ammo ID help!

[bsims]

I ordered a 440rd tin from Tapco (not the lowest price around, but I needed other things as well). Unfortunately, they are out of stock for awhile, so I picked up a couple of boxes at a local place. Headstamp is VPT 44, a look at http://www.mosin-nagant.net shows that VPT is of finnish manufacture, and my bullet appears to fit their "fat" profile and has a cannelure which matches the finnish D-166 round. A search for D-166 at this site turned up a reference to a barrel marked d166 that was from a gun rechambered for the slightly larger d-166 round. Now, the bullet seems slightly larger than the standard bullet, and so I'm assuming is heavier, but the rechambering reference has got me nervous. Is this safe to shoot in my m-44?

There are 15 rounds to a box, which is shaped sort of like a triangle. Label on the box reads:

A 0235 15 kpl.
7,62 kiv S 284 p i. sid.
AV 11

[Schuetzenman]

IMO it's probably ok to shoot. See the Fins originally had a bore designed around a .308 bullet. The Russians std. diameter of bullet is .310. With the model 39 Fin Mosin Nagant rifle they estabilished a standard bore on the .310 bullet of the Soviet's. These barrels are marked with a big D on the barrel and show a proof of 3600 which is in atmospheres or the equivallant of about 50,000 psi.

Simpler a heavier bullet won't give you any safety problems in the M44's. Do you have a micrometer or a vernier to measure the diameter of the bullets. If so and if they don't measure more than about .311 you are good to go IMO. If you are really bothered, try setting it off with a rope on the trigger with the rifle tied to an old tire. :D

[TheBigCAx]

Once again, Sheutzenman very valuable information.

[bsims]

Thanks for the info. I didn't think just a heavier bullet would be a problem, but I got nervous when the post mentioned rechambering. Didn't know if the round was of slightly different dimensions otherwise.

Brian