Romanian 8mm ammo

FutureMarine · 04-30-2005, 12:06 PM

Any good? Misfires? Dirty? Sounds like a good deal on AIM!

Big Dog · 04-30-2005, 01:39 PM

I've been hearing good things about it, but have yet to shoot any.

Hattrick · 04-30-2005, 05:25 PM

Haven't fired any either, but I can say that dirty is more than a safe bet.

Thrawn · 04-30-2005, 07:13 PM

I have'nt had any misfires. I belive it's corrosive, but not sure. Seems pretty accurate too.(I clean like it's corrosive weather it says it is or isn't anymore. Had some non-corrosive darken the bore on a m-44.)

nlinc · 05-05-2005, 12:41 AM

Note that the romanian stuff has a laquer coating and the bullet has a mild steel core.

Ricochet · 07-29-2006, 04:51 PM

I like this stuff. It shoots well, and is reliable in my experience. Its powder does burn very sootily, and it contains camphor which makes a strong, distinctive smell. (Think scorched Vicks Vaporub.)

Between the sooty powder and the steel cases that don't obturate and seal as effectively as brass, prepare to clean your bolt and action more thoroughly than usual. A good bit of gas does leak back on firing, turning the front end of the bolt and surrounding receiver structures visibly sooty. This is corrosive ammo. I can see a wisp of smoke curling up around the receiver ring after firing, though I've never had one of these cases split or puncture. It just comes back between the case and chamber wall.

The steel cores in the bullets look pretty much like the ones in "silvertip" 7.62x54R ammo, and probably are the same. The jackets are copper plated steel. Some ranges won't let you shoot such bullets, due to the risks of striking sparks on rocks.

A Romanian guy who's turned up over on Parallax Bill's board says that all 7.92mm weapons were obsolete in Romanian service in the '70s when this ammo was loaded. It was loaded for export, apparently to Middle Eastern clients of the Soviet bloc that still used 8mms.

mm_christ · 07-29-2006, 05:16 PM

I just got done using it at the range yesterday. Always reliable. Interesting comment Ricochet, I did know the romanians used th V.Z.24 as a sniper rifle, when I don't know. I'd love to have one though.

Ricochet · 07-29-2006, 05:47 PM

The Vz.24 was the Romanians' frontline infantry weapon when they marched into the Soviet Union with the Germans in WWII. (The Hungarians and Slovakians also invaded the Soviet Union with the Germans.) My Vz.24 is one of the Romanian Contract ones made by CZ under Nazi domination circa 1939-40. Its stock is roughly shaped and finished, and also its finish is heavily worn from being lugged around the southwestern Soviet Union by some poor Romanian grunt.

Not sure when the Romanians' Mausers were replaced with Soviet-standard weapons, but I have a 1960 Romanian SKS. I think the changeover was in the '50s.

FutureMarine · 07-29-2006, 06:33 PM

still havent fired my ammo, but i treat all surplus like its corrosive now adays.

Ricochet · 07-29-2006, 06:51 PM

That's the thing to do. A friend of mine bought an M24/47 from Samco that was pristine, perhaps never issued. He also bought some of the 1980s Hirtenberger ammo that they advertise as noncorrosive. He fired it and didn't promptly clean it as one must with corrosive stuff. The bore filled with orange stuff and was left frosted. Probably would've shot OK like that, but he couldn't stand it till he'd lapped it bright again.

FutureMarine · 07-29-2006, 08:09 PM

i even clean my mosins when i used to shoot winchester. I want my rifles to last a long time

mm_christ · 07-30-2006, 07:35 AM

I hear you there FM, if you want your guns to last a while, keep them clean at all times

FutureMarine · 08-06-2006, 12:24 AM

is there some sort of sight adjustment tool out there? the other day when i was shooting it was incredibly high. also where can you get it?

mm_christ · 08-06-2006, 12:40 AM

usually mausers have a fixed front sight, at least my k98 is like that. Another thing too yeah surplus ammo aims high, why I don't know. So I aim lower,and it works out.

FutureMarine · 08-06-2006, 12:45 AM

i aimed lower at 100 yards too but i just looked at my mauser, and it does have a fixed sight...LOL. shows how much i know.

