Just got a Model 7 bolt gun in .223, having a senior moment, will .223 bulk ammo with full metal jackets hurt the bore. Just Want to get sighted in n the switch to regular hollow point ammo for ground hogs.
Thanks.

Its just fine .. no different than any other jacketed round

It won't hurt your bore at all.

Nice little gun.

I wonder where that myth got started. My grandfather told me FMJ will hurt the bore. Its wrong by the way.

Pretty sure it has to do with old guns that have softer steel in the barrels then modern guns so that it is recommended that you only shoot lead bullets in them

Coalminer just make sure you check the point of impact with your hunting rounds because it can be off by several inches even if it is the same weight Bullet from the same manufacturer

Nightlife, no problem I plan on checking point of impact with hunting rounds, just wanted to use bulk to get it on paper close the fine tune it.

Taximan, yes I really like the older model 7’s with the 18 1/2” barrels.

You'll have to re-sight with hunting ammo but for plinking and getting on paper, FMJ is fine and won't hurt a bore at all.

Me too.

I believe the soviet block made ammo with steel jacketed bullets at one time and was available as surplus. Some may still be around and I would not shoot that in any gun I care to own. Sometimes the steel jacket had a copper wash on it. Although a mild steel was used it would still be quite a bit harder than the copper or gilding metal used on most FMJ bullets and may be the source of the idea that FMJ is bad for a bore.

Just make sure its just paper and Not used on a gong

330 sounds like experienced what I did...punched right through my gong...lol

Federal bulk FMJ will not hurt your barrel same materials bullet formed nose to base rather than base to nose like soft points.

what you do want to watch for is any bullet that attracts a magnet those are a steel jacket , often with a copper plating so that look like copper.

Bi-metalic bullets as they are called in the description so eat barrels tests in 223 about 5500 rounds to almost no rifling.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/

Very common if it is less than 32 cents a round it is almost a always a bimetalic bullet but don't let price be your only cue.

Wolf
WPA
Tula
Silver Bear
Brown bear

if the bullet attracts a magnet the bullet has steel you likely don't want in your barrel

That was an eye opener . Thanks for the info Pete .

bulk fmj unless it has the exact ballistic coefficient and velocity as your hollow points , which is very unlikely is also setting yourself up for failure.

yes buying a box of the cheap fmj is fine for getting close then switching to the hunting bullet for final sight in but if you do your math you can sight in on very few rounds , however you will want more for gathering and confirming d.o.p.e

if all of you ground hogs are closer and your not trying to get them beyond 200 yards then d.o.p.e is less important.

Almost all of my red fox were shot with Hornady, then Sierra 55gr fmj