Russian 7.62x54r ammo any good?

Garand9015 · 09-30-2007, 09:11 AM

I recently picked 50rds of russian surplus ammo. It was packed to 10rds per paper wrap. It has a star headstamp, a 3 and a 10 on the left and right side, and a 52 which i'm guessing is the year on the bottom. It was only $1.99 so I thought I would pick it up. Just wondering if anybody has shot it or heard about it thanks.

sorry after doing some research found ammo is bulgarian. still would like some help though thanks.

toolman · 09-30-2007, 10:27 AM

It's alright if it's been stored properly. Just like all mil-surp, you'll find batches that are better than others. The only stuff I've actually had trouble with was some Russian made in 1989 that had major QC problems, ie: dented\folded shoulders, split necks, and a few were so bad the bullets fell out of the case.

Garand9015 · 09-30-2007, 12:56 PM

I just inspected mine out of 50rds I found nine that had case erosion, rusted primers, and loose bullets. Other than that though the other 41 are nice and shiney show no rust or erosion.

P.S. Has anyone found any of the Polish Surplus lately that stuff is great.

HandsomeRob · 12-14-2007, 05:19 PM

I picked some of this up today too. Good thing you made this thread cause I couldn't find anything on the internet.

ouch · 12-14-2007, 09:51 PM

We shoot mil surp from sealed battle packs. All look good from our batchs. The bullets are usually steel and the casing are usually steel but sometimes brass.

I guess the take on this is to purchase sealed packs of ammo.

Last I shot was 1953 vintage baldgarin (

) shiny clean looking rounds.

3A PKKA · 03-22-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garand9015

I recently picked 50rds of russian surplus ammo. It was packed to 10rds per paper wrap. It has a star headstamp, a 3 and a 10 on the left and right side, and a 52 which i'm guessing is the year on the bottom. It was only $1.99 so I thought I would pick it up. Just wondering if anybody has shot it or heard about it thanks.

sorry after doing some research found ammo is bulgarian. still would like some help though thanks.

That's a bit odd! The 52 indicates the year, but a 3 would indicate Albanian production. However, a 10 indicates a Bulgarian factory.

Usually, the country/factory number goes on top (not on the sides) and the year on the bottom.

The Soviet made 7.62x54r by factories 188 and 60 (top number) in the mid 1970s to mid 1980s (year would be bottom number) is not only excellent, but the best surplus available. I've still got 3 unopened crates (6 440 round tins) of Soviet 1985 production and a crate of 1986 production Albanian.

The Albanian is also excellent. It's brass cased, feeds great, and is almost as accurate as the Soviet 7.62x54r.

Mike

marion57 · 03-23-2008, 01:12 AM

Generally speaking if you stick with the well known Distributors you wont have a problem with your ammo ..and if you do they will usually make it good .. The problems I have heard of usually come from impropler storage or misshandling of it in the store or on the way to the distributor from overseas

texnmidwest · 03-23-2008, 08:49 AM

I have shot Bulgarian, Hungarian and Russian surplus. Never had a problem. I did have one round that had a slight dent in it but not enough for it to cause a problem.

Righteous · 03-23-2008, 09:20 AM

I shot alot of the russian ammo other day and it shot great

Mike82 · 03-25-2008, 03:22 PM

1 thing i like about old firearms compared to old cars (balancing checkbook atm) is altho i buy more guns and parts, the cars and their parts seem to whack me in the crotch harder than the guns/parts....and the guns are so cool to shoot....altho the cars i shoot are almost as fun

SanDiegoRedneck · 03-25-2008, 03:43 PM

I have been buying the same ammo as you have and have shot around 200 rounds with no problems at all. I pay $6.99 for 20 (here in California) so you are lucky. I wish I could pay that little for it.

texnmidwest · 03-25-2008, 06:04 PM

SDRedneck, not sure about laws of the PRK but if you can, order the ammo from AIM or J&G sales. Simple to do. Just send them a copy of your DL and call them to order. I pay 15 cents a round for the ammo.

