Russian 40s Surplus 7.62x54R on Strippers $125.00/600+$25SH

[SA1911a1]

I received my ammo today, the fourth work day after ordering.

The wooden case is dry-rotted and pretty much usless for any further use. The galvanized sheet metal cans inside were heavily oxidized on the outside. Inside of the galvanized can, everthing was clean, dry, and in new condition.

The ammo is head-stamped "188" and "47" and is in new condition.

To open the can, I used a pair of large needle-nosed pliers to roll the tab across the end of the can. After that I used pliers to start the top rolling, and it opened easily.

The clips are the best I have seen. The Izhevsk marking is very faint and very small.

I am pleased with the ammo and the service.

[randver]

got my case today and am very happy with it. cant wait to shoot some of it.
here's a link to the pics i took of it.
http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee94 ... tuff/ammo/

[Junk Yard Dog]

[Rongo]

I'm just itching to hear a range report.

[SA1911a1]

Just for you Ron, I drug myself out of my sick bed and stumbled to the range. I fired 6 five round groups from 75 yards with an M-39 before I gave out. The targets are the first two, we won't talk about the others. The stringing is probably all my fault as I am not a great rifleman and not on the top of my form. The stripper clips worked beautifully!

The ammo functioned flawlessly. I examined the spent cases and they were all perfect. I have water boiling, I will report back on how dirty the ammo is.

[desdem12]

At least you got out there to shoot before you die Steve! Just kidding of course. Get better. How does this ammo compare to the other surplus you have?

[SA1911a1]

At least you got out there to shoot before you die Steve! Just kidding of course. Get better. How does this ammo compare to the other surplus you have?

The truth of the matter is, I am not a good enough shot to evaluate the accuracy of a particular ammo. I could not tell the difference in this ammo and any of the others I have shot. When I cleaned up the rifle, it was just as dirty as the rest of the stuff I shoot.

This ammo is just fine for plinking, which is all I do, but If the Germans invade, I would not be under-ammoed with this stuff, and the strippers are a nice bonus. Now that I have all the stripper clips I could ever want, I would not buy this any more, but buy the cheaper ammo. I estimate it cost 3-5 cents per round more than buying the 880 round cans, and I do believe that the strippers are worth the .25 cents each that you end up paying for them.

[desdem12]

Thanks for that report Steve.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Well enough for the range , well enough for work Not bad shooting, I consider all commie ammo to be suitable for plinking.

[Rongo]

Thanks for the report Steve.... & I hope you feel better.

I'm torn... I have plenty of stripper clips already but wouldn't mind getting a crate of this.

[cwilliams]

Just ordered a case myself! I talked to the range that's nearest my house and discovered they will let us shoot military surplus "magnetic" type ammo. Heck, they even sell it there. That's a rare thing for Los Angeles County where all magnetic ammo is banned pretty much everywhere except for a couple places that let you shoot during a wet season. It's a no-brainer for me to start ordering some of this stuff now. The stripper clips are a addition.

[SA1911a1]

Quick follow-up on the range reporting:

I fired 60 more rounds of the 1947-188/on clips in the SVT-40 today. It did very well, except for one that had a dud primer. It had a strong strike on the primer (twice) with no ignition.

[websterz]

I just placed an order for a case...first x54 surplus I have ever bought online. It'll get added to the 4000+ round stash. While on the site I found something else I have been hunting for. 20 gauge slugs. They got 'em for $0.29 a round. Amazing price!! I bought a hundred rounds. I wonder if Sam does FTF sales. They are just 30 minutes south of me.

[websterz]

Well my order arrived this morning, kudos to Sam and crew for the fantastic service!

Inside my cardboard box, aside from the 100 rounds of 20 gauge slugs, I found pretty much what everyone else found. No sense posting pics of the same old thing. Ammo is beautiful and the clips...OMG...so THAT is how a stripper clip is supposed to work! Smooth as butter and no sharp edges to rip my thumb open with. The one can I opened was no match for pliers and a big screwdriver. Probably because it was soldered up by drunk one-eyed monkeys. The other can goes on the pile for future use.

Here is a pic of the end of the crate:



Did I get lucky or does everyone get the fancy handle fasteners?

And one more thing...what an interesting aroma...

[Junk Yard Dog]

That aroma is decomposing smokeless powder, no shit, that's what it is,
Nice case

[websterz]

That aroma is decomposing smokeless powder, no shit, that's what it is,
Nice case

Really? Umm...stinks like hell that's for sure!! Once it's gone those clips will look real nice loaded up with Czech silver tip.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Smokeless powder breaks down with age, black powder is forever if it's properly stored.

[WeldonHunter]

Smokeless powder breaks down with age, black powder is forever if it's properly stored.

You know Jim I've heard the smell described as minty or musty and it's unmistakable but I'll tell you this. When Fred_G was here I opened a can of Tula new stuff that I got from Sam end of last year. I also got 20 .50 Cal cans. This Tula I'm talking about is 7.62x39 154gr SP and it's smells exactly the same. When I opened the crate of the strippered stuff I remembered the smell but it didn't hit me until I opened that .50 cal can I have of the x39 ammo. It all came together then.

[Junk Yard Dog]

It has a bit of an ammonia aroma, it's normal for ammo sealed up that long to have some deterioration, it would take scientific instruments to measure the actual breakdown, you will not notice it when shooting. Why new ammo would have the smell I hesitate to say, new ammo should not smell like that, American stuff from the big three doesn't have that smell even when I open a sealed 50 cal can from ten years ago. We have no real idea what happens in the former commie ammo plants, could be they are using stockpiles of old powder? Who knows

[websterz]

It has a bit of an ammonia aroma, it's normal for ammo sealed up that long to have some deterioration, it would take scientific instruments to measure the actual breakdown, you will not notice it when shooting. Why new ammo would have the smell I hesitate to say, new ammo should not smell like that, American stuff from the big three doesn't have that smell even when I open a sealed 50 cal can from ten years ago. We have no real idea what happens in the former commie ammo plants, could be they are using stockpiles of old powder? Who knows

Borscht fumes...Ivan farted in the cans!