Polymer VS. Laquer Ammo Test

[lead_magnet]

(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.

[lead_magnet]

BEGINNING SAMPLES

For the water submersion test all samples were placed into plastic containers that are approximately 7 inches deep. The containers were filled with tap water, sealed and left to sit.




For the natural element exposure, all test samples were placed on the ground, in an shade and cover free area. This area is located in the southeastern portion of Colorado, USA.


The high humidity samples were placed on the windowsill that is inside the shower area of my bathroom, approximately 1 foot from the shower head. I live in a household of 4, so approximately 4 baths/showers are taken per day. Each of these results in condensation forming on the exterior of the round. This then dries and the cycle is repeated approximately 4 times per day. There is also a significant temperature change during these cycles.

[lead_magnet]

TEST GROUP 1

As can be seen from these two photos, even after only 8 days there is significant evidence of corrosion.



After removing the rounds from the water they were given a quick wipe down from a paper towel. I didn't take much time doing this, just a few seconds to simulate a rough field wipe-down.


As you can see the polymer coated rounds appear to have lost most of the coating. The casing felt rough to the touch in places, as one would expect with a rusted surface. The laquer coated rounds were discolored in areas, but still felt smooth to the touch.


All rounds were loaded into a magazine and fired. All rounds fed, fired and ejected as normal, much to my surprise. The water submersion tests will proceed to the next phase.

[BPTactical]

Good info, thanks for taking the time to do it.

[Musashi]

Very interested in seeing the rest of this experiment.

[palepainter]

Good info. Moocho grassy ass...

[ChadAmberg]

That's good stuff, so when folks dig up their stash to find their burial tube leaked a bit, what is salvageable and what isn't.

[w748]

This is a great idea!!! Looking foreward to following along.

[UrbanWolf]

Good experiment.

These are the mags and ammo the Somali pirates have been using.

[jreifsch80]

I have ssome skunky yugo m67 brass case stuff with green bullets lol it functions perfectly as is still nice and accurate.