Headstamp on 7.62X39 ammo

Larzman

March 18, 2003 10:48

Was just wondering if anyone could tell me what the headstamp on 7.62X39 ammo (headstamp on any ammo is cool but was more interested in 7.62 ammo), I'm pretty sure the # on the bottom is year of manufacture...is the # on top where it was made or like a month/date type of thing or what? Example 311 on top and 92 on bottom of headstamp...the ammo is the Chinese military stuff and some early Norinco ammo that I was wondering about.

Thanks for any/all information!

Larzman

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  rufe-snow

  March 18, 2003 12:28

  http://www.ak-47.net/ammo/headstamps.html

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  hulvin

  March 18, 2003 12:29

  All communist countries used to have military factory code, just like 311, so that the origin of ammo manufacturer is not known.
  Cartridge collectors (like me) know how to identify cartridges by its code.
  There are a few highly specialized books which help military and forensic people (again like me) to identify any cartridge by its headstamp.
  Regards.
  Hulvin

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  Iconoclast

  March 18, 2003 12:35

  Hey rufe, thanks for posting that url!!! Nice reference material I didn't have before.
  
  Larzman, welcome to the board. rufe gave you the specifics you sought. Typically (95% of the time at least), the headstamp identifies the location where the ammo was loaded and the year of mfg. The month, or at least the quarter, of the year was also indicated in most cases in the 1800s. This portion of the practice became less common as the 20th century progressed had pretty well died out by 1960 +/-.

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  Larzman

  March 18, 2003 14:01

  Thanks Rufe...that was just what I was looking for!! Thanks for the info everyone!!!
  
  Larzman

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