ammo dating?

[MedicBlue]

Is there any way to ID when some of this surplus ammo was made? The back of some ammo I have has a 72 stamped on it, is that the year?

[Devil Dog]

The vast majority of 7.62x39 ammunition is
marked with a factory code at the 12 o'clock position, and a year code at the
6 o'clock position. The year code is usually
the last two digits of the year it was produced. Since "72" is not a factory code
I am aware of, chances are that it stands for 1972. This same general marking practice applies to most military small arms ammunition, particularly that produced by
communist nations that follow the Soviet style. One notable exception is Romanian
ammunition which for a time was only marked with year produced, in the typical
6 o'clock location. If you send me the complete cartridge description and all headstamp information, I can give you a definitive answer.

D.D.

[MedicBlue]

Devel Dog, your description was right on, I don't have any of the ammo with me but the 72 was in the 6 o'clock position. WOW thats old, no wonder the guns were so dirty after about 10 rounds each. When I get to the ammo again I'll post the rest of it but I'm sure you hit right on it. How moch will the ammo lose being that old? Man, I'm glad I cleaned right after shooting.

[MedicBlue]

Devil Dog, another question, (I've been reading your replies in other posts and you seem to know alot, hope you don't mind the extra Qs) About when did they start using non-corrosive powder? Was it just recently with the wolf ammo?

[Devil Dog]

NO problem with the questions! That is what I enjoy about this forum. First a clarification about corrosive componants.
It is the primer composition that determines if a cartridge is "corrosive", not the powder. A corrosive primer contains metallic salts that are part of the priming mixture. These salts are left as a residue when the cartridge is fired, and if not removed, they will attract moisture and cause rust. There is really no "corrosiveness" to ammunition. Even though the word is scary sounding, shooting corrosive ammunition will not harm
your weapon if it is properly cleaned, preferably the same day. I have always used "Hoppes' #9" to clean all my firearms,
regardless of the type of ammo used. If you can not clean your weapon properly after shooting corrosive ammo, coat the bore, gas system componants and bolt face with light oil to act as a barrier to moisture. The only time I have had a rust problem was when none of the above steps were taken. To the best of my knowledge, "non
corrosive priming" appeared in Chinese 7.62x39 around 1992. The brown lacquered steel cases from factory "71" will have a red primer seal to indicate this new priming mix. Russian 7.62x39 ammo with non corrosive priming came about 1994.
I would not place much importance on the difference between the two because if properly cared for, your weapon will not show any difference either.

Always glad to answer any ammo questions!

D.D.

[Devil Dog]

1972 is not very old for well cared for ammo. I have fired much older 7.62x39
(Soviet and Chinese, 1950's vintage) with
no problems. In a large pile of captured Iraqi small arms ammunition I examined during the Gulf War, there was Soviet ammunition dated 1959 and all through the
1960's and 1970's. All of this ammo was front line issue stuff!

D.D.

[Ivan8883]

Some of the most accurate 762 ammo was mid 60's ammo from China. Iwas amazed at how accurate it was. The Yugoslav ammo from the eighties ,in 15 rd boxes, was also very accurate.

[Ivan8883]

Some of the most accurate 762 ammo was mid 60's ammo from China. Iwas amazed at how accurate it was. The Yugoslav ammo from the eighties ,in 15 rd boxes, was also very accurate.

[MedicBlue]

Thanks Devil, That clears up alot. And I did clean up the rifles right after shooting except that I didn't coat the barrels with oil, I have used silicone spray lubrcant on my weapons for several years now and found it to be very good as a protectant and a lube, and it doesn't attract any dirt.

Ditto on the old ammo,DD.
I bought my first SKS and a case of 1100 rounds of Steel Core on strippers dated 1966 in 1984.
I shot 15+ cases of 66 dated ammo and still have some left. Never had a failure to feed,fire or eject with it.