7.62x25 ammo

[TTv2]

On the return of cheap center fire surplus ammo, I am doubtful.

Sadly, I think you are right. Near every country moved to 9mm and 7.62x25 is not coming back as a military cartridge anytime soon, even tho I do think compared to 9mm FMJ it is superior, especially if paired with a low recoil delayed blowback SMG.

As time goes on I don't see much hope for bottlenecked pistol calibers, except maybe 5.7. The only one I think could have a place is .32 NAA as it can use .380 brass to form the case, no chopping the case or reaming required and I think that's a big plus, but nobody seems to care about it so it's doomed to failure until someone like Ruger or Beretta makes a pistol chambered for it.

Even .357 Sig, for as relatively popular as it is in comparison to other bottleneck pistol calibers, is clinging to life support.

9x18 Mak is going to be a real canary. Russian ammo companies are still loading for it, the ammo is the same price as .380 is, but we'll see how much longer it sticks around. The only reason it does is most guns chambered for it are cheap.

 

[trw]

Third try to get my question stated so it makes sense.

In reading this thread, I notice the pics provided by Mr. Zorg of the failed NATO loaded PPU case are 9x19 rather than a 7.62x25 and I did note that was stated up front. It is suggestive of having been fired in an arm with a partially unsupported case head, as may be found in certain striker fired pistols. May I inquire if a chambered round when inserted in the barrel of the Astra is fully supported? Thanks!

 

[barnetmill]

Third try to get my question stated so it makes sense.

In reading this thread, I notice the pics provided by Mr. Zorg of the failed NATO loaded PPU case are 9x19 rather than a 7.62x25 and I did note that was stated up front. It is suggestive of having been fired in an arm with a partially unsupported case head, as may be found in certain striker fired pistols. May I inquire if a chambered round when inserted in the barrel of the Astra is fully supported? Thanks!

You are not saying which astra. remember they were in business for many years and made many pistols. The vast majority of semiauto center fire pistols are not fulls supported and this includes most 1911s in .45 acp.
Upper barrel likely has almost full support and is from a tokarev model of pistol. The bottom barrel is common to the 1911 lacks support. I need to dig out one of my tok and verify this with a live round and also do the same for a cz52.

 

[trw]

Mr. Zorg stated that he was using an all steel Astra A-100 when he experienced that case failure.

 

[barnetmill]

Mr. Zorg stated that he was using an all steel Astra A-100 when he experienced that case failure.

After thinking about it for the case to blow out like shown suggests a lack of case support couple with either a defect or very high pressure of the loaded cartridge.
Numrich diagram source shows a hood suggesting some lack of full case support.

Case was blown out where one might expect the feed ramp to be that robs a lot of support for the base area of the case.

 

[barnetmill]

Blow out base of cartridge

 

[trw]

Thanks, I had no ref. to the Astra to know for sure, but it is what I'd envisioned as probably being the case. Take mil-surp rounds that were purported to be loaded to quite high pressures to begin with (NATO specs), add age & possible hardening/embrittlement of the brass &/or one round being slightly above the others in a box of ammunition (probable in the general scheme of things or one round becoming hot, temp wise, from the previous 42 rounds fired) and you get a case failure from lack of case head support.

Its the reason, I am led to believe, that some makers of pistols expressly void their warranties if hand loads are used, knowing they have zero control over whether or not the brass being used was formerly 'stressed' by being fired in a pistol w/similar design, meaning less than full head support and that includes some whose pistols do have full case support. Just saying.

FWIW, I do have a CZ 52 in 'high condition' using collector terminology, one of the one's w/the really nice fit & finish. Purchased an extra firing pin at the time, JIC it was ever needed. Also a quantity of semi-corrosive (read that as 'always corrosive') factory steel cased Berdan primed ammo rated at 1620 fps, IIRC. Its all I've ever shot in it & have yet to experience any issues or need to use the extra firing pin. I've only fired a couple of hundred rounds thru it since its acquisition, quite while back. I do reload a number of rifle, pistol and shotgun rounds. One of these days, may get into doing so for the 7.62 x 25 using Starline brass, but have yet to cross that bridge. Found the discussion informative, even if it was started a long while back. Finding myself w/a bit more time to read these days and not so much for shooting.. as I'd prefer to be doing.