What's the best Surplus Combloc Ammo?

[HoosierQ]

I have a Mosin Nagant in 7.62x54R and hope very soon to have a Saiga in 7.62x39.

Here in Indiana, I see both stacked floor to ceiling in sealed sardine cans at gun shows, flee markets, and even some guns shops...availability is good here. I am just starting to really make a study of bulk ammo. So far I have been been buying it in 20 round boxes as I find it.

So my question is, what is the best of each to buy in bulk and how do I know what I am seeing (don't read Russian)? I know this question is loaded but by best I guess I mean overall quality and perhaps there is a gold standard for each of these rounds as far as surplus goes.

Any and all comments are appreciated.

 

[DMK]

Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian,Yugoslavian are all good in 7.62x54R.

It's all corrosive, so clean accordingly.

www.7.62x54r.net will help you determine what is what.

I don't buy surplus 762x39. I don't find the cost difference between it and Russian new production(Wolf, Barnual, Golden Tiger, Silver Bear, etc) to be all that great. In some cases it's even more expensive.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

A lot of conflicting opinions on that. Bottom line is, whichever works best for you and your rifle.


There is one fact, it's all corrosive. No getting around that.

 

[FEG]

The best 7.62x39 is Sellier & Bellot (Czech) and Barnaul (Russian). I base this on how well both loads shoot in all of the different platforms (AKM, SKS, vz-58, Saiga Sporter, etc.). Obviously, every rifle is different, but I would try Barnaul first, since it is only a few cents more than Wolf or Golden Tiger. S&B is almost 50% more than the Russian commercial, and it isn't quite worth it, as compared to Barnaul, IMHO.

7.62x54R is a crap shoot, because the surplus ammo can be very old (1940s-1960s). Also, the bore diameters of Mosin-Nagant rifles vary quite a bit, due to the number of years and manufacturers involved. You pretty much have to luck onto a good load for your rifle, and then buy as much as you can find.

Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian,Yugoslavian are all good in 7.62x54R.

I think the above statement is pretty accurate. I have had the best luck with the Czech military surplus and Russian commercial ammo. (Barnaul also makes 7.62x54R in commercial packaging, but it is hard to find now.)


If you are in SW Indiana, you might try driving down to Whittaker's Guns near Owensboro, KY.