I think the days of cheap 7.62x54R are pretty much over. With various conflicts around the world and with the US blocking imports from Russia, the seemingly endless supply of spam cans of old Soviet bloc 7.62x54R has dried up.
Honestly, with the prices going where they are, I would probably consider switching over to the new made steel cased ammo, as it is non-corrosive. Save your barrels from pitting, especially since even Mosin's aren't cheap anymore.
I think the days of cheap 7.62x54R are pretty much over. With various conflicts around the world and with the US blocking imports from Russia, the seemingly endless supply of spam cans of old Soviet bloc 7.62x54R has dried up.
Honestly, with the prices going where they are, I would probably consider switching over to the new made steel cased ammo, as it is non-corrosive. Save your barrels from pitting, especially since even Mosin's aren't cheap anymore.
I always chase corrosive ammo with a handful of either steel or brass non-corrosive, then clean shortly after I finish shooting and I have never had a problem.
I use to do the same thing. But with the price of surplus now, I sold all mine off and started reloading.
And to think all they had to do was pay the guy that repacked it into cardboard boxes.Slightly off topic, but did anyone see the movie War Dogs? When they go into the warehouse in Albania stacked to the gills with crates of 7.62x39 spam cans from China, I think I just started salivating a bit (and the Albanian government was selling them for $.02 a round).
Too bad our government is too busy protecting us from the evils of cheap Soviet bloc/Chinese Communist guns and ammo. I remember shooting the Norinco made 7.62x39 ammo in the 90's. It was good stuff. It ran great in my Norinco NHM-91 and Chinese SKS. Those were the days, though. Cheap brass 5.56 from Israel, cheap .308 from Australia and South Africa, cheap 9mm from Egypt, cheap .303 surplus from World War II.
Does the US military destroy its surplus ammo or what?
If so, I wonder how much is destroyed per year. In a sensible government it would be funneled through the CMP.