Polymer VS. Laquer Ammo Test
(Forward: I debated weather or not to post this, or keep it for personal record. Then I decided not to be a douche. If you don't like it, finish listening to your Beiber album. I'm not trying to sell a product, and as you can see from the dates, the results are unknown even to me. Thought you might enjoy. I will edit this original post to update the overall "document", but results and photos from each test group will be discussed in detail in following replies to this thread. Mods: If this is in the wrong section, then move it.)
7.62x39 AMMUNITION TEST
PURPOSE:
TO DETERMINE THE ABILITY OF DIFFERENT MUNITION COATINGS TO WITHSTAND ADVERSE ATMOSPHERIC AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONS.
AMMUNITION TO BE TESTED:
TYPE 1: WPA MILITARY CLASSIC 7.62x39
SPECS: 124gr FMJ , POLYMER COATED STEEL CASE, LEAD CORE, CON CORROSIVE BERDAN PRIMED
TYPE 2: GOLDEN TIGER
SPECS: 124GR FMJBT, LAQUER COATED STEEL CASE, LEAD CORE, NON CORROSIVE, SEALED PRIMER, SEALED BULLET
TEST GROUPS:
EACH GROUP WILL CONSIST OF 2 ROUNDS FROM EACH AMMUNITION TYPE TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE SAME CONDITIONS
GROUP 1: COMPLETE SUBMERSION IN WATER
DURATION: 1 WEEK
EXPOSURE STARTED: 11/26/2012 @ 15:45 HOURS
EXPOSURE ENDED: 12/04/2012 @ 19:35 HOURS
DATE FIRED: 12/04/2012 @ 21:10 HOURS
RESULTS: ALL FOUR ROUNDS CHAMBERED, FIRED, AND EJECTED NORMALLY.
NOTES: AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE PHOTOS, THE POLYMER COATED ROUNDS DID NOT FARE NEARLY AS WELL AS THE LAQUER COATED ROUNDS. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE COATING WAS CORRODED OFF THE SHELL AND THERE WAS A ROUGH TEXTURE TO THE CASING THAT COULD BE FELT BY HAND. LAQUER COATED ROUNDS SHOWED SLIGHT DISCOLORATION ONLY, CASING FELT SMOOTH TO THE TOUCH.
GROUP 2: COMPLETE SUBMERSION IN WATER
DURATION: 1 MONTH
EXPOSURE STARTED: 11/26/2012 @ 15:45 HOURS
EXPOSURE ENDED: 12/28/2012 @ 19:12 HOURS
DATE FIRED: 12/28/2012 @ 23:47 HOURS
RESULTS: ALL FOUR ROUNDS CHAMBERED, FIRED, AND EJECTED NORMALLY.
NOTES: AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE PHOTOS, THE POLYMER COATED ROUNDS WERE AGAIN MORE ADVERSELY AFFECTED THAN THE LAQUER COATED ROUNDS. THERE WAS A FORMATION OF A "CRUST" TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE CASING ON THE POLYMER COATED ROUNDS. LAQUER COATED ROUNDS FELT MOSTLY SMOOTH, WITH SMALL PATCHES OF AN IMPERFECTLY SMOOTH SURFACE.
GROUP 3: COMPLETE SUBMERSION IN WATER
DURATION: 2 MONTHS
EXPOSURE STARTED: 11/26/2012 @ 15:45 HOURS
EXPOSURE ENDED:
DATE FIRED:
RESULTS:
NOTES:
GROUP 4: COMPLETE SUBMERSION IN WATER
DURRATION: 6 MONTHS
EXPOSURE STARTED: 11/26/2012 @ 15:45 HOURS
EXPOSURE ENDED:
DATE FIRED:
RESULTS:
NOTES:
GROUP 5: COMPLETE SUBMERSSION IN WATER
DURATION: 1 YEAR
EXPOSURE STARTED: 11/26/2012 @ 15:45 HOURS
EXPOSURE ENDED:
DATE FIRED:
RESULTS:
NOTES:
GROUP 6: EXPOSURE TO NATURAL CONDITIONS
DURATION: 2 MONTHS
EXPOSURE STARTED: 11/26/2012 @ 15:52 HOURS
EXPOSURE ENDED:
DATE FIRED:
RESULTS:
NOTES:
GROUP 7: EXPOSURE TO NATURAL CONDITIONS
DURATION: 6 MONTHS
EXPOSURE STARTED: 11/26/2012 @ 15:52 HOURS
EXPOSURE ENDED:
DATE FIRED:
RESULTS:
NOTES:
GROUP 8: EXPOSURE TO NATURAL CONDITIONS
DURATION: 1 YEAR
EXPOSURE STARTED: 11/26/2012 @ 15:52 HOURS
EXPOSURE ENDED:
DATE FIRED:
RESULTS:
NOTES:
GROUP 9: HIGH HUMIDITY EXPOSURE
DURATION: 6 MONTHS
EXPOSURE STARTED: 11/26/2012 @ 16:02 HOURS
EXPOSURE ENDED:
DATE FIRED:
RESULTS:
NOTES:
GROUP 10: HIGH HUMIDITY EXPOSURE
DURATION: 1 YEAR
EXPOSURE STARTED: 11/26/2012 @ 16:02 HOURS
EXPOSURE ENDED:
DATE FIRED:
RESULTS:
NOTES:
GROUPS 6,7,8:
NOTABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE TRACKED AND RECORDED
GROUPS 9 AND 10:
CONDITIONS SHALL BE MONITORED AND RECORDED
EVALUATION:
EACH GROUP WILL BE EVALUATED BY APPEARANCE. VISUAL DEFECTS AND DAMAGE WILL BE NOTED. ATTEMPTS WILL BE MADE TO CHAMBER AND FIRE THE AMMUNITION IN A STANDARD 7.62x39 AK47 TYPE RIFLE.
