Ammo TEST on the controversial Golden Tiger 56 gr (!) FMJBT

[Erick]

Today I performed the functions test with the somewhat controversial Golden Tiger 56 gr (not a typo!) FMJBT, Laquered Steel as discussed here:

uwgear.proboards.com/thread/1340/ammunition-opportunity
Read that thread first if you are unfamiliar with this .

The below was my test set up for function:

1x LWRC M6A2 with Wolff XP Spring and Enhanced Firing Pin
1x Sig 516 with stock FP and trigger assembly
1x LWRC M6 with Geisselle SSA and stock FP
2x brand new Troy mags (for feeding consistency)
1000x Golden Tiger Laquered Steel 56 FMJBT:



Result:

-AR with Geissele SSA and Stock FP:
0 out of 5 rds functioned.. I stopped test at 5

- Sig516 with Milspec stock trigger and sotck FP:
3 out of 10 rds functioned

- AR With Wolff XP spring and upgraded FP:
60 out of 60 rounds functioned.. 

- AR with Geissele SSA but stock FP replaced by enhanced FP, still on stock springs:
30 out of 30 ignition

So even the Geissele SSA trigger assembly with a hammer spring lighter than stock was able to reliably ingnite the Hard Primers on this ammo as long as it has the upgraded FP.

From this it's clear the determining factor is the firing pin and I will not be installing any more XP Hammer springs in my fleet.

Also while accuracy was not evaluated in a methodical way Golden Tiger's repuation for it seems justified:

When functions testing the ammo from the bench I shot my last 20 rds with my primary at a Index card size and shape target at 100m and hit it nearly every time.
An Index card is approx 3 inch wide when mounted "stranding" so IMO this points to a very low MOA error especially as my rifle was not zeroed for this ammo and I was not shooting for zero (no bag) so I was introducing some inaccuracies of my own I am sure.

At 100 yards an index card is very very small in your sights..

Given that with the right FP the Ammo functions 100% for me , the excellent accuracy for an economy round , the internet user published chronos consistently above 3000 fps w/  the refence 20 inch barrel and the very smooth lacquer combined with the sealant around the neck and primer I am going all-in with this ammo.

So I just ordered a 3rd one of these for myself:
ar15xtreme.com/product/ar-platform-7-62-x-39-firing-pin/

And I also just ordered some more of this:
www.sgammo.com/product/223-556mm-ammo/1000-rounds-loose-223-rem-fmj-steel-case-russian-ammo-hard-primer-sold-read-d


EDIT: Second test with divergent results here:
uwgear.proboards.com/thread/1359/additional-testing-56gr-fmjbt-read

PS: The ease of collecting steel "brass":

Attachments:

[Erick]

IMO this ammo seems well worth even the original price of 22 cents a round before the hard primer problems surfaced.
At 16 cents a rounds its simply a steal

[swampy]

Thanks for being the "guinea pig" with this stuff Erick. I'll be ordering some myself once funds allow.

Edit: Didn't realize I hadn't posted on here before now. Guess that means I'm on too many forums. Anyway. hey from Ohio.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Thanks Erick...I think I will order some of those FP's. At $12 not bad....

[swampy]

Did you try that FP with brass case or other steel case ammo?

[floki]

Sept 11, 2016 18:14:38 GMT -5 Erick said:

IMO this ammo seems well worth even the original price of 22 cents a round before the hard primer problems surfaced.
At 16 cents a rounds its simply a steal

It's back in stock!

[Erick]

Sept 12, 2016 21:31:05 GMT -5 swampy said:

Did you try that FP with brass case or other steel case ammo?

Not yet but I will soon to make sure there are no pierced primer issues when using the XP Firing Pin when using ammo w/ softer primers.

[omnivorous]

Sept 12, 2016 21:31:05 GMT -5 swampy said:

Did you try that FP with brass case or other steel case ammo?

Yeah, that's my next question.

[Erick]

They sold almost 50 cases after it got back in stock in last 24 hrs.. now 43 cases still available....

[floki]

Tried this ammo last night on one of my rifles and it fired about 50% of the time with standard FP.

I'll be ordering the enhanced FP's Erick posted soon.

[Erick]

6 cases still available

[Erick]

PS: so once SGammo is out of incoming returns on the hard primer ammo.... this kind of price is NEVER coming back, anywhere, ever .....

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Grabbed me a case, too good of a deal to pass up.

also, got the enhanced FP you linked to...quick shipping. Will try with just the enhanced FP and see how it works, then order more FP's for my other rifles so all can shoot this ammo.

[trailrunner909]

Thanks for doing the legwork on this Erick. I bought 2 cases to burn up at a training class this month. Would have bought out the rest of their inventory if I wasn't leaving next month to work abroad for the foreseeable future. It is a smoking deal.

[Erick]

Sept 16, 2016 14:11:17 GMT -5 trailrunner909 said:

Thanks for doing the legwork on this Erick. I bought 2 cases to burn up at a training class this month. Would have bought out the rest of their inventory if I wasn't leaving next month to work abroad for the foreseeable future. It is a smoking deal.

Did you get the upgraded FP?
In my testing the FP was both necessary and sufficient to fire this ammo.
However it might be best practices to add the Wolff spring as well (they are like 4 dollars)