97th Signalman
05-03-2007, 08:58 AM
I have been testing and searching for reliable surplus ammo for my Mosin Nagant in 7.62 x 54R. Recently I tried these four with varied results:
1. Polish copper washed steel from local shop at my range. Markings: 21 at twelve o'clock and 88 at six o'clock. Result: All looked good before firing. I got one split neck out of 20 rounds.
2. Bulgarian from AIM Surplus. Brass case and copper plated steel jacketed bullet. Markings: Star at 12 o'clock, 10 at three o'clock, 52 at six o'clock, and 3 at nine o'clock. This stuff is really bad. Out of 300 rounds I found ten rounds with split necks (pulled bullets out with my fingers) and 26 more with badly wrinkled and creased necks. I fired 20 rounds. I got two split necks and three cases that perforated just above the rim... and this is after culling out the stuff that looked bad.
3. Czech lacquered steel with silver tipped copper plated bullets. Also purchased at local range. Markings: bxn at twelve o'clock and 65 (inverted) at six o'clock. Fired ten rounds with no issues.
4. Albanian brass cased ammo with copper plated steel jacketed bullet purchased from Dunham Sports. Markings: 85 at twelve o'clock at 3 at six o'clock. A two split necks out of 40 rounds. This stuff was better than I expected it to be.
Summary: The Czech lacquered ammo sample was the best. The Polish and Albanian samples were OK with infrequent minor issues. The Bulgarian ammo that I tested is real trash. Of course I, as luck would have it, I had purchsed the Bulgarian from AIM in a 300-round tin so I have lots of it left.
These were my results and yours may be different so how you choose to use this information regarding my experiences is your choice and your responsibility.
1. Polish copper washed steel from local shop at my range. Markings: 21 at twelve o'clock and 88 at six o'clock. Result: All looked good before firing. I got one split neck out of 20 rounds.
2. Bulgarian from AIM Surplus. Brass case and copper plated steel jacketed bullet. Markings: Star at 12 o'clock, 10 at three o'clock, 52 at six o'clock, and 3 at nine o'clock. This stuff is really bad. Out of 300 rounds I found ten rounds with split necks (pulled bullets out with my fingers) and 26 more with badly wrinkled and creased necks. I fired 20 rounds. I got two split necks and three cases that perforated just above the rim... and this is after culling out the stuff that looked bad.
3. Czech lacquered steel with silver tipped copper plated bullets. Also purchased at local range. Markings: bxn at twelve o'clock and 65 (inverted) at six o'clock. Fired ten rounds with no issues.
4. Albanian brass cased ammo with copper plated steel jacketed bullet purchased from Dunham Sports. Markings: 85 at twelve o'clock at 3 at six o'clock. A two split necks out of 40 rounds. This stuff was better than I expected it to be.
Summary: The Czech lacquered ammo sample was the best. The Polish and Albanian samples were OK with infrequent minor issues. The Bulgarian ammo that I tested is real trash. Of course I, as luck would have it, I had purchsed the Bulgarian from AIM in a 300-round tin so I have lots of it left.
These were my results and yours may be different so how you choose to use this information regarding my experiences is your choice and your responsibility.