The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Posted on the NRA of the UKs Facebook feed;

"Prohibited Ammunition
RWS Target Elite Ammunition .308 Win. 154gr

Certain ammunition provided to the NRA by RUAG for use in the 2013 Imperial Meeting was returned to RUAG as a result of an unacceptably high rate of blown and leaking primers. This ammunition was packaged in blue boxes marked "RWS .308 Win." stamped with batch number 261919.


The NRA has found ammunition packaged in boxes marked "RWS Target Elite Ammunition .308 Win. 154gr", where the boxes are stamped with that same batch number: 261919.

The NRA is investigating this matter with RUAG, but in the interim the use of RWS Target Elite Ammunition .308 Win. 154gr marked with batch number 261919 at Bisley and in all NRA-sponsored competitions is prohibited in any rifle that is not fully compliant with CIP Regulations. Members should bear in mind that the presence of valid proof marks for .308W or 7.62 x 51mm cannot be taken as confirmation that the bore and chamber dimensions of the firearm in question are CIP-compliant.

Shooters are reminded that they are solely responsible for the safety of the combination of rifle and ammunition they use. <my emphasis>

Andrew Mercer
Secretary General"

So under the heading of PROHIBITED ammo?!?!, ammunition that the NRA supplied he's claiming the manufacturer and retailer have no responsibilities whatsoever Come to our comp, shoot your gun but you must use our ammo and if it blows your guns up you're on your own! Can't think why more people don't travel to Bisley

Ref. NRA UK website: http://www.nra.org.uk/common/asp/conten ... RA&id=1647

The NRA is investigating this matter with RUAG, but in the interim the use of RWS Target Elite Ammunition .308 Win. 154gr marked with batch number 261919 at Bisley and in all NRA-sponsored competitions is prohibited in any rifle that is not fully compliant with CIP Regulations. Members should bear in mind that the presence of valid proof marks for .308W or 7.62 x 51mm cannot be taken as confirmation that the bore and chamber dimensions of the firearm in question are CIP-compliant.

- So presumably it is left entirely to the individual to determine whether or not their rifle is fully CIP-compliant?

If you shoot a non standard .308 win chambered rifle (which the majority of Target Rifles are) then the advice is pertinent.
If you shoot a standard .308 rifle (SAAMI) then no problem.
I will not shoot it in mine.
Then again if RUAG had crimped the primers in, then there would not be a problem.

This isn't a hang over from that thing a year or so back where it was found that the specification laid down for target rifle chamber dimensions in the NRA/Bisley/Some Other rules violated SAAMI regulations? (Assuming I'm remembering it correctly.

You Googling "mens cracks" again Mark?

No wonder Jewsons took out that restraining order....

That's a very weirdly worded statement. If your rifle is CIP compliant then it's safe to use this ammo ... or is it? Bearing in mind all the rifles out there with Rule 150-compliant chambers that don't meet the CIP .308" Win spec but do meet the CIP Memorandum chamber dimensions.

Well i'm not allowed in Low Fell any more thanks to a misunderstanding with the "Top Nosh Deli"

Blackstuff wrote:So under the heading of PROHIBITED ammo?!?!, ammunition that the NRA supplied

No. The NRA didn't supply this ('Target Elite') ammo. It appears that they suspect that the ammo they returned to the manufacturer (rightly) may have been returned to the market by the manufacturer (based on the identical batch numbers), so they are taking precautions (not to be used in reduced dimension barrels, which have a lower CIP maximum pressure than standard .308). Ammo that the NRA *does* supply in competitions *is* tested to comply with the reduced dimension/pressure limit. It really is quite simple.

Blackstuff wrote:Come to our comp, shoot your gun but you must use our ammo and if it blows your guns up you're on your own! Can't think why more people don't travel to Bisley

Nope, not the case at all.

..

The first line of the article implies there was more than one incident "unacceptably high RATE of blown and leaking primers" Presumably that means that the failures weren't all noticed in NRA test firearms (if such tests take place before the ammo is distributed).

Therefore, if the ammunition has been supplied as the ammo that has to be used for a particular match, or even just sold as normal, i fail to see how the shooter can be the sole person responsible for it being safe.

Batch 261919 was issued at the beginning of the 2013 Imperial meeting. Due to a large quantity of blown primers, it was withdrawn and quarantined(the quantity of blown primers may have been attributed to the high ambient temperatures at the time of the meeting). It showed no signs of pressure or other issues during the testing process prior to the 2013 Imperial. The batch was never available to purchase outside of the 2013 Meeting. Another batch of ammunition (60 PG) was issued that had no issues.
The quarantined batch was returned to RWS/RUAG. It is now apparent that batch 261919 is now being sold commercially by RUAG/Ammotec. This batch is known by the NRA to have issues. The NRA is acting responsibly to prohibit the use of this ammunition in NRA events.

It is also the users responsibility to ensure that their firearm is suitable to shoot the issued ammunition during the Imperial Meeting, Rule 150 applies. NRA issued ammunition is designed to and built to a specification of CIP and SAAMI minimum chambers. It became apparent that batch 261919 may not have met the required specification in all chambers. For the record my rifles have minimum dimension chambers and bores. I had no issues with the batch 261919 and was part of the testing process.