7.62x39 ammo - any differences between vintages?

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Just what the title says... are there any differences between the 7.62x39 ammo with regards to the year/era of manufacture?


ie; from Cold War surplus (or whatever the year was)to the newer 1993 surplus.

Basically what I'm getting at is it worth the extra few bucks to buy the newer stuff?


Andy
 
I e-mailed frontier about those, they told me they were exactly alike. I think its more of a piece of mind thing to get stuff from 93, But then again the only reason I want one of those cases is because it was made the same year I was born. But here is another thought I had about it, if the stuff we've been getting was from like late 50's, where is all of the stuff from 1960-1992? Unless they do different calibers between then.
 
outoftowner said:
I e-mailed frontier about those, they told me they were exactly alike. I think its more of a piece of mind thing to get stuff from 93, But then again the only reason I want one of those cases is because it was made the same year I was born. But here is another thought I had about it, if the stuff we've been getting was from like late 50's, where is all of the stuff from 1960-1992? Unless they do different calibers between then.
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You were born in 1993? Hmm, how can your order ammo?
 
I had a case of '59 and every single one went "bang". All the other ammo I've shot has been '67-'74 vintage and it's all gone off as well.

I wouldn't pay extra unless I intended to squirrel it away to be used in the distant future.
 
So far I've shot stuff from the 60's, 70's and 80's. I have yet to get a dud.

To be honest the stuff I got that was made in the 60's was probably the best quality of the cases I've received. YMMV.
 
Repairman said:
Just what the title says... are there any differences between the 7.62x39 ammo with regards to the year/era of manufacture?


ie; from Cold War surplus (or whatever the year was)to the newer 1993 surplus.

Basically what I'm getting at is it worth the extra few bucks to buy the newer stuff?


Andy
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Not really those are all conserved properly. Those were made in the way that you can berry it underground for a long time. One difference between those is chemically it is slightly different.

:D:D:D:D
 
I haven't really found any difference in the x39 but I found a huge difference in 2 eras of x54R... We took up Czech rounds made in the 70s as well as Russian rounds made in '45 and what a difference! Those Russian rounds were loaded much much hotter. On top of a noticeably larger kick, several of the casings were splitting at the base of the neck.

...I guess it didn't matter how big the bang was, as long as it did the job! Crazy Russians.
 
I had a couple crates of '53 and they shot the best of any other I've had. I have 2 of that year left to save. 70's (74 specifically) vintage I have found to be most inconsistant. I had a pile of '74 and that's what I usually use for shooting into the dirt. The early 90's crates I have seem to be pretty good as well, at least the bullets are "shinier'... I have gone through 45+ cases and have notes on all the years runs I have shot, something like a dozen + different production years.

Most are pretty much on par with themselves, others stand out as being really good ('53) or poor ('74). I've wondered if the dates corespond with anything in particular; '53 being the end of the Korean War and '74 nearing the end of the Vietnam War. Could have something to do with the machining and quality control of the era.

For the most part.. they're all equal. I've never had a round not go Bang.. so as far as that goes, they're all pretty impressive.
 
Have to check to check the crate-wall. It's possible that it reads '58 and is a bad stamp on the box. It is Czech though.. and if that's the case, must be.
 
DMcFaul said:
Have to check to check the crate-wall. It's possible that it reads '58 and is a bad stamp on the box. It is Czech though.. and if that's the case, must be.
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That's what I've been doing wrong!
I didn't build my stash into a wall, just a rather large pile.:D
 
I'd go with the most recent vintage. You have more storage latitude, plus I'm sure there's been some upgrading of Q.C. and components from the 1960's stuff to the 1993 stuff.
 
One would think so, but in the ex-Great Soviet Union, machines were made on the basis of "If it uses lots of extra power, but is cheap and has not broken down in 50 years or so, we shall keep using it." Many countries use very fast production machine platforms to produce this caliber, what amazes me is how prevalent the 7.62 X 54R round still is in common modern production for the ###/RPD and Dragunov back in the old country.
 
I find the 1963 vintage to be a little underdeveloped. More of a "pok" than a bang, with earthy overtones. If you waft the recently fired cartridge under your nose, you will find a nutty, almost oaky aroma, unlike the late '64, which has a much darker and tangy texture, not too pungent, but with more substance. Best served with 9mm as an appy.
 
5440fight said:
I find the 1963 vintage to be a little underdeveloped. More of a "pok" than a bang, with earthy overtones. If you waft the recently fired cartridge under your nose, you will find a nutty, almost oaky aroma, unlike the late '64, which has a much darker and tangy texture, not too pungent, but with more substance. Best served with 9mm as an appy.
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I find that 9mm gives me horrible gas. The better half won't let me into bed if I've been shooting the nine.
 
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