surplus ammo in bolt actions

[redhawksixsh]

I would like to shoot some surplus ammo out of a Howa 1500 .308 for practice and fun.  Is it safe to do so, and will it damage the gun in any way? 

[nasem]

No, I shoot alot of surplus in my guns..... Only thing about them is that sometimes they are corrosive ammo and you wanna make sure to clean your gun after EVERY shooting with hot water and soap.

As far as accuracy goes, they are pretty darn accurate stuff.  Some of that 147 gr FMJ 308 NATO south african stuff is pretty accurate

[Cheesehead]

Is there 308 surplus with corrosive primers?

Cheese

[nasem]

Is there 308 surplus with corrosive primers?

Cheese

I have never seen, but i have only heard a few people on other threads mention them. 
I follow a rule, if its surplus, reglardless what year it was produced, treat it like its corrosive

[redhawksixsh]

Good to hear that.  I have shot some korean surplus out of my Weatherby Vanguard 30.06 and it is suprisingly accurate, just was worried it would wear on something because of thicker case.  I live on a ranch and I can shoot all I want.  Don't reload yet so I want to buy surplus and shoot without going broke.  Thanks for the replies, guys.

[nasem]

70 or 80% of that korean stuff is corrosive.  I know they tell you its not corrosive or "mildly corrosive" but thats a bunch of crap... most of it is corrosive, as long as you do the hot water and soap thing, you'll be good

[safetysheriff]

the Venezuelan "Cavim" stuff that i bought several years ago was pure crap!   pure crap!   one of my co-workers from Venezuela told me that their 'QC' was poor.......and it must have been.   it jammed up the bolt on my Model 700 in .308 so i gave up on that "crap"!

Hertenberger such as you can buy from Patsreloading (or Snake River Run in Pa. )website seems to work much better.   

ss'

did i mention that some of that surplus stuff is "crap"?