FN AP Ammo Garand Safe?

[Flyfisher33]

I just picked up this AP ammo recently and was wondering if it's safe for a Garand?

It's FN 164 grain ammo dated 1967. I'll upload a picture of the headstamp later.

I haven't been able to find any information on this ammo so any information would be helpful.

Thanks.

 

[ronn47]

It may be tracer rounds.
Becareful where and when you shot it, if you decide to.
Don't set the woods on fire

 

[JT]

All I can get for certain is that it is Belgian. NSN doesn't list any details for it that I can see -- too old to be active, probably. Sorry.

 

[Flyfisher33]

When you say active does that mean you think it's tracers too? The label says steel core so I assumed it was AP ammo.

 

[JT]

When you say active does that mean you think it's tracers too? The label says steel core so I assumed it was AP ammo.

If you're replying to me, I was referring to the NSN being no longer an active number. Sorry for any confusion I caused. I would never offer an opinion on the safety of any ammo, especially sight unseen.

 

[Flyfisher33]

If you're replying to me, I was referring to the NSN being no longer an active number. Sorry for any confusion I caused. I would never offer an opinion on the safety of any ammo, especially sight unseen.

Yeah I was, sorry for not tagging you. I don't know anything about the ammo so I was just curious as to what you meant. I see what you meant now though, I just misread it.

Thanks for looking into it for me

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk

 

[nbkky71]

A quick GOOGLE search shows where folks have shot FN 30-06 through their M1 will no ill effects. But there's no good way that I know to tell what the burn rate is on the powder is though. But an M1 will easily digest USGI M2 AP ammo so if I had to SWAG it, I'd say you'll probably be OK.

The can in the pic is marked as AP-BALL-TR, so it looked to be a mixed 250 round belt that would have included AP and TRACER ammo. Without pics, there's no way to tell if this is belted ammo, or just loose AP ammo in a MG can.

 

[NCFubar]

Personally I think (which with 99¢ will get you a cup of coffee at Skeetz) you have surplus M2 AP Ball that has been repackaged by a 3rd party for sale. The can being labeled “linked” would say possible machine gun application but you nor your photo indicates the stuff is linked. The label on the can does not appear to be a true “FN” label but a 3rd party one that they placed on a can full of surplus M2 Ball ... just my thoughts.

Now as to firing it in a Garand ... I’d personally not risk it. It very likely would not be dangerous but the unknown factor of load and what it could do to the Garand’s op rod or such just isn’t worth it to me.

Likely as a “collectible” AP round you might find dealers who’d swap round for round of 150gr M2 standard Ball and they’d turn around and sell the AP by the round as a “collectible”.

 

[railsplitter]

A quick search turned up a couple links that might be useful. My main concern was that it may be corrosive, and according to one of the links it sounds like it could be depending on the headstamp date. FN was still using corrosive primers even after the US quit. According to the second link below, it sounds like FN went to non-corrosive primers in the late fifties.

https://www.proxibid.com/Firearms-M...-Garand-En-bloc-clips/lotInformation/46445418

https://www.m14forum.com/threads/fn-30-cal-okay-for-the-m1-garand.198606/

 

[JT]

The label on the can does not appear to be a true “FN” label but a 3rd party one that they placed on a can full of surplus M2 Ball ... just my thoughts

The stenciled NSN on the can is valid (but aged) and only lists "Belgian" as a descriptor.

 

[Flyfisher33]

A quick GOOGLE search shows where folks have shot FN 30-06 through their M1 will no ill effects. But there's no good way that I know to tell what the burn rate is on the powder is though. But an M1 will easily digest USGI M2 AP ammo so if I had to SWAG it, I'd say you'll probably be OK.

The can in the pic is marked as AP-BALL-TR, so it looked to be a mixed 250 round belt that would have included AP and TRACER ammo. Without pics, there's no way to tell if this is belted ammo, or just loose AP ammo in a MG can.

The ammo isn't loose anymore but there are 250 rounds in the can. Doesn't look like there are any tracers in the can unless they also have black tips. I'd imagine they just took the ammo off the links and threw all of the AP in a can and who knows what they did with the tracers.

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Flyfisher33]

Personally I think (which with 99¢ will get you a cup of coffee at Skeetz) you have surplus M2 AP Ball that has been repackaged by a 3rd party for sale. The can being labeled “linked” would say possible machine gun application but you nor your photo indicates the stuff is linked. The label on the can does not appear to be a true “FN” label but a 3rd party one that they placed on a can full of surplus M2 Ball ... just my thoughts.

Now as to firing it in a Garand ... I’d personally not risk it. It very likely would not be dangerous but the unknown factor of load and what it could do to the Garand’s op rod or such just isn’t worth it to me.

Likely as a “collectible” AP round you might find dealers who’d swap round for round of 150gr M2 standard Ball and they’d turn around and sell the AP by the round as a “collectible”.

Correct the ammo can says linked but the ammo isn't linked, I guess I should have specified that. It's just loose rounds wrapped in a plastic bag.

I don't plan on shooting much of this if any but instead keeping it incase I ever need it for whatever reason.

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk

 

[NCFubar]

The stenciled NSN on the can is valid (but aged) and only lists "Belgian" as a descriptor.

I was referring to the white & green label not the paint stencil ...

On the bottom it says ... “B-something” Trading Co. and the “250 rounds FN 164gr non-corrosive” thing.

 

[Flyfisher33]

I was referring to the white & green label not the paint stencil ...
View attachment 248794
On the bottom it says ... “B-something” Trading Co. and the “250 rounds FN 164gr non-corrosive” thing.

Briklee Trading Co.

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk

 

[shadowsbane]

I just picked up this AP ammo recently and was wondering if it's safe for a Garand?

It's FN 164 grain ammo dated 1967. I'll upload a picture of the headstamp later.

I haven't been able to find any information on this ammo so any information would be helpful.

Thanks.

Shot some of that along with regular m2 ball in my 1917. FN stuff definitely felt hotter on the shoulder.

 

[Charlie]

I thought tracers had orange tips like the bullet shown. I got some black tip AP rounds packaged in clips a few years ago. The bottom picture shows the headstamp on the AP rounds. I am not familiar with that headstamp. I have shot a few through a Garand with no problems. This may have no bearing on your rounds at all.