WARNING! Bulgarian 7.62x54r Updated with pics of what century is sending out x54r

[new cal shooter]

had some 1947 7.62x54r Bulgarian ammo come from century arms, BAD to shoot! it's heavy ball, they marked it as Light ball, but the 5 rounds i shot all had cases fail and gas / crud come back at me, only one round hit me in the face, then i just shot from the hip, and sure enough, more gas, more failed brass, broke just about 1/4" from the rim towards the projectile, 2 "gills" opened up, each about the same, so BE WARNED! it has a lion on the head stamp, and 19 47 the bullet is colored a light red, so it may be tracer / ap? anyone have any experiance, i would like to know!

thanks!
NCS

[Socal858]

thats crazy. i hope you are ok and none of it hurt you

[chiefcrash]

got some case/lot/headstamp info for us?

[new cal shooter]

Lion figure head stamp Warning

12 o'clock "Lion figure"
three o'clock "47"
nine o'clock "19"
six o'clock "OB" kinda weird script

came in a small tin can, with a cloth handle on it 300rds to a tin, just came from Centry last week

WARNING

[xenophobe]

Are you sure it's not a headspace issue?

[new cal shooter]

BAD Brass

had shot Czech Silver tip '63 '67 '65 steel case, and '50 and '53 bulgarian light ball brass case, all no issues, (silver tip was the best group on the 1963 lot)
but the 1947 brass cased lion symbol was dangerous

[M. Sage]

Bulgarian should have a 10 stamp for the nation...?

A 250 round tin sounds like a wierd number.. AFAIK, all the commies loved putting their ammo into 20 round packages in the tins.

Got any pictures of the packaging?

The lion makes me wonder if it's actually Finnish...?

[new cal shooter]

was on 7.62x54r.net that Lion pictures was for Bulgirian, they did'nt have a pic, but here is the link: http://www.mosinnagant.net/b6lgaria.asp guess it was a 300 round tin

[new cal shooter]

O' and the paper wrapping was so weather beat, it just crumbled like dry leaves, so not sure how it was wrapped up

[hybridatsun350]

That's really too bad. The 55 dated Bulgarian stuff shoots like a dream. Thanks for the info though. I'll be sure to stay away from that stuff!

[DRH]

When you say the bullet is red are you referring to the case sealant or color of the projectile tip. All the Bulgarian ammo I have received from Century has been in the 1950s date range, the light ball has no proj color and the heavy ball is yellow. Some of the 50's light ball cans have some ammo that has corrosion damage from getting wet. This ammo is similar to the Turk 8mm, you must check for loose projs (split necks). Press on the round with a little thumb pressure and a split case will become readily apparent.

[Tweak338]

gas / crud come back at me

Are you sure it's not a headspace issue?

thats what it sounds like to me too..

[Spiggy]

I avoid stuff with red glued primers... that's usually a mark for MG ammo

MG Ammo + Mosin Nagant = VERY BAD JUJU

[pullnshoot25]

I just bought 880 rds and it arrived today... mmmm MMMM GOOD!

[new cal shooter]

TIP is red, like a nail polish color, kinda translusent red, primers are dark / almost black color, and i have had some of the '53 bulgarian with loose projectiles, but this stuff is just odd ball ammo 1947 is it's date