Surplus 7.62x54R Questions

[mcooper]

Hey guys,

I have a problem. I went shooting with a girl, and she Adored my model 1938 Mosin Nagant Carbine. I was quite suprized that she liked it over other newer rifles and one that recoild MUCH less, which leads me to my problem.

The only Ammo I have shot through it is New production Brown Bear Ammuntion. her interest in shooting has made me want to get a case of Surplus 7.62x54R so that I don't use up the last 100 rounds of my Brown Bear ammunition.

I am a 19 year old College Student...well the college part doesn't matter since I live off campus, but I need a place that will let me order rifle ammunition, Currently I have an account with AIM Surplus.

I was looking around on some C&R forums and it seems that the recently available Albanian ammunition isn't well liked.

I was wondering what anyone might think about the Hungarian Yellow tip ammo?

http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/copy_of_7_62x54R.html

AH I thought of one more Question, has anyone managed to find a review on the Sellior and Bellot 7.62x54 180 grain SP ammunition? I'd like to knwo it that bullet expands and has decent weight retention?


If you have any other Suggestions for what I should Purchase, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks alot

 

[rockstar.esq]

So to answer your questions about milsurp ammo. I must be lucky because two of my local gunshops stock Polish, Cech, Hungarian, Incindiary, Brown Bear, Golden Bear, Sellior & Bellot and plain ol' Wolf. Sadly none of these are brass cased and only the Golden Bear has soft point (hunting bullets). So far I have found that the highly regarded Cech silvertips are just as likely to deposit laquer residue in your chamber as the homely Brown Bear. Interestingly, the copperwashed steel that Wolf and the Hungarian surplus use doesn't seem to muck up my chamber much at all. As for Albanian ammo, I don't really know. Frequently I see posts from shooters swearing by or swearing at various types of mil surp ammo. My friend has a M44 that gets all gummed up after only ten shots whereas mine will cycle through over one hundred before the drag becomes noticeable. Try checking out Makarov.com as they seem to be well connected to the Mosin scene. Seems to me that I have seen many online sources selling all of the aforementioned ammo. Just to insert a little observation, Lee makes dies for this caliber , Winchester and Norma make brass in this caliber (properly boxer primed no less!). If you have any interest in handloading I don't think there is any doubt that the handloads would be far superior to anything commercially availible. The cost however is very hard to beat considering that I have purchased 20rnds for as little as $1.39!!!

 

[DMK]

I'd say get the Polish silvertip light ball(147gr) from AIM. It's 20 years newer, a lighter bullet, will shoot flatter and to a lower point of impact. It will also be slightly easier on your shoulder. The Hungarian Yellowtip heavy ball is good stuff too though. Very accurate and will shoot a closer POI to the commercial stuff (like the Brown Bear you are using). My Finn M39s eat it up and spit it out in nice groups.

My favorite carbine ammo is the Czech Silvertip surplus, it's very accurate, but the Polish stuff is supposed to be just as good if not better.

All surplus 7.62x54R is corrosive so be sure to run a patch down the barrel with soapy water to wash out the corrosive salts before using oils and bore cleaner. Wash off the bolt and receiver too.

 

[Cosmoline]

The Czech stuff is good ball ammo. The Albanian is easier to find these days but of inferior quality. The Russian modern production stuff sold under the WOlf, Barnaul, Bear, etc. brands tends to be heavier 200 grain FMJ and SP. Mosins tend to like this stuff better than the lighter ball, at least mine have. I have not had corrosive primer problems with recent production Ruskie stuff, though the older commercial ammo is probably corrosive. The S&B is good quality and makes fine hunting ammunition. Norma is the best of all, but very $$.