Turk 8mm Mauser ammo - interesting observations.

[AlexI]

I got a bunch of Turk 8mm ammo (which is dirt cheap) a couple month ago to feed my new M48 based rifle. Shot about 150-200 rounds in three range sessions, without checking the rounds for cracked cases, etc. Amazingly, there were no problems at all (well, maybe some cases were just a little harder to extract then others), even though quite a lot of the extracted brass had split throats.

Then, I carefully sorted through the remaining 500 rounds or so, and it turned out almost one case in 6 already had split throat! I mean big cracks, sometimes open, bullets moving in the case and sometimes seated very deep! Unbelievable how this kind of ammo worked with no problems... Now I am wondering if some "fliers" I experienced were caused by the bad rounds (otherwise, I was getting some 100 yards 5 shot groups under 2.5" from cold barrel). Next time I go to a range, I'm shooting only rounds that checked out OK, for groups at least! Maybe shoot up some bad stuff at the end of the session, just for fast offhand blasting?

Now, I just got another lot of the same stuff, which turned out to be from 1949 (the first lot was from 1946).
I checked several clips at random, and there were no cracks at all! But, all brass was discolored at the throat in the same way, like it was heated to anneal it before seating the bullets. Looks like somewhere between 1946 and 1949 the Turks finally figured out what was going on and started annealing their brass (at the throat only), which took care of the problem. Makes sense, no?

Alex.

 

[spacemanspiff]

the plus side is that if the case ruptures and blows up in your face, replacing the rifle isnt going to set you back a lot of money.

you should inspect every single case and look for cracks, loose crimps, bullets seated too low. the box i bought had cases stamped with '40 and '43. out of 700 rounds i had about 200 i wasnt comfortable shooting.

 

[telewinz]

A split case neck will not blow up the rifle, I have fired hundreds of rounds of Turk ammo ('43,'39,'41) and have had a few split case necks AFTER firing in my Hakim and FN49. My luck with Turk ammo has been so good that I purchased 700 rounds off a friend for $20 because he was having "problems" with it. Turns out it was the fault of his rifle (weak spring) and not the ammo. I find that while a "hot" load (3050 fps), the Turk ammo is accurate and sure fire but not all that dirty as some claim. I plan on driving to the ammostore in Canton, Ohio Monday and picking-up another 2800 rds for about $110 out the door. At .04 cents a round its a great value and I'm leaving my Romainian ammo in it's sealed spam can for use years down the road. BTW; Turk ammo was not case annealed until 1950 this accounts for the pre-fired split necks on previous years.

 

[Moparmike]

My '49 stuff seems pretty good.

 

[P95Carry]

I plan on driving to the ammostore in Canton, Ohio Monday and picking-up another 2800 rds for about $110 out the door.

Now tele .. that's just plain ol' greedy!

My last lot was IIRC 1941 .. seems well useful. Maybe I'd better lay in some more ... I think I'm down to last 4,000 rounds or so!!

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Just to add .. we know the Turk stuff is corrosive but ... it does certainly seem to be ''clean'' corrosive - not much residue and .. if left overnight ....... no flash rusting that I have seen ... unlike old .303 corrosive ... gotta clean that mother - quick!!!

Mind you - my Turk stuff STINKS .... phew ... pungent!

 

[spacemanspiff]

its the primer that gives it the smell.
try burning the powder on its own and it smells pleasant.

 

[telewinz]

Now tele .. that's just plain ol' greedy!

I like to swim in the stuff just like Scooge McDuck, Those pointed bullets hurt when they jab you!