Help ID 7.63x54R ammo - safe for PSL??

[CJ8_Scrambler]

Hello,

I recently purchased a Romanian PSL-54C rifle in 7.62x54R, and I understand that I need to stick to rounds that are less than 150 grain. I bought a can of surplus ammo a month ago for my Mosin Nagant, but I'm not sure if it's light or heavy ball (not sure of the country of origin of the ammo or anything about it, and the dealer knew nothing either). Can someone look at the attached image and tell me if it is light or heavy ball, and if it is safe to use in my PSL rifle? Thanks alot!!!

 

[stubbicatt]

I may be the only one who will tell you this, but before I sold my PSL, I'd shoot 180 grain brass cased commericial Wolf Gold with no problems whatsoever. No trunnion bashing or anything.

YMMV.

 

[jr45]

It's hard to tell for sure however; it looks like the light ball (147gr) I order from Century Arms. Pulling off one of the bullets and weighing it is your best option.

 

[Matt-J2]

Not sure about the cans, but getting one of the rounds itself out of the can goes a long way toward identification.

 

[Ash]

Looks like late production copper-washed light ball Bulgarian. Not common at all if so but safe to use and pretty good stuff.

Ash

 

[mp510]

That is Bulgarian LPS light ball. Steel core bullet between, appx 149 grains IIRC. Should work fine.

 

[wally]

I may be the only one who will tell you this, but before I sold my PSL, I'd shoot 180 grain brass cased commericial Wolf Gold

I also shoot the 183 gr Wolf Gold, Privi Partizan, Silver Bear, and Brown Bear in my PSL. First time I shot five of one of these with five of the Wolf polymer 148 gr interleaved in the magazine. Didn't notice much if any difference in recoil or where the empties landed with the 148gr and all of the heavier commercial ammo. Just don't see how these could possibly be beating up the gun, certainly no problems after these first couple of hundred rounds I've shot.

I do plan to stick to light ball with surplus ammo and think its the surplus heavy ball "machine gun" ammo that might be too hot for the PSL. The polymer Wolf had the worst groups of the bunch and since I usually prefer to shoot non-corrosive ammo the Brown and Silver Bear have been readily available at Gun Shows here at reasonable prices so that's what I've been shooting.

Recently picked up a case of Russian 7N1 which is supposed to be the best available for the gun, but its corrosive so I have to wait for a time I know I'll have no delay cleaning my gun when I get home. I'm not afraid of corrosive ammo as its corrosive like salt water, not acid or lye, but often best I can do is wipe down my guns with an oily rag and put them back in the safe for a week or so, which would be much worse than worrying about light or heavy ball with corrosive ammo.

I do shoot a fair amount of corrosive 7.62x25 in my CZ52 but it comes apart easily, I hit the parts with a garden hose (very hot water in the summer!) and let them dry in the sun. Then clean and oil as usual, but its often the only handgun I clean when I get back from the range, and usually I don't even take it out if I'm not sure I'll have time to do this when I get home.

getting one of the rounds itself out of the can goes a long way toward identification

With these surplus ammo, the markings on the cans tell you a lot more than any marking on the ammo or the paper they are wrapped in.

--wally.