So im looking at making a little investment in afew crates of ammo for my mosin and STV now that I think I will be ok with what I have for my SKS. I have seen lots of talk abut differnt ammos but right now I can find, the PRC in thos tear open cans and what I think is either Russian or Bulgarian in spam cans. Are the spam cans better then the tear open ones?
Mosin ans SVT ammo. PRC any good?
- Thread starter CanadianBaconPancakes
- Start date
I've run through a crate each of the PRC copper washed and the Bulgarian Silver Tip.
In my experience, the Bulgarian shoots a bit hotter (higher point of impact) than the Chinese.
Both are about as consistent (which is to say - surplus ammo, sorta kinda consistent) within each batch.
Had zero reliability issues with either ammo in my SVT or any of my Mosins.
The Chinese is quite a bit sootier - takes longer to clean the barrel after shooting.
The Chinese also followed the range adjustments on the rear sight better. If I have my SVT zeroed for 100m on the Chinese, then when shooting at 200m, I move the sight to 200m, etc. The trajectory "fits" all the way out to 400 (haven't shot it any further).
The Bulgarian seemed to shoot a lot flatter for me. Zero my SVT at 100, and then it was hitting high (6-10inches) at 200 if I set the rear sight to 200. At 400m, setting the rear sight to 300m and I was pretty much back on center (give or take a couple of inches).
If I was needing to buy more I would buy....
Whichever I could get a better deal on that day.
In my experience, the Bulgarian shoots a bit hotter (higher point of impact) than the Chinese.
Both are about as consistent (which is to say - surplus ammo, sorta kinda consistent) within each batch.
Had zero reliability issues with either ammo in my SVT or any of my Mosins.
The Chinese is quite a bit sootier - takes longer to clean the barrel after shooting.
The Chinese also followed the range adjustments on the rear sight better. If I have my SVT zeroed for 100m on the Chinese, then when shooting at 200m, I move the sight to 200m, etc. The trajectory "fits" all the way out to 400 (haven't shot it any further).
The Bulgarian seemed to shoot a lot flatter for me. Zero my SVT at 100, and then it was hitting high (6-10inches) at 200 if I set the rear sight to 200. At 400m, setting the rear sight to 300m and I was pretty much back on center (give or take a couple of inches).
If I was needing to buy more I would buy....
Whichever I could get a better deal on that day.
- Location
- Algoma, ON
I found to the Bulgarian to be significantly hotter. My SVT runs fine at the 1.1 and 1.2 gas settings with the Bulgarian. With the Chinese I was up at 1.5 to get reliable cycling. I also had some fail to fire issues (light strikes) with the Chinese due to their harder primers. With that said, 2 of my buddies had no FTF issues with either in their SVTs. So take from that what you will.
Concerning the differing results with Chinese LPS, I have gotten the impression that performance varies with different factories and likely different lots, or at least different vintages. Do either of you happen to recall the headstamps on your respective crates?
Joel
Joel
- Location
- Algoma, ON
Unfortunately I do not remember the headstamps. I may have a casing lying around my house somewhere....but I doubt it. I personally think it just varies from rifle to rifle. Some rifles don't like certain ammo, while other rifles will shoot anything you put in them.
No, sorry that ammo is long gone. I bought it back when the peak of the ammo shortage hit the states and availability was getting thin in these parts. The shop I bought it from opened crates and sold part of their stock in smaller quantities, it was Chinese, I remember because I was debating if I wanted that or keep looking for something else.
The Chinese ammo was really dirty. Some of the casings split more than usual in my SVT. That being said, I have shot other Chinese ammo and they were different again. I never had light primer strikes with Chinese. I'll shoot it but I prefer the east block ammo.
The Chinese ammo was really dirty. Some of the casings split more than usual in my SVT. That being said, I have shot other Chinese ammo and they were different again. I never had light primer strikes with Chinese. I'll shoot it but I prefer the east block ammo.
7.62x39... when I bought my CZ 858 I had a partial crate of Czech surplus on stripper clips. I shot a bunch until I bought a crate of Russian. I put the Czech ammo in storage because the stripper clips were pre loaded and supply of that was running low-nil. I shot the Russian, Chinese and other origin for a long time. I went back to my stored Czech ammo to free up some stripper clips for the paper wrapped ammo. When I shot the Czech stuff I found it to be smokey, dirtier and had a strong (different) powder smell than the Russian. Another thing I noticed was 3 out of 100 rounds had light primer strikes. I never had light primer strikes with Russian. I thought it may be the CZ firing pin. I switched to my SKS (which always strikes) and had 2 more light primer strikes...Hmmm.
Switched to Russian ammo.. no problem.
The Czech ammo also has a lacquer coating which caused a bit of a feed problem.
I'll buy Czech ammo again, the issue I had I'm sure is due to mass production. The smoke and smell is distinctly Czech and would expect it with future crates.
I'm not picky. When supply and money dictate, I'll buy whats available. I'll shoot the Chinese and store the Russian.
I really wish all surplus came on stripper clips.
Switched to Russian ammo.. no problem.
The Czech ammo also has a lacquer coating which caused a bit of a feed problem.
I'll buy Czech ammo again, the issue I had I'm sure is due to mass production. The smoke and smell is distinctly Czech and would expect it with future crates.
I'm not picky. When supply and money dictate, I'll buy whats available. I'll shoot the Chinese and store the Russian.
I really wish all surplus came on stripper clips.
Just to roll back to my earlier comments...
I should say that the difference in power between my Chinese and Romanian ammo could easily be "batch issues" - basically, you're going to get differences from one batch to another, regardless of where it comes from (China, Russia, Bulgaria, Czech, etc.)
54R has a pretty wide tolerance/spec to start with, and that spec has been , as far as I can tell, a bit of a moving target over the years. Different bullet weights/powder charges, lacquered, un-lacquered, copper-washed, etc., some were specifically made "hotter" for use in aircraft MG's (303 British had different loads for aircraft MG's as well).
You can spend a lot of time deciphering production codes to try and figure out exactly what you're getting, or...
Do what I choose to do. Buy the best crate deal available at the time. Open up a can, go through 20-50 rounds figuring out where it's hitting, adjust accordingly, then work your way through the rest of the crate. When you're about halfway through a crate, buy another so you have it on standby for when you finish burning off the first crate.
Oh, and that SMELL from popping open a sealed can... Yummy, I love the smell of the rotting corpse of communism in the morning.
I should say that the difference in power between my Chinese and Romanian ammo could easily be "batch issues" - basically, you're going to get differences from one batch to another, regardless of where it comes from (China, Russia, Bulgaria, Czech, etc.)
54R has a pretty wide tolerance/spec to start with, and that spec has been , as far as I can tell, a bit of a moving target over the years. Different bullet weights/powder charges, lacquered, un-lacquered, copper-washed, etc., some were specifically made "hotter" for use in aircraft MG's (303 British had different loads for aircraft MG's as well).
You can spend a lot of time deciphering production codes to try and figure out exactly what you're getting, or...
Do what I choose to do. Buy the best crate deal available at the time. Open up a can, go through 20-50 rounds figuring out where it's hitting, adjust accordingly, then work your way through the rest of the crate. When you're about halfway through a crate, buy another so you have it on standby for when you finish burning off the first crate.
Oh, and that SMELL from popping open a sealed can... Yummy, I love the smell of the rotting corpse of communism in the morning.
