Unknown 7.62x51mm Ammo

[Davidncf]

I came across a few roun ds of some 7.62x51mm ammo that I have not been able to identify where the ammo was produced. The casing has 3 markings on the bottm. They are:

a cyrllic letter that looks like a n (translates into a L)
a cryllic looking letter that looks like a K
a number of 7-72

There are no NATO markings on these rounds. The casings have some slight discoloration on them, like maybe the casings were stored in something with copper. The casings are brass, but I do not know if they are Berdan primed or not. Any ideas?

[f4tweet]

http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm

[FLIGHT762]

Could the letters be Hebrew?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_alphabet

In the 60' & 70's Israel made 7.62 MM ammo with Hebrew letters on the head stamp and date before they went to the IMI or TZZ head stamps. I Have a few rounds stashed away, but I'm not going to have access to them for a few more days.

[Davidncf]

Could be, I did find about 10 rund of IMI ammo marked with TZ made in 1975-78, I could check that as well.

[Davidncf]

Well I just checked the Hebrew, and I found that the 2 characters are Hebrew. The characters are Tav which looks like a n and Sadhe which looks like a K on its back.So I could say that it is safe to assume that the ammo was made in Jul 1972 possibly?

Thanks for the help.

[Davidncf]

Is this ammo any good to shoot, as in is it corrosive at all? And how is it on accuracy?

[FLIGHT762]

Yes, the ammo is good to shoot. Non corrosive.

[Triple R Munitions]

that is IMI ammo. non corrosive. boxer primed, non magnetic ammo. just watch for the double crimp grooves....

תצ 07-7

[Davidncf]

Triple R, the markings you posted were the same as I found on the casings I have, he only difference is that mine have a 7-72 on them, would that be the month and year they were made?

[Davidncf]

Well I did a little research, and it looks like everyone is avoiding any Israeli TZ ammo from the 1980's due to case failures and such. The other one, I am not sure of, I have not heard much bad about the 1972 Israeli ammo as of yet.

[Triple R Munitions]

7 means the month and the 72 is the year. wow...did not know that TZZ had a bad lot.... i just picked up a box of TZZ sniper ammo made in 2000. very clean looking ammo.

the color of the primer does not effect the ammo really, but i have noticed that the silver color primer will have the finish flake off and is prone to more misfire's then its cousin, the brass colored one. but that could be just a light strike on my end.... but besides that i would shoot it up! its great for reloading.

R

[753X0]

"Bad Ammo"

Well I did a little research, and it looks like everyone is avoiding any Israeli TZ ammo from the 1980's due to case failures and such. The other one, I am not sure of, I have not heard much bad about the 1972 Israeli ammo as of yet.

Yeah, the 80's was when they were blowing up Beretta 92F pistols with the TZZ 9MM, IIRC.