Two weekends ago, at the Sixth Annual NE Bloggershoot, I opened up a tin of 440 rounds of Soviet made 7.62x54R ammo. First of all, let me say, I was amazed at how easily the can opened. It had what was a pull tab, I grabbed it with the pliers on a multi-purpose tool and gave a good yank and it opened right up - no problem. Then a few tugs on the lid, since the pull tab only opens up the very end of the lid, and the can was open more than enough to get the ammo out easily but with the lid left enough in place to be able to press it back down to prevent all the ammo from falling out if it got overturned. After opening the can, I had to wonder why it was the that Soviets ever changed to the 'spam' can type of tin that requires a can opener (or a strong knife or screwdriver) to open. Maybe too many of the easier to open cans were opened inadvertently when doing inventories of them in storage or when other wise moving and stacking them.
Another surprise, besides how easily the can opened, was that each packet of 20 rounds was individually wrapped in paper that was then tied with a piece of string around it. That they were wrapped in paper was not a surprise but that they looked like little dainty gifts because each packet was tied with string was pretty amusing and surprising. As for the ammo, it was copper washed, Berdan primed, corrosive ammo with steel core bullets that had the silver painted tips. We only shot at 25 yards but I have to say that I did well with it. I figure it is more accurate that later Soviet ammo I have used in my Hungarian Mosin Nagant M44 which is the rifle I was shooting them through. I was shooting standing, unsupported, and hit a hanging bowling pin on pretty much every shot I took at it. Since it was winging back and forth, and since the accuracy of the M44 has been pretty poor in the past with some other ammo, I was impressed.
If you can get it, I recommend it. I got mine sent to me accidentally when I ordered a newer production, 1970s, batch of the same caliber from an online ammo dealer. I figured I would have to return it but when I called it in to the dealer, he told me to keep it and also sent me the spam can full of the newer production ammo that I had actually ordered. I foresee having about another 360 shots of fun with this stuff since shot about 80 rounds of it at the Bloggershoot.
All the best,
Glenn B
