Ian Rants About Dumb Ammo Purchasing Decisions

Published on March 30, 2021
Duration: 9:01

This video highlights the critical importance of ammunition quality, even when using expensive firearms. Ian McCollum demonstrates how poor-quality surplus ammunition, specifically British WWII and Pakistani POF .303 British, caused significant malfunctions in a 1914 Lewis Gun. In contrast, 1970s Greek HXP surplus performed flawlessly. The video warns against the false economy of cheap ammo, which can lead to firearm damage and dangerous situations, while also noting that not all surplus is bad, citing Swiss GP11 as an example of quality surplus.

Quick Summary

Buying cheap surplus ammunition is a false economy because it often leads to firearm malfunctions, hangfires, duds, and requires excessive cleaning. This unreliability can render expensive firearms useless and potentially cause damage or dangerous situations.

Chapters

  1. 00:00The Lamborghini Analogy: Expensive Guns, Cheap Ammo
  2. 00:23Range Test: 1914 Lewis Gun & .303 British Ammo
  3. 00:46Testing British WWII Surplus Ammo Performance
  4. 01:41Testing Pakistani POF Surplus Ammo Performance
  5. 02:50Testing Greek HXP Surplus Ammo Performance
  6. 03:22The False Economy of Cheap Ammunition
  7. 05:31Identifying Good Quality Surplus Ammunition
  8. 07:08Dangerous Ammunition Warnings: Turkish 8mm Mauser

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is buying cheap surplus ammunition a bad idea?

Buying cheap surplus ammunition is a false economy because it often leads to firearm malfunctions, hangfires, duds, and requires excessive cleaning. This unreliability can render expensive firearms useless and potentially cause damage or dangerous situations.

What happened when testing different .303 British surplus ammo in a Lewis Gun?

British WWII and Pakistani POF .303 British surplus ammo caused frequent malfunctions and failed to cycle the 1914 Lewis Gun reliably. Conversely, 1970s Greek HXP surplus ran flawlessly, allowing sustained full-auto fire without issues.

Are all surplus ammunition types unreliable?

No, not all surplus ammunition is bad. High-quality surplus like Swiss GP11 (7.5 Swiss) exists. However, it's crucial to research specific headstamps, as some surplus, like early Turkish 8mm Mauser, can be dangerously over-pressurized.

What are the risks associated with poor quality ammunition?

Poor quality ammunition can lead to hangfires (delayed ignition), duds (failure to fire), and excessive fouling due to corrosive salts, requiring more frequent and thorough cleaning. In extreme cases, dangerously over-pressurized ammo can cause firearm damage or injury.

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