They come in cool spam cans too!

marion57 · 03-25-2008, 06:04 PM

I have shot some russian I think I still have a spam can of it left and it shoots as good as anything else

Mike82 · 03-26-2008, 11:15 AM

ok, 300 rds of heavy ball, yellow tip for $43 +$20 for s/h....and you can thank UPS for the extra 150rds they stole by making you pay so much for s/h -.-

above pricing taken from jgsales.com

jlem · 03-27-2008, 06:44 PM

Sportsmans guide will price match J&G and only charge $10.00 shipping.

marion57 · 03-27-2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlem

Sportsmans guide will price match J&G and only charge $10.00 shipping.

Yes but you must be a member!

WW2Junkie · 03-27-2008, 08:20 PM

True Marion but it only costs a few bucks and if you buy much at all, you will save that pretty quick. Also they often give you more discount coupons and I even got one for free shipping on my next order. They got lots of cool stuff and about any ammo you could want at a fair or better price. Stopping now, sounding like a commercial.

Mike82 · 03-28-2008, 08:01 AM

i had UPS ship to my house, and it was stamped like $25 and some change for the s/h and the box weighed in at 25lbs, but i had 100rds of 203gr SP in there too. so if sportsman guide only charges $10, they must be absorbing some of the s/h.

EDIT: sorry, just saw marion's post......<needs to wake-up> about the subscription....that sounds like may be a good deal, especially with it taking $10-15 off from a 20-25lb order....that's great.

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PS. if anyone has any links to any premium brand 7.62x39 or 7.62x54r that's cheaper than locally, gimme a shout, i know midway has Winchester brand 7.62x39 for $15/20rds....but they're reloads, which doesnt matter to me, but they didnt have that in description, but anyways, any places cheaper than that, lemme know. thanks.

texnmidwest · 03-28-2008, 08:39 AM

Not sure what the prices are where you are but compared to here Any of the major web companies will have it cheaper than where I am.

Mike82 · 03-28-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texnmidwest

Not sure what the prices are where you are but compared to here Any of the major web companies will have it cheaper than where I am.

same man....locally the prices have lowered on 54r, but have raised on 7.62x39....they are now more than $1/rd....the 54r ammo is about $.40/rd....but still that's like 3times as much as online....locally(for 54r) i pay $9/20rds, online it's like $3/20rds....somewhere around there....

also, with a 'new' rifle, one that's actually new, not been stored, it wouldn't have cosmoline on the parts right? cuz i can't shoot wolf brand ammo with it, winchester works fine, but wolf cases are like a hair too big in diameter and wont enter chamber all the way. talkin about 7.62x39 btw....i know, this isnt the ak47 forum.... sue me

09-30-2007, 09:11 AM	#1
Garand9015 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 70	Russian 7.62x54r ammo any good? I recently picked 50rds of russian surplus ammo. It was packed to 10rds per paper wrap. It has a star headstamp, a 3 and a 10 on the left and right side, and a 52 which i'm guessing is the year on the bottom. It was only $1.99 so I thought I would pick it up. Just wondering if anybody has shot it or heard about it thanks. sorry after doing some research found ammo is bulgarian. still would like some help though thanks. Last edited by Garand9015; 09-30-2007 at 09:25 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

09-30-2007, 10:27 AM	#2
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,582 Blog Entries: 22	It's alright if it's been stored properly. Just like all mil-surp, you'll find batches that are better than others. The only stuff I've actually had trouble with was some Russian made in 1989 that had major QC problems, ie: dented\folded shoulders, split necks, and a few were so bad the bullets fell out of the case. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

12-14-2007, 05:19 PM	#4
HandsomeRob Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Wisconsin Posts: 170	I picked some of this up today too. Good thing you made this thread cause I couldn't find anything on the internet. __________________ You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.

12-14-2007, 09:51 PM	#5
ouch Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ridgerun, Mo Posts: 184	We shoot mil surp from sealed battle packs. All look good from our batchs. The bullets are usually steel and the casing are usually steel but sometimes brass. I guess the take on this is to purchase sealed packs of ammo. Last I shot was 1953 vintage baldgarin () shiny clean looking rounds.

