Milsurp Ammo Headstamp ID

[SwedeSteve]

This is meant to be a quick reference to assist you in identifying milsurplus ammo by the headstamp. The information is arranged by country, then country code/year of production. Then a brief description, followed by the bullet diameter. For a much more detailed analysis you can take a look at:
7.62x54r Ammunition Evaluations

USSR/Russia
60/86 Steel Core, Light Ball .311
188/71 Sivertip Steel Core, Light Ball .311
Misc copper wash, Lead Core, Light Ball .310
188/97 7N1 Sniper, Copper wash .311
Czech
bxn/63 Silvertip Steel Core, Light Ball .310
bxn/87 Steel Core, Light Ball .311
aym/53 Yellowtip Lead Core, Light Ball .310
bxn/64 Whitetip Hollow Core, Short Range .311
Hungary
21/87 Steel Core, Light Ball .311
21/51 Yellowtip Lead Core, Light Ball .310
21/69 Lead Core, Light Ball .310
21/75 Silver/Yellowtip Steel Core, Heavy Ball .311
21/70 Silver/Yellowtip Steel Core, Heavy Ball .310
21/51 Yellowtip Lead Core, Heavy Ball .311
21/69 Whitetip Etalon Lead Core, Light Ball .311
47/50 " "
22/52 " "
21/52 " "
22/54 " "
Albania
3/86 steel Core, Light Ball .311
3/87 Steel Core, Light Ball .310
Poland
21/72(inverted) Silvertip Steel Core, Light Ball .310
21/86(inverted) Steel Core, Light Ball .311
Bulgaria
10/55 Lead Core, Light Ball .311
10/87 Steel Core, Light Ball .311
10/55 Yellowtip Lead Core, Heavy Ball .311
China
61/66 Steel Core, Light Ball .310
321/539 Lead Core, Light Ball .311
Yugoslavia
nny/1976 Lead Core, Heavy Ball .311
21/83 Entire Cartridge is Black, Short Range Training .311

[Geo M44]

Under Bulgaria heavy ball add "brass cartridge" as it is one of the few in the 7.62x54R MilSurp world.

Thanks for the quick reference. I still like looking at the ballistic data though.

[marion57]

Originally Posted by Geo M44

Under Bulgaria heavy ball add "brass cartridge" as it is one of the few in the 7.62x54R MilSurp world.

Thanks for the quick reference. I still like looking at the ballistic data though.

+1Geo

[SwedeSteve]

Again, this is to bring the basic info home to our forum, so they have it right here. Not to recreate something already done.

[marion57]

Originally Posted by SwedeSteve

Again, this is to bring the basic info home to our forum, so they have it right here. Not to recreate something already done.

I am slow but I get it swede LOL

[Geo M44]

Originally Posted by SwedeSteve

Again, this is to bring the basic info home to our forum, so they have it right here. Not to recreate something already done.

Yup, you have put togethter a great summary of ammo identifiers and attributes.

Just thinking that brass case is a major basic attribute for people wondering what type of MilSurp to buy.

[jack007]

thanks for the list. it's helpful

[just_a_car]

I agree that "brass case", "copper-washed steel case" and "lacquered steel case" should all be included, as they are very important identifiers. Sometimes a round has the exact same headstamp, bullet weight and tip color, but the case is different and, thus, ends up being a different type of round (such as maybe it has a different type of powder and thus, shoots differently; or maybe the headstamp is technically inverted 55/72 versus 72/55 and the difference in the case is the only way to tell if it's one country's or the other).

[gandog56]

I notice all the milsurp is .310-.311. No .308 there!

[R5CYA]

1980 bulgarian is copper-washed steel. my 1954 bulgarian was brass though.

[jimkim]

Hey steve you wouldnt have a similar list for mausers would you? I have some Chilean ammo that is suposed to be loaded for a machine gun but I havent been able to find any info on it. It is 7x57mm and the primers have VERY heavy triangular crimp marks.

[Capt'n Mil Coll]

Hey Steve can you post pics of each cartridge.