Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Bi metal ammo

I bought some 62 grain, SP, Silver Bear ammo to use in a bug out magazine for my Rock River AR w/ a 1/7 twist.

Never shot it before. The label says it's "bi-metal" and the bullet attracts a magnet. I expected the case to be steel...and it has a nice zinc coating.

WTH is a bi-metal bullet? Is it steel w/ a copper jacket or copper plate? Is there any lead in it at all? Will steel bullets harm my bore, or does the copper plate prevent that?

I've researched it on the net on gotten only confusion, so I hope our forum has folks with facts...as well as opinions.

Thanks!

Some manufacturers claim not to use it as it will harm the chamber and bore, some don't mention it. I've shot a boatload of the stuff with no damage that I can see.

did a magnet check on all my Russian ammo. Every brand...Wolf, Tula, SIlver Bear, Brown Bear...have steel bullets in their 62 grain loads. Only SB notes it on the label.

Billions of copper plated steel jacketed bullets have gone down the bores of M1 Garands and M14's over the years.

I've got some RWS 9mm ammo, made for the civilian market, with steel jacketed bullets in brass cases. Made in Switzerland or Germany, I think.

Good stuff, not Commie surplus.

I bought 300 rounds of 7.62x39 softpoint ammo made by Sellier and Bellot a few years ago. It has a lead core and a steel jacket with a brass colored plating over the steel. It shoots pretty well, but seems to be a bit on the high side pressure wise. (High enough to have some loose primer pockets after the initial firing.)It expands pretty well in softwood, but not quite as well as Remington soft points from the same gun.

Anyway, I was curious about whether this ammo would harm my bore so I called the manufacturer of the gun (CZ). They stated that it wouldn't hurt the gun at all, FWIW.

all very interesting. SO these bullets are lead w/ a steel jacket and then plated in copper.

Need to break out my hacksaw and check that out.