Ricochet · 08-06-2006, 01:02 AM

Lots of these rifles have 200 or 300 meter lowest sight adjustments for use with their issue ammo, and it was common to teach soldiers to aim at the belt buckle figuring on hitting 'em somewhere vital. If you align the rear V-notch and front inverted V, it completely covers what you're aiming at if you try to use a point-of-impact aim. Hold at 6:00 o'clock on your target. Even then you may have to hold a little lower, or lower the sight blade in the V.

You can get taller sight blades from gun parts suppliers like Brownell's, if you need them. Then you'll have to do some grinding with a Dremel to get the exact height you want.

FutureMarine · 08-06-2006, 01:31 AM

i lowered the sight blade in the V. on my mauser the lowest is 100. i am using romanian surplus.

FutureMarine · 08-13-2006, 03:21 AM

Is it possible that it is the ammo that makes it shoot incredibally high. i mean not even aiming at a belt buckle would cut it at 100 yards. this happend with me, my dad, and my brother. All of us are pretty good shots, especially my dad having qualified at 500 yards with an M14 in the marine corps.

OldShooter · 09-11-2006, 07:43 PM

I have three cans of Romanian. So far into the first one most of the rounds required a second hit to fire. That's better than some other unknown stuff that doesn't fire at all. Nice brass cases though.

Ricochet · 09-11-2006, 08:08 PM

I'm on my first can, having fired 100 rounds or thereabouts. Only had one second strike.

Chronographed a bunch today in two old long barreled Turks, an 1893 and a 1903. Haven't done all the math to average the velocities, but it's going to be in the mid 2500s. (FPS)

The sights on old rifles can be way off. I never got the 1903 on the 100 yard paper today, but found some strays on the next target over, It's shooting way high and way right. The 1893, which I got today, shoots dead on with a 6:00 o'clock hold, grouping about the size of my palm. I'm happy with that. I'll have to do some adjusting on the 1903.

My report on the new old Turk can be found here:
http://p102.ezboard.com/fparallaxscu...cID=5617.topic

04-30-2005, 12:06 PM	#1
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	Romanian 8mm ammo Any good? Misfires? Dirty? Sounds like a good deal on AIM!

04-30-2005, 01:39 PM	#2
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,208	I've been hearing good things about it, but have yet to shoot any. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

04-30-2005, 05:25 PM	#3
Hattrick Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 55	Haven't fired any either, but I can say that dirty is more than a safe bet. __________________ Certified Guitarmorer :guitar:

07-29-2006, 05:16 PM	#7
mm_christ Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: RAF Mildenhall 100 ARW Posts: 235	I just got done using it at the range yesterday. Always reliable. Interesting comment Ricochet, I did know the romanians used th V.Z.24 as a sniper rifle, when I don't know. I'd love to have one though. __________________ I belong to the chair force...literally!!!

07-29-2006, 06:33 PM	#9
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	still havent fired my ammo, but i treat all surplus like its corrosive now adays. __________________ Semper Fi

04-30-2005, 07:13 PM	#4
Thrawn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Okeefenokee Posts: 1,618 Images: 6	I have'nt had any misfires. I belive it's corrosive, but not sure. Seems pretty accurate too.(I clean like it's corrosive weather it says it is or isn't anymore. Had some non-corrosive darken the bore on a m-44.)

05-05-2005, 12:41 AM	#5
nlinc Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 11	Note that the romanian stuff has a laquer coating and the bullet has a mild steel core.

07-29-2006, 04:51 PM	#6
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	I like this stuff. It shoots well, and is reliable in my experience. Its powder does burn very sootily, and it contains camphor which makes a strong, distinctive smell. (Think scorched Vicks Vaporub.) Between the sooty powder and the steel cases that don't obturate and seal as effectively as brass, prepare to clean your bolt and action more thoroughly than usual. A good bit of gas does leak back on firing, turning the front end of the bolt and surrounding receiver structures visibly sooty. This is corrosive ammo. I can see a wisp of smoke curling up around the receiver ring after firing, though I've never had one of these cases split or puncture. It just comes back between the case and chamber wall. The steel cores in the bullets look pretty much like the ones in "silvertip" 7.62x54R ammo, and probably are the same. The jackets are copper plated steel. Some ranges won't let you shoot such bullets, due to the risks of striking sparks on rocks. A Romanian guy who's turned up over on Parallax Bill's board says that all 7.92mm weapons were obsolete in Romanian service in the '70s when this ammo was loaded. It was loaded for export, apparently to Middle Eastern clients of the Soviet bloc that still used 8mms.

