Was it the tula ammo you could buy a while ago ?

 

What do you want to know? From what the pictures show it is standard military grade ammo made in Romania but imported by Norinco. I would question the "new" part, not that is reloaded, but I dont think Norinco has imported any ammo in quite a few years. But I could be wrong about that so dont quote me on that point.

* After looking back at the pictures it appears that there is two different box types pictured. The Romania stuff and the Norinco stuff which would have probably been manufactured in China. Either way, as said earlier they both look to be standard military grade ammo.
** I use to use Norinco ammo in my Norinco NHM-91 (I miss that thing) and never had any problems with it.

 

I had a few boxes of that 7.62x39 ammo, seemed comparable to the Yugo ammo I usually shoot. Just be careful as it might have corrosive primers. If so you need to make sure your very careful about cleaning after you shoot. I know guys whos first step for cleaning their sks is 2 dump boiling water down the bore........

 

The first two boxes are Chinese Commercial X39 ammo neither of which had been imported into the US since the 1994 ban,it can still be found from time to time but once gone it will be no more,it comes in a variety of different colored packaging,in both lead and steel core FMJ and SP. The Silver box is the best of the lot,the lead tip on the Chinese SP is usually pretty brittle and brakes off easy. Both have steel jacket bullets and lead cores and are usually fairly accurate and cleaner than Wolf.

The third box is Russian HP much of the Russian ammo imported in the early 90's was packed like this,it can be found in plain white,gray and brown boxes in FMJ and HP. The HP expansion can be iffy at times,it has a steel jacket and lead core as well. It's similar to Wolf HP ammo on the market today as far as being dirty and accuracy.

The forth box is Romanian,Century Arms imported the first Romanian ammo into the US market,it's now sold under the Hot Shot brand name. From most of my readings it about the worst as far a being dirty and quality control.

I've shot all the above ammo except for the Romanian and it's not corrosive.

The China North Industries Corporation official English name Norinco, manufactures vehicles (trucks, cars and motorcycles), machinery, optical-electronic products, oil field equipment, chemicals, light industrial products, explosives and blast materials, civil and military firearms and ammunition, etc. Norinco is also involved in domestic civil construction projects.

Norinco is also known outside of China for its high-tech defense products, some of which are adaptations of Soviet equipment. Norinco produces precision strike systems, amphibious assault weapons and equipment, long-range suppression weapon systems, anti-aircraft & anti-missile systems, information & night vision products, high-effect destruction systems,fuel air bombs, anti-terrorism & anti-riot equipment and small arms.

 

Save it or shoot it.

It's all good.

 

My thoughts exactly, if your concerned shoot it now for practice and buy more while you still can. Then get Wolf if thats what you like? But others are better!

 

Basically, just wanted to know if this stuff is any special compared to what I see at the stores. Thought it might have some sort of collectors value or worth more compared to other ammo.

 

If a magnet will stick to the PROJECTILE (not the case) you have steel core ammo worth about $1 per cartridge. Save it or sell it. It is too valuable to burn up plinking at paper since it has been banned from import into the US since 1994.

 

you have silver box norinco 7.62x39mm ammo. 123 grain bullets, FMJ, copper jacketed mild steel core, steel case berdan primed, commercial ammunition. non corrosive. imported in the early 1990s, congress banned all Norinco ammo and gun imports in the mid 90s. 15 years later now it can be considered collectible ammo. the really valuable stuff is the yellow box ones.
as for performance its someplace between Golden Tiger and Wolf Military Classic. It smells like golden tiger and produces a similar amount of smoke, and it shoots/groups like Wolf military classic.
the bullet's core is mild steel, its not much harder really hard lead, its definitely not AP. the norinco yellow box stuff is AP, its very rare and quite valuable, as much as $1 per round. Your stuff you can shoot it or hang on to it as it gets more and more valuable because other people are shooting theirs away.

 

That chinese ammo is not steel core.
I can post pics of the same stuff that i have, and it isn't steel core

 

Not a solid steel core you are right. but it might have steel in it. China and Russia used steel in their rounds as it was less costly at the time of manufacture. solid steel core ammo is very rare(in the US) but cheap commercial commie ammo can have a steel jacket and partial steel cores. The magnet test is a good method.

Strong attract high amound of steel, Possibly a partial steel core
slight attraction steel jacket
no attraction lead/copper core

well this is what ive always went by, my two cents is in.....

