7.62x39 Russian ammo question

Bullzeye

Since I got my Norinco Sporter SKS, I've been using the ammo I bought with it.It's wrapped in waterproof plastic-paper, and the seams are glued. 6 boxes to a brick, 20 rounds to a box. There is no apparent name on the boxes. Other than the ammo specifications near the top, it just says Made to Hunting Specifications, and Made in Russia.There is three strange logos under that near the bottom. One looks like a P inside of a big C with a T on other side of the big C. PCT? Next one over is what looks like an upside down ice-cream cone with a circle in the middle of the ice-cream part and a box around the whole thing.Last is what looks like a lowecase r, a backwards uppercase N, and an uppercase C, all inside of a diamond.Theres a small SA02 stamped in ink under that, and a C23 stamped on the other side.Bottom side just has the lead warning and the safety warnings stamped on the box.The rounds in each box are stacked in fives and seperated by paper. Either the papers or the box are treated with something because they stink of something awful which I cant put my finger on.Anyone who's got any idea what I've got, please give me a holler.

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P.S- In the SKS, and all semi weapons without a spring-loaded firing pin, I know there is a greater risk of slamfires when using commercial rounds with softer primers as opposed to hard-primer milsurp Russian rounds.How can you tell the difference, and would using Wolf ammo (for instance) be advisable or safe in my SKS?

HAIRY

I've used Wolf in my SKS without any problems. I've heard, tho, that since the cases are steel, some people claim they don't get extracted after the weapon heats up. I did not experience that problem.

ref44

I have used the kind you describe w/o any problems; but I have none on hand to compare the markings.The last case I bought was made in Russia by "Barnaul" and came in colorful boxes bearing the brand of "Tiger".I have seen other Barnnaul-made ammo in boxes with a rifle shooter on it.

b0400879

hey bullz,sounds as if yer sittin' on a quantity of russian hollow points, just goin' by the package description. these were imported by the boatload after the chinese ammo fiasco courtesy of ATF in early '90s. the cyrillic characters pretty much give it away as russkie. lacquered steel case? brownish in color? from yer post, sounds like ya burned at least some of it - any gripes?configured as sporting ammo for export - not military pattern. don't recall if y'all mentioned the point configuration or not - that was their justification of "hunting specs". the stanky * paper has me puzzled, however...... no memory of it. i do recall a minty/herby/tea-like stench on paper liners stuffed between verified genuine chicom surplus headstamped '67.my gut feeling is that yer OK to shoot. i didn't pick up from yer post if it shot well.best,joey

b0400879

hey bullz,sounds as if yer sittin' on a quantity of russian hollow points, just goin' by the package description. these were imported by the boatload after the chinese ammo fiasco courtesy of ATF in early '90s. the cyrillic characters pretty much give it away as russkie. lacquered steel case? brownish in color? from yer post, sounds like ya burned at least some of it - any gripes?configured as sporting ammo for export - not military pattern. don't recall if y'all mentioned the point configuration or not - that was their justification of "hunting specs". the stanky * paper has me puzzled, however...... no memory of it. i do recall a minty/herby/tea-like stench on paper liners stuffed between verified genuine chicom surplus headstamped '67.my gut feeling is that yer OK to shoot. i didn't pick up from yer post if it shot well.best,joey

Bullzeye

The cartridge is brownish green, and the slug is copper colored. The rim is also green, and the primer is gold colored.The rim markings are: "7.62x39" followed by either a "99" or a "66" (depending on which way you look at it, followed by the same logo on the box. Here is a drawing of it:[This message has been edited by Bullzeye (edited 12-28-2001).][This message has been edited by Bullzeye (edited 12-28-2001).]