Ammo question.

[Noxx]

Ran across another good deal on assorted ammo today, I seem to be developing a knack for stumbling into estate sale gun stuff. I got a bunch of old 8mm mauser dated 1939 / 1940, and a lot of newer 7.62x39.

The question is, some of the 7.62x39 is red tipped, which I would assume to be a tracer round, except it's Winchester, which is not military ammo that I'm aware of, nor does it have a military primer crimp.

Anyone familiar with this? I haven't run across it before.

 

[fatelk]

Sounds like someone's reloads to me, possibly with a tracer bullet.

BE CAREFUL! If it were me, I would pull the bullets to see if they were tracer. I've been told that posession of tracer bullets in California (saw your loc. as SoCal) is a felony. I don't know the particulars of the law, but it would be worth checking it out.

 

[geophysicishooter]

are you sure the red tipped rounds aren't steel core? test em with a magnet.

 

[rcmodel]

If they are red tip, they are tracer bullets, unless someone was playing around with model paint.

A magnet test would be inconclusive, as they could very well be tracers with a copper clad steel jacket.

Sounds like pulled bullet reloads to me.

But 7.62x39 has been loaded by U.S. companies starting during the Vietnam war for the military, so it could well be factory stuff too.

rc

 

[jonnyc]

Winchester did some contract work for the US military and export sales. Could be legit Winchester tracer ammo. Does it appear to be reloaded?

 

[Noxx]

Looking at one atm, I'd bet a few dollars that it's not reloaded. Mystery.