 

I have the Yellow box stuff and it is mild steel core. I could buy it at one time for $2 a box I kept 100 rds. just to have it.

 

I have the same silver box Norinco stuff and chinasports .

The only way to be 100% certain they're loaded with steel-core bullets is to take some side cutters and separate the bullet:

I got ripped-off on another website proclaiming these to be genuine SC Norincos :xeye:

...and yeah, the good ol' days of buying Norinco ball for $79.95 per thousand

 

That stuff is no good and will surely ruin your rifle. If you will pay the shipping and send it to me, I will gladly dispose of it properly and won't even charge you. This is a one time offer, don't hesitate lest you miss out on this great opportunity!

 

Well you don't even have to section a bullet really,the Chinese use two different bullet styles as pictured below the steel core will be longer and have a BT design with no cannelure on the bullet. The lead core will have a cannelure and the bullet will be flat base.

 

Thank you all for the info,

I did the magnet test and the the 3 boxes from the right are all magnetic. The attached picture is the 3rd box from the left.

 

the magnet test isn't sufficient because the cartridge casings are made of steel.
You have to pull a bullet or cut into one to be 100% certain of what you have

 

Its crap send it all to me so i can dispose of it properly. Heck I will even be a nice guy and pay for shipping!!!!!!:

 

if you're willing to sacrifice a round you can test with a hacksaw. just cut the tip of the bullet off. about the top 1/8 to 1/4 inch. do not use a dremel or any power tool, that might heat up the bullet enough to set of the gunpowder. if you have proper bullet pulling tools pull the bullet and then you can use a hi speed cutter. might as well section it if you can pull the bullet. just grind half if it away.
otherwise, with a hacksaw you can pretty much tell if its lead core, mild steel, or hardened steel. lead is soft, mild steel is quite hard but the saw will cut thru it easy, and hardened steel found in AP ammo you'll notice the cut is taking forever.

alternatively with pulled bullets you can heat it up with a propane torch, when it glows faintly tip it downside up (the base of the bullet down) and if liquid comes out that's lead. if not, its steel. even the hardest, high temp lead will melt and becomes a liquid around 900F. a propane torch like ones used for soldering can melt a penny, which is around 1200F. more than enough to melt lead core bullets. you can keep the hollow bullet for show, do not reload it! if its steel core you probably shouldn't stick it back into the cartridge anyway.

 

Here are the results of cutting one of the rounds. It appears to have 2 types of metal.

 

Compare to wolf ammo...? If there is a crapier 7.62 round than wolf I'd love to see it. Wolf ammo gonna eat your rifle alive.

 

Just how valuable is the yellow box stuff (Norinco) I have half a case still in the boxes

 

I gave about $5 a box for my Yellow box when I bought it,haven't seen it in 15 years so jumped on it when I could just to add to the collection. I've seen some people try to pass it off as AP which it's not and sell it for up to $1 a round. If it has been any more than the $5 I would have passed.

 

Buy bear it works great.

 

technically the yellow box is legal to own however acordingf to ATF you cant sell or trade it. Just saying

 

technically the yellow box is legal to own however according to ATF you cant sell or trade it. Just saying

http://www.recguns.com/Sources/IIG1.html

WHAT FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS ARE PLACED ON AP AMMO?

If you are NOT a (FFL) licensee under the Gun Control Act (an individual):
It is: ok to OWN AP ammo
ok to SELL AP ammo
ok to BUY AP ammo
ok to SHOOT AP ammo
NOT ok to MAKE AP ammo (18 USC sec. 922(a)(7))
NOT ok to IMPORT AP ammo (18 USC sec. 922(a)(7))

 

Bear..? You serious?
If you actually need a cheaper ammo that is worth a damn go Fiochi. Bear is up to par with wolf. you get what you pay for.

 

I've shot a lot of different brands of X39 ammo over the years,as far as the Russian stuff goes I like GT best follow by any of the Bear ammo I prefer the old lacquer coated stuff personally but there isn't much of that around anymore. Wolf is on the bottom of my list,it's just two inconsistent from lot to lot,for blasting ammo it's fine but I haven't used any Wolf in five years.

I like the Yugo surplus ammo also it's corrosive but that not a big deal in my book. I shoot reloads about 99% of the time and save the boxed stuff for SHTF purposes. If any of you guys shoot the brass case boxer primed stuff and what to part with the brass give me a PM.