7 Attachment(s)
FINAL TEST GROUP (23 MONTHS)
THE RESULTS FROM THE FINAL TEST GROUP:
THIS GROUP WAS TESTED IN LATE OCTOBER OF 2014 EQUATING TO ROUGHLY 23 MONTHS OF SUBMERSION.
*Note: I sincerely apologize for not uploaded the test results from the one year test group. Doing so now would be impossible as all pictures are forever lost due to a destroyed cell phone. I can tell you however that there were no significant finding from this test group. The corrosion continued in the pattern established by the previous test groups. All rounds chambered, fired and ejected with no failures.
VISUAL EXAMINATION PRIOR TO REMOVAL FROM WATER:
At this state the corrosion is very advanced. It was difficult to see the rounds as they were almost entirely covered in rust. I poured off the water and sifted through the debris in the container and found nothing of significance.
REMOVAL FROM CONTAINER:
As with the test groups before all of the rounds were wiped clean to simulate a rough field cleaning and to permit a visual examination of the integrity of the cases. Here is where things took a turn towards the unexpected. The polymer coated rounds showed no signs of pitting, and were in a similar state as the previous test groups. They appeared to be resisting the effects of the water. At this stage I'm almost wondering if the "crust" that came off of them in the beginning is some kind of outer coating, under which is a layer that is better fused to the steel case though I have no way of confirming this. The lacquer coated rounds showed VERY SIGNIFICANT pitting and advanced stages of corrosion. I would estimate that the corrosion had penetrated though approximately 30% - 40% of the wall of the casing. It is clear that the lacquer would eventually fail completely and the contents of the casing would be compromised resulting in failure. I was concerned that the case walls had been compromised to the extent that failure would cause a case to fracture and cause a malfunction. Needles to say I didn't hold the AK very close to my face when firing these test groups, lmao.
FIRING THE ROUNDS:
As with before, all of the rounds chambered, fired and ejected properly. I was unable to inspect the cases after being fired as it proved nearly impossible to locate a spent casing in the dead of night, go figure.
CONCLUSION:
Even fish could buy ammo and keep it on hand for quite a long period of time. I would imagine that brass cased ammunition would last indefinitely. I cannot imagine any real world scenario that would punish rounds harder than this, where one could not find ammunition to replace the affected lot.
Thus: DON'T LISTEN TO ANY CYBER NINJA DOUCHE THAT TELLS YOU TO ROTATE THE AMMO IN YOUR MAGS AFTER A YEAR. I'm sure SOMEWHERE there has been a incident of a bullet wandering out of casing or a primer vibrating use but I have personally left ammunition loaded in a magazine (and carried either on a person or in a vehicle) for years on end that functioned properly when finally fired. High quality modern ammunition is about as reliable as one could ask for. Thanks to everyone for reading all my stupid test data. If anyone has any questions I'm more that willing to answer them. Stay tuned for my next test titled "if you swallow a live cartridge, then pass the bullet, will it still work?"... just kidding.
OKAY, OKAY ... I'll shut up, here are the stupid pictures... GOSH!!!!!
Removal:
Attachment 54583 Attachment 54585
Lacquer Rounds:
Attachment 54587 Attachment 54589
Attachment 54591
Polymer rounds:
Attachment 54593 Attachment 54595 <------------------- THE WINNER (which kinda sucks because they don't have the bad ass Mace Windu-esq purple ring around them...DAMNIT!)
