880 rounds of surplus ammo-question

[raydogg30]

So I just received this awesome package today, and I had a question as to what year the ammo was manufactured. I see on the side it says "168/88" Does that mean this ammo is head stamped 168, and manufactured in 1988? I'm curious and this is the first surplus order I've placed. It was $175.99 shipped to my front door, btw. Thanks in advance!



-Ray

[raydogg30]

From what I understand, and this is where I'm confused, it looks like it's dated 1989, from factory #60 (Frunze)?

[Obstreperous]

The propellent was made in 1988 the bullet in 1989
Newest surplus I have ever seen I heard someone received 1985 ammo from TSG not to long ago

[raydogg30]

Awesome, thank you. I was also thinking this is the newest ammo I've heard of. Not that it matters either way, as long as it goes boom.

[Synack]

Just curious... Were they still using corrosive primers at that time? (Didn't the US switch to noncorrosive after WWII?)

[desdem12]

Corrosive.

[TopperT]

That is one hell of a great price!

[BenedictGomez]

The propellent was made in 1988 the bullet in 1989


Newest surplus I have ever seen I heard someone received 1985 ammo from TSG not to long ago

Newest I've ever seen as well.

As for the 1985, I think you're referring to me, except it was 1986. I got it last week and posted about it here. Clearly they got some really new stuff in if 1986 + 1989 is going out the door. If they do the "$15 off + $15 card" deal soon I'm pulling the trigger again.

Interesting though, this ammo ISNT from Novosibirsk, it's from Lugansk and all the ammo I've bought from them before has been from Novosibirsk. It is often claimed that Novosibirsk made the "best" commie ammo in terms of accuracy, but whether there's ever been data to back that up or if it's just so often repeated that its become "fact", I have no idea. Even the font on that box is slightly different, as is the wood.

[bocephus]

I too got some 1986. I think there were others that ordered the same time as me, about 3 weeks ago, and they got 70's. Seems like TSG ammo might be all mixed up. This is tempting me to try my luck with another crate though.

[Obstreperous]

I wonder if more 1980's ammo showing up means they are getting low on the older stuff?
The crate I received a couple of weeks ago from Sportsman was 1975

[Greasemonkey]

Surplus ammo from the 80's is not uncommon, alot of Albanian, Czech and even Bulgarian ammo were imported several years ago, and most of it was made in the 80's. Some Czech ammo I have is dated '87 and one box is '88. A crate of Bulgarian I have is dated '85.

[bunkysdad]

I would say it is corrosive.

[Gunowner99]

Good chance if it!

[BenedictGomez]

I wonder if more 1980's ammo showing up means they are getting low on the older stuff?
The crate I received a couple of weeks ago from Sportsman was 1975

You just answered your own question. If you can order within a few weeks and get 1975 or 1985 it would appear to be luck of the draw and not that the old stuff is necessarily getting low. Now, if we continue to get more and more 1980s stuff at the expense of the usual 1970s, then you might be onto something.

The part that confuses me is how is this stuff coming onto the loading bay when it's imported that such variety exists. In my head I imagine a gigantic "Raiders of the Lost Ark" warehouse filled with commie 7.62x54r. But the reason why it puzzles me is that I would presume that large batches would be stacked together by year. Given the great variety we tend to see, it makes me wonder if that presumption is incorrect, and perhaps the Russian military rotated it out to surplus in smaller lots.

[Gunowner99]

I jut hope it keeps showing up as long as I am shooting!