7.62x51 surplus

[Father Knows Best]

I was taking inventory of my ammo stores last night, and realized I had some 7.62x51 milsurp of unknown origin. I trust that someone here on THR will know what it is, and give me the lowdown on it.

Among my loose inventory I have 133 rounds of what appears to be M80 ball. It has the NATO mark on the base, along with the headstamp FN 77. I had in my mind that this is Belgian. Is that right? Any data on the quality of FN 77 M80?

I also have 200 rounds I picked up somewhere with the headstamp PS 79. It was in very degraded 20 round cardboard boxes marked M80. PS is the Korean Poonsang plant, right? I shoot PS 72 M2 ball in my M1's, and I'm happy with it. Any data on PS M80?

Thanks

 

[Father Knows Best]

Bueller? Bueller? Anybody?

Seriously, I figured I'd have a half dozen replies by now. Surely, y'all shoot M80 milsurp!

O.k., then, how about I open it up. Besides the PS and FN headstamp stuff, I have the following M80:

7 South African battle packs (140 rounds each)
Lake City 03 ("practice only" rounds)
5 battle packs of unknown origin (dark green, 200 rounds each) -- the guy who gave them to me said he thought they were Portuguese or Argentinian, but he wasn't sure. I haven't cracked them to check headstamp.

So -- any ideas what my mystery battle packs may be? Any thoughts on relative quality/reliability/accuracy of the different kinds of M80 milsurp in my stash? Should I shoot up the loose ammo (PS, FN and LC) first before breaking into the battle packs, or should I hang onto some of the loose ammo and burn up the battle pack stuff?

For "good stuff" I have 200 rounds of M118LR, several miscellaneous boxes of Federal GMM (168 and 175) and a half dozen boxes of Hornady TAP.

FYI, my 7.62x51 rifles are a PTR-91 with one of the early polygonal barrels, and a DSA58 Para Congo.

 

[Pilgrim]

http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm

 

[goon]

The stuff in the 200 round packs sounds like Portugese. I shot quite a bit of it and it was pretty good stuff. I still have a little bit around.
What is the headstamp on it?
Can't help on the rest.

 

[Father Knows Best]

Well, the 200 round battle packs are indeed Portuguese. I broke one open and the headstamps are BF 80 27 with the NATO cross. According to the link posted above, BF is Fábrica Nacional de Munições de Armas Legeiras, Chelas, Portugal. I assume the 80 is for 1980. I have no idea what the 27 indicates.

The FN is Belgian -- Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre (FN), Herstal, Belgium.

PS could be one of four possibilities, according to that link. My guess is Poonsang Arsenal, Korea, because I also have PS headstamp 30-06 that I know is Korean.

Any of this stuff known to be particularly good or bad?

 

[iamkris]

Hang on to that Portuguese. I believe it to be like gold...it is almost as good (in my experience) as Hirtenberger and the equal of Australian

 

[280PLUS]

How do you guys feel about the accuracy or consistency of the SA? It seems a bit all over the place at 100 yds to me. I'm just wondering if it's me, the rifle or the ammo.

 

[wayne in boca]

I just found 4 battle packs of Portugese under my nightstand.Pays to be a packrat sometimes.

 

[iamkris]

Yup, I'm glad I ordered 3 cases of Port back when it was available. I'm down to 2 and they are only going to be opened for "special" cases.

As for SA, I find it pretty good but definitely second tier accuracy under Port, Aussie, Hirt.

 

[flip180]

I'm just happy to be able to get my hands on what SA I can, all 8300 rounds of it.

Flip

 

[Molon Labe]

Hang on to that Portuguese. I believe it to be like gold...

Yep.

I have 10 cases of the stuff in my basement. And I ain't gonna shoot it...

 

[MechAg94]

I found one of those battle packs after moving. I didn't know what it was. Good to know. I still have some boxes unopened. I'll have to hold on to them.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

A few years back a guy brought 3 big PALLETS of 800 round cases of Austrailian to a local gun show. $125.00 per case.

Doors opened at 9:00 AM. He was OUT by 10:30.

I needed a couple handtruck trips myself.

Some of the home show blissninnies in the next convention hall over were just besides themselves that individuals would ever want that much ammo. I LOVED IT!!! In hindsight I shoulda told them (In a deadpan voice) "Well a macinge gun goes through six hundred rounds a minute, this will only keep my busy for about 15 minutes."

Molon Labe: Don't you mean "And I ain't gonna shoot it....YET?"