I have a Norc and like it a lot. I have never used the surplus ammo. I reload 7.62 x25 with 85, 90 and 96 grain jacketed and cast lead bullets. It's a nice gun to shoot and I am slowly getting to where I can hit things with it. (Well up to thirty yards anyway, due to me not the gun from what I can see). It is not a cartridge that you can reload fast as it needs each case to be lubed, but I like slow and sure types of things so it suits.