Originally Posted by
Der Gebirgsjager
I have read that the AP black tip ammo was issued almost exclusively by the end of WW II. I did a stint in the Army 1961-64 and the first two years we still had the M1 Garand, which was subsequently replaced by the M14. I shot well enough to participate in the unit's rifle team for 2 summers, two with the M1, and all we were issued for practice, competition, and live fire exercises was AP ammo. Conversely, I never saw any AP for the M14, just FMJ. I have also read that the production of .30-06 ammo with corrosive primers ended near the end of the Korean War, so "'50-'56" seems likely. I do not believe that the AP ammo wears the bore any faster than regular ball. I have also read, but am lucky not to have experienced it first hand, that modern body armor with the ceramic plates will stop .30-06 AP. No....I don't intend to prove or disprove the claim. :D
DG