Information on PCP Ammunition’s polymer case .308 Winchester cartridge has been pretty limited, much like their initial production run. However, Lucky Gunner managed to get a hold of 5 boxes/100 rounds and posted a quick review of their initial findings regarding the new cartridge, including price, accuracy, reliability when loaded into several different models of rifle, and potential for reloading. Their coverage also includes an interview with Tony Padgett from PCP Ammunition. Check out their review if you’re curious about this new ammunition, and you can also sign up for PCP’s mailing list regarding their January 2014 civilian production lot if you’re looking to get some for yourself.
www.luckygunner.com/lounge/pcp-ammo-review
Tags: PCP Ammunition Company
This ammo was reviewed recently and failed miserably. An excerpt from the review follows:
“The ammunition is horribly inaccurate, the powder is “thrown” inconsistently, and the cartridges disintegrate in your rifle after being fired. The only thing good about this ammo was the consistent bullet weights, but that doesn’t do you any good if the cartridges don’t fire. At a 57.5% Failure To Fire rate (17 out of 40 fired), added on top of the above mentioned downsides of this ammunition, I have nothing to say other than “absolutely pathetic”.
A link to the entire review to include feedback from PCP about the review can be found here:
http://8541tactical.com/2014/01/01/pcp-polymer-match-ammunition-review/
According the these guys it didn’t fail. I received a box of 20 myself but haven’t had an opportunity to head to the range.
I hear you but you have to look at both sides of the coin and this review may show there is a “hit” and “miss” in PCP’s production and quality control of their product. Otherwise how do you account for a 57.5% failure rate vs this glowing review? It will be interesting to see how this pans out.
I agree. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance (20 rounds worth anyway) to shoot some after SHOT Show.
Now, what would be “Cool” is a “combustible case” like the 120mm round which would only have a “base” that would eject. I remember touring the Esterline facility while training out at what was then known as “Slab City”, and not being a tanker, asked how probable it was. Long story short, they said it wouldn’t be that durable to facilitate loading and unloading. But that was 18 years ago…. jeeze I feel old.
You could buy a box of brass cased reloadable match ammunition for half the price they were selling this stuff at. And yes the brass case was in stock.
For what it is it needs to be at half to 1/4 the cost of real match ammo.
I was “selected” to purchase some of the initial run but when I saw the price I realized PCP had failed. At that point there was no reason to review it.
Well, for one thing, it’s much lighter than traditional brass cased ammo. Also, as I understand it, the chamber stays cooler.
New tech like this isn’t going to be cheaper than what’s already in production, at least initially. The point of “testing” or “reviewing” isn’t to look at stuff that’s been out there for ages. The idea is to take a look at what’s new but that doesn’t always mean that something new is perfect. What you have to determine is whether is can get there from here.
I kind of agree with tower. I can understand the supposed benefits, but it is inherently a less-expensive material to work with, and the fact that they aren’t offering it @ $.75/ round, is silly. I think they missed the mark.
Don’t forget that the price is for a low volume production sample. If it takes off and production ramps up, I would expect prices to drop considerably.