03-23-2008, 01:12 AM	#7
marion57 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,880	Generally speaking if you stick with the well known Distributors you wont have a problem with your ammo ..and if you do they will usually make it good .. The problems I have heard of usually come from impropler storage or misshandling of it in the store or on the way to the distributor from overseas __________________ You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead fingers!(Charlton Heston)

09-30-2007, 12:56 PM	#3
Garand9015 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 70	I just inspected mine out of 50rds I found nine that had case erosion, rusted primers, and loose bullets. Other than that though the other 41 are nice and shiney show no rust or erosion. P.S. Has anyone found any of the Polish Surplus lately that stuff is great.

03-23-2008, 08:49 AM	#8
texnmidwest Listen to yur Inner Hippo Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 3,441	I have shot Bulgarian, Hungarian and Russian surplus. Never had a problem. I did have one round that had a slight dent in it but not enough for it to cause a problem. __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

03-23-2008, 09:20 AM	#9
Righteous Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 214	I shot alot of the russian ammo other day and it shot great

03-25-2008, 03:22 PM	#10
Mike82 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi USA Posts: 1,027 Images: 7	1 thing i like about old firearms compared to old cars (balancing checkbook atm) is altho i buy more guns and parts, the cars and their parts seem to whack me in the crotch harder than the guns/parts....and the guns are so cool to shoot....altho the cars i shoot are almost as fun __________________ No Trespassing! Violators Will Be Shot! Survivors Will Be Shot Again!

03-25-2008, 03:43 PM	#11
SanDiegoRedneck Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 49	I have been buying the same ammo as you have and have shot around 200 rounds with no problems at all. I pay $6.99 for 20 (here in California) so you are lucky. I wish I could pay that little for it.

03-25-2008, 06:04 PM	#12
texnmidwest Listen to yur Inner Hippo Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 3,441	SDRedneck, not sure about laws of the PRK but if you can, order the ammo from AIM or J&G sales. Simple to do. Just send them a copy of your DL and call them to order. I pay 15 cents a round for the ammo. They come in cool spam cans too! __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

03-26-2008, 11:15 AM	#14
Mike82 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi USA Posts: 1,027 Images: 7	ok, 300 rds of heavy ball, yellow tip for $43 +$20 for s/h....and you can thank UPS for the extra 150rds they stole by making you pay so much for s/h -.- above pricing taken from jgsales.com __________________ No Trespassing! Violators Will Be Shot! Survivors Will Be Shot Again!

03-27-2008, 06:44 PM	#15
jlem Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 71	Sportsmans guide will price match J&G and only charge $10.00 shipping.

03-27-2008, 08:20 PM	#17
WW2Junkie Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Middle of Wisconsin Posts: 91	True Marion but it only costs a few bucks and if you buy much at all, you will save that pretty quick. Also they often give you more discount coupons and I even got one for free shipping on my next order. They got lots of cool stuff and about any ammo you could want at a fair or better price. Stopping now, sounding like a commercial.

03-28-2008, 08:01 AM	#18
Mike82 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi USA Posts: 1,027 Images: 7	i had UPS ship to my house, and it was stamped like $25 and some change for the s/h and the box weighed in at 25lbs, but i had 100rds of 203gr SP in there too. so if sportsman guide only charges $10, they must be absorbing some of the s/h. EDIT: sorry, just saw marion's post......<needs to wake-up> about the subscription....that sounds like may be a good deal, especially with it taking $10-15 off from a 20-25lb order....that's great. . . . . PS. if anyone has any links to any premium brand 7.62x39 or 7.62x54r that's cheaper than locally, gimme a shout, i know midway has Winchester brand 7.62x39 for $15/20rds....but they're reloads, which doesnt matter to me, but they didnt have that in description, but anyways, any places cheaper than that, lemme know. thanks. __________________ No Trespassing! Violators Will Be Shot! Survivors Will Be Shot Again! Last edited by Mike82; 03-28-2008 at 08:08 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

03-28-2008, 08:39 AM	#19
texnmidwest Listen to yur Inner Hippo Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 3,441	Not sure what the prices are where you are but compared to here Any of the major web companies will have it cheaper than where I am. __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)