07-29-2006, 05:47 PM	#8
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	The Vz.24 was the Romanians' frontline infantry weapon when they marched into the Soviet Union with the Germans in WWII. (The Hungarians and Slovakians also invaded the Soviet Union with the Germans.) My Vz.24 is one of the Romanian Contract ones made by CZ under Nazi domination circa 1939-40. Its stock is roughly shaped and finished, and also its finish is heavily worn from being lugged around the southwestern Soviet Union by some poor Romanian grunt. Not sure when the Romanians' Mausers were replaced with Soviet-standard weapons, but I have a 1960 Romanian SKS. I think the changeover was in the '50s.

07-29-2006, 06:51 PM	#10
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	That's the thing to do. A friend of mine bought an M24/47 from Samco that was pristine, perhaps never issued. He also bought some of the 1980s Hirtenberger ammo that they advertise as noncorrosive. He fired it and didn't promptly clean it as one must with corrosive stuff. The bore filled with orange stuff and was left frosted. Probably would've shot OK like that, but he couldn't stand it till he'd lapped it bright again. __________________ "A cheerful heart is good medicine."

07-29-2006, 08:09 PM	#11
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	i even clean my mosins when i used to shoot winchester. I want my rifles to last a long time __________________ Semper Fi

07-30-2006, 07:35 AM	#12
mm_christ Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: RAF Mildenhall 100 ARW Posts: 235	I hear you there FM, if you want your guns to last a while, keep them clean at all times __________________ I belong to the chair force...literally!!!

08-06-2006, 12:24 AM	#13
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	is there some sort of sight adjustment tool out there? the other day when i was shooting it was incredibly high. also where can you get it? __________________ Semper Fi

08-06-2006, 12:40 AM	#14
mm_christ Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: RAF Mildenhall 100 ARW Posts: 235	usually mausers have a fixed front sight, at least my k98 is like that. Another thing too yeah surplus ammo aims high, why I don't know. So I aim lower,and it works out. __________________ I belong to the chair force...literally!!!

08-06-2006, 12:45 AM	#15
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	i aimed lower at 100 yards too but i just looked at my mauser, and it does have a fixed sight...LOL. shows how much i know. __________________ Semper Fi

08-06-2006, 01:02 AM	#16
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	Lots of these rifles have 200 or 300 meter lowest sight adjustments for use with their issue ammo, and it was common to teach soldiers to aim at the belt buckle figuring on hitting 'em somewhere vital. If you align the rear V-notch and front inverted V, it completely covers what you're aiming at if you try to use a point-of-impact aim. Hold at 6:00 o'clock on your target. Even then you may have to hold a little lower, or lower the sight blade in the V. You can get taller sight blades from gun parts suppliers like Brownell's, if you need them. Then you'll have to do some grinding with a Dremel to get the exact height you want. __________________ "A cheerful heart is good medicine."

08-06-2006, 01:31 AM	#17
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	i lowered the sight blade in the V. on my mauser the lowest is 100. i am using romanian surplus. __________________ Semper Fi

08-13-2006, 03:21 AM	#18
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	Is it possible that it is the ammo that makes it shoot incredibally high. i mean not even aiming at a belt buckle would cut it at 100 yards. this happend with me, my dad, and my brother. All of us are pretty good shots, especially my dad having qualified at 500 yards with an M14 in the marine corps. __________________ Semper Fi

09-11-2006, 07:43 PM	#19
OldShooter Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 19	I have three cans of Romanian. So far into the first one most of the rounds required a second hit to fire. That's better than some other unknown stuff that doesn't fire at all. Nice brass cases though.

09-11-2006, 08:08 PM	#20
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	I'm on my first can, having fired 100 rounds or thereabouts. Only had one second strike. Chronographed a bunch today in two old long barreled Turks, an 1893 and a 1903. Haven't done all the math to average the velocities, but it's going to be in the mid 2500s. (FPS) The sights on old rifles can be way off. I never got the 1903 on the 100 yard paper today, but found some strays on the next target over, It's shooting way high and way right. The 1893, which I got today, shoots dead on with a 6:00 o'clock hold, grouping about the size of my palm. I'm happy with that. I'll have to do some adjusting on the 1903. My report on the new old Turk can be found here: http://p102.ezboard.com/fparallaxscu...cID=5617.topic __________________ "A cheerful heart is good medicine."