 GMT -5
This morning myself and a co worker decided to get a little trigger time in with AR's and side arms. Pistol wise I only took #1, my Wickman built Novak Spec Op's Hi-Power and about 200rds of 10yr old plus S&B 115gr FMJ ammo, plus two magazines of Federal 115gr JHP Personal Defense ammo. My friend had this surplus Italian I've heard others talk about on the net that he picked up on a trade, 900rds worth. Italian BPD dated 4/1953 (Berdan primed, two flash holes). Came in brown copper stapled boxes of 50rds. This stuff looked nasty! I won't say corroded, but it was stained from years of sitting. Reminded me of Egyptian ball ammo from the 1950's also that was floating around in the late 80's for $89 for a 1000rds delivered to your house! Corrosive, hard primers and filthy. First and last time I ever saw a Glock choke on hard primers, until today.
My friend brought 3 pistols today for his Italian BPD ammo: Glock 17 Gen 4, Taurus Mod 92, and a new Sig Arms Model 2022 all 9mm. First up, the Glock. Failure to fire every round it seemed. Maybe every 2 or 3 times it would go off. Primers showed little to no firing pin contact. The Taurus 92 and Sig 2022 were a little better, but thankfully these pistols had DA capability and the rounds would go off if not on the first strike, maybe the 2nd or 3rd. Light strikes too. Plus, it seemed the spent case would "roll" out of the ejection window and straight down on both pistols. Thought the ammo was maybe under powered? So my friend is not a happy camper at this point until I give him my Sellier & Bellot ammo so he can enjoy his pistols (S&B functioned just fine in all 3 of his firearms).
So I'm saying to myself do I want to shoot this surplus ammo or not in my Hi-Power? I knew it was probably corrosive, but figured out it wasn't hot sub gun ammo since it wasn't shooting flames or showing flattened primers. So loaded up a 13rd magazine and have at it. No issues. The brass went out about 7-10 feet from where I was standing in a nice little pile. I shot 4 50rd boxes of it with only one failure to fire (hard primer). Re cocked hammer and it went off. The only one. I rate this as a mild to moderate ammo that seemed consistent. No surprises. But it was filthy as heck. I bought his remaining 700rds for $70. I won't use this ammo for anything other than range purposes. But it was consistent accuracy wise (at least to me) and CHEAP. Just thought I'd share. Oh, I do know my recoil spring is a Browning OEM 17lb, and I'm guessing my hammer strut spring is a 26lb, not 32lb since I'm guessing my pistol is late C series or Sport/Vigilante pre MKII. This pistol was only missing the frame when I bought all the parts. Long story, but it was destroyed after it's trial in court.
My friend brought 3 pistols today for his Italian BPD ammo: Glock 17 Gen 4, Taurus Mod 92, and a new Sig Arms Model 2022 all 9mm. First up, the Glock. Failure to fire every round it seemed. Maybe every 2 or 3 times it would go off. Primers showed little to no firing pin contact. The Taurus 92 and Sig 2022 were a little better, but thankfully these pistols had DA capability and the rounds would go off if not on the first strike, maybe the 2nd or 3rd. Light strikes too. Plus, it seemed the spent case would "roll" out of the ejection window and straight down on both pistols. Thought the ammo was maybe under powered? So my friend is not a happy camper at this point until I give him my Sellier & Bellot ammo so he can enjoy his pistols (S&B functioned just fine in all 3 of his firearms).
So I'm saying to myself do I want to shoot this surplus ammo or not in my Hi-Power? I knew it was probably corrosive, but figured out it wasn't hot sub gun ammo since it wasn't shooting flames or showing flattened primers. So loaded up a 13rd magazine and have at it. No issues. The brass went out about 7-10 feet from where I was standing in a nice little pile. I shot 4 50rd boxes of it with only one failure to fire (hard primer). Re cocked hammer and it went off. The only one. I rate this as a mild to moderate ammo that seemed consistent. No surprises. But it was filthy as heck. I bought his remaining 700rds for $70. I won't use this ammo for anything other than range purposes. But it was consistent accuracy wise (at least to me) and CHEAP. Just thought I'd share. Oh, I do know my recoil spring is a Browning OEM 17lb, and I'm guessing my hammer strut spring is a 26lb, not 32lb since I'm guessing my pistol is late C series or Sport/Vigilante pre MKII. This pistol was only missing the frame when I bought all the parts. Long story, but it was destroyed after it's trial in court.
