Best modern ammo for the MG34

[mp5]

Will be getting my 34 from TNW next week, and I wonder what ammo most of you guys shoot.
Corrosive is VERBOTEN, most CommBloc ''70's" stuff is near corrosive, and you can't find USA Brand 8mm at Wall Mart.
I happen to live ten miles from SARCO, Inc., and they have this
"Finest quality 8mm Mauser surplus ammo. Mfg. FNM Portugal. FMJ, 198 GR. Boatail NC/BE. Packed 80 rds per box on stripper clip, 800 rds per wooden case with rope handle."

I can go pick it up tomorrow if I want to.

I believe Coles Distribuing also sells this.

Any opinions on this or any other ammo brand?

Jorge

[Pirate]

finding non corrosive 8mm is a problem. sportsmans guide has some of the fnm bu it is
really expensive. I am using yugo 70's and romanian in my 34 so far it runs good but
cleanup is a real mess. If you don't mind paying for the fnm it is your only real choice at
the moment

[Intruder196]

I have used the Portuguese stuff before and it was clean for surplus ammo. I treated it as if it were corrosive though. Maybe somebody else can confirm if it is or not.

Ammunitionstore.com lists 2 brands that are supposedly non-corrosive. Prvi Partizan and Olympic. I would be curious to know if anybody has ever tried either of these. I think at least the Olympic brand is reloadable.

[Mg34gunner]

The Portugese you refer to is definitely non corrosive and is terrific ammo. It used to be more commonly available but has largely dried up. It's expensive but good stuff. G

Now AIM has late '70s Yugo 8mm which runs extremely well in my full auto MG34 so I just ordered a very large quantity. It is corrosive but not badly so (yes, there is such a thing as mildly corrosive, a matter I don't feel inclined to debate). I set my booster/flash hider on the shelf after shooting to see how long it would take to rust and it was three days before traces of rust began to show. Not bad.

Think about the Yugo from AIM... be sure to get late '70s (NOT the stuff from the '50s).

Harry

[mp5]

The Portugese you refer to is definitely non corrosive and is terrific ammo. It used to be more commonly available but has largely dried up. It's expensive but good stuff. G

Now AIM has late '70s Yugo 8mm which runs extremely well in my full auto MG34 so I just ordered a very large quantity. It is corrosive but not badly so (yes, there is such a thing as mildly corrosive, a matter I don't feel inclined to debate). I set my booster/flash hider on the shelf after shooting to see how long it would take to rust and it was three days before traces of rust began to show. Not bad.

Think about the Yugo from AIM... be sure to get late '70s (NOT the stuff from the '50s).

Harry

Btw, is spraying Windex all over the 34 enough to neutralize corrosive ammo? How long do you leave it on?

[ChevyM14]

what about the romanian from sportsmans guide, any one us it? they say it is non corrosive.

[Abwehr]

I use this ammo in my MG42 and it runs great! BUT it is CORROSIVE, regardless of what SG says!!!

I have used corrosive ammo for years and have no problems shooting it. I just clean with HOT SOAPY water, then use regular GI bore cleaner. Never had any rust problems. I may be a little "anal" with cleaning, but I clean my weapons after every shooting session.

Edit - By the way, Windex or water does not neautralize the salts in corrosive ammo, it dilutes and washes it away. The salts are almost the same as regular table salt, and it absorbs moisture from the air, this moisture creates rust. Most bore cleaners are not water based and will not "wash" the salts away. Just plain old fashioned water does this and it is the cheapest bore cleaner you can buy! The old GI bore cleaner that smells like creosote is a water based solvent and the water is why it works for corrosive ammo. Actually, if you use the old GI bore cleaner, the cleaning process is the same as any other cleaning session. You just have to make sure you clean all the parts that can come in contact with the salts!

[TOM R]

why not just get the 308 barrel and feedtray and use the south african ammo if you are that worried on the corrosive?

[Schnee]

....

[Hole_Puncher]

The FNM Port stuff should be good ammo. I still have some of their .308 and run that thru my rifles with no problem. That ammo is not corrosive.

I thought Hoppes 9 is also very good for cleaning corrosive ammo. I thought it was originally made for that.

[Mg34gunner]

I have recently discovered that Sweet's 7.62 solvent is effective against corrosive ammo due to its high ammonia content.
I have used it after firing corrosive 8mm in the MG34 and also after firing WWII dated Cordite-loaded .303 in the Vickers.

No rust so far!

Harry

[medved]

Portugese 8mm is the way to go. Non Corrosive but expensive. But with what the gun is worth it's a wise choice. Hav e heard and seen to may horror stories with surplus 8 mm ammo frocom block countries.

[glassmountains]

The Portugese is the best. Remember that they had MG34's, MG13's, Breda 37's, Madsens & MG 42's in their army's inventory. I bought about 55,000 at one time. It worked in all the above guns I had as well as my 1917A1 and BAR. I never did clean some of them until months later and no rust.

[Mg34gunner]

The Portugese is the best. Remember that they had MG34's, MG13's, Breda 37's, Madsens & MG 42's in their army's inventory. I bought about 55,000 at one time. It worked in all the above guns I had as well as my 1917A1 and BAR. I never did clean some of them until months later and no rust.

Agree glassmountains, same here. But for the most part it's gone now so we have to make other arrangements!

Best 8mm available now hands down is the '70's Yugo AIM is selling. This stuff is every bit as good as the Portugese was except for the fact that it's corrosive.

Clean the gun thoroughly and it will be fine.

[ChevyM14]

how is "Ecuadorian 8 mm FN" that tnw has? is it better then romanian?

[mauser1938]

I have had good results with S&B 8mm FMJ. Very expensive compared to surplus but its the closest to German spec non-corrosive.

[JKindred]

Think about the Yugo from AIM... be sure to get late '70s (NOT the stuff from the '50s).

Harry

Other than being corrosive, are there any other problems with the 1950's Yugo ammuntion? I have been shooting some of it and haven't had a problem yet is why I ask. I would like to know what to be on the look out for.

The old Egyptian 8mm we used to shoot a lot of back in the 80's was great stuff as well. Shot a lot of that and Portuguese through the MG42 I had back then.

Thanks