Opinions on shooting ammo marked 38 or 39 as in 8x56r Nazi or Hungarian

[OHOD]

I got some old ammunition.
1938 and 1939.
The good Hungarian and Austrian stuff.

Safe to shoot?

[DennisCA]

Can you post pic's?

[JAGGUY]

I have some 8x56r dated '39. It looks good and shoots better.
I think if it looks OK the worst that can happen it it can be a dud or hang-fire.

I wouldn't hesitate to load it in my carbine and fire away...

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I've shot .30-06 that was almost that old. It may hang-fire, it may not fire at all but its not going to be "dangerous" to shoot, unless the brass is badly corroded.

[mosinnagantm9130]

As long as it was stored properly.

[Syntax Error]

Some ammo might be more valuable as collectibles rather than to shoot. IIRC, this ammo is brass-cased? I know there is some issues with steel-cased 8x57 Mauser in which the nitrocellulose powder in the cases broke down over the years and left the insides of the steel case rusted, making it potentially dangerous to shoot!

[OHOD]

No corrosion.
No cracks in case.

They look fine to me.
I think I will shoot some this weekend and see how it goes.

I have about 500 rounds and feel like sending some down range.

The 1938 rounds, in boxes with Nazi marked clips will stay stored.

The 1939 have been sealed in a case. The kind of ammo can that opens like a sardine can. To my knowledge, the air inside this can was sealed in 1939. Hope green fumes don't come out and turn me into a Zombie.

The loose rounds I have will get shot up and the cans will stay sealed.

I'll let you know how it goes. Maybe post a spatula video.

[TRICKSTER]

Major case failure with that old ammo will launch that Steyr straight pull bolt straight back into your eye socket.

At least that is what I was told at a gun store.

[Marcus von W.]

Good, hard-hitting ammo. Rather collectable, but sometimes the most available and affordable ammo for these rifles. Vicious recoil in the M.95 carbine. It's not something that most normal, sane, folks want to shoot a lot of.

[OHOD]

Good, hard-hitting ammo. Rather collectable, but sometimes the most available and affordable ammo for these rifles. Vicious recoil in the M.95 carbine. It's not something that most normal, sane, folks want to shoot a lot of.

Exactly.
I have about 20 boxes of Nazi ammo dated 1938, all packed away nice and safe. On occasion I will sell a box or so to folks that need the clips.
This ammunition is pretty good. About a year and a half ago when Bruceflinch set up a range shoot, I brought all my C&R's. We shot about 4 boxes of the Nazi ammo out of my M95 and I only got to shoot 1-round as I let all the shooters take a couple of shots.

As for the Hungarian. I gave 150 rounds with one of my M95's when I sold it. I've shot about 25 rounds from the Hungarian ammo box without any problems. In fact, I'm going to the range with some this weekend.

It's nice to have a ton of 8x56r.

[JAGGUY]

Good, hard-hitting ammo. Rather collectable, but sometimes the most available and affordable ammo for these rifles. Vicious recoil in the M.95 carbine. It's not something that most normal, sane, folks want to shoot a lot of.

Pretty much this...

I started reloading for this a few years ago and being able to shoot less harsh loads makes the carbine a fun shooter.
Shooting cast is really a lot of fun and super cheap if you cast your own.

[6mmintl]

Don't shoot it!

Roll your own with Lee's 8x56R die set and .329-205 grain Gas Check bullet mold and .329 push thru sizer.

[knucklehead0202]

pretty much answered, stow the 38 stuff, shoot the 39. all that old 8x56 is fire-breathing stuff! I quit shooting my surplus so I could save it and have been reloading with prvi brass and bullets with the lee dies. haven't come up with a good load yet but i'm working on it. I understand 4895 is a good powder to use, or 3031. problem is I don't have either of those anybody else have issues with only certain clips fitting their m95? I have about 40 clips but only 2 fit smoothly through my rifle. the other ones get stuck in there. weird.

[DennisCA]

Exactly.
I have about 20 boxes of Nazi ammo dated 1938, all packed away nice and safe. On occasion I will sell a box or so to folks that need the clips.
This ammunition is pretty good. About a year and a half ago when Bruceflinch set up a range shoot, I brought all my C&R's. We shot about 4 boxes of the Nazi ammo out of my M95 and I only got to shoot 1-round as I let all the shooters take a couple of shots.

As for the Hungarian. I gave 150 rounds with one of my M95's when I sold it. I've shot about 25 rounds from the Hungarian ammo box without any problems. In fact, I'm going to the range with some this weekend.

It's nice to have a ton of 8x56r.

Warning: Your shoulder is going to hate you the next day!!!

[knucklehead0202]

yes, it'll beat the crap out of you, which is why I like old carbines. if I don't feel like I fell down a flight of stairs, I didn't go shooting.