Ok I'm not usually a "grassy knoll" kinda guy and I'm new to the 7.62x54r scene but lately, nearly every time I see a box of 54r thats not surplus, its steel cased and looks exactly like the cheap Brown Bear ammo:


Its almost as if other companies bought up a bunch of the BB stuff, washed it and repackaged it in their own box. Examples:







The only stuff that looks to be actual brass-cased ammo is Seller&Bellot and PRVI. So does all this steel case 54r come from one factory and just gets repackaged? I know this isn't the first time in history this has been done, lots of products get relabeled and sold with a specific company's name on it. I just want to avoid paying top dollar for say the hornady stuff when in fact, its Wolf or BB brand. Anyone have the inside track on this?

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"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself." -George Washington

I have noticed that as well,what threw me for a loop was the photo of the expensive Hornandy ammo in steel cases,I didn't expect to see that......Larry

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Once i get rid of this filthy "sleeping where it's warm and dry
and eating regularly habit",i'll have more money to spend on guns

Hornady put that line of ammo out to get cheaper match ammo accuracy. I didn't think it was very cheap, but I guess if you are competing all the time it's worth it.

H o r n a d y started importing primed steel cases. A couple years back. They use. Their own powder and bullets. They had a feature on guns & ammo tv..

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"The beatings will continue until morale improves -Management"

I think that a lot of it comes out of Russia and the EU and steel is what they use in that part of the world, I don't think that there's anything beyond that.

Most of the steel cased ammo is in 7.62x39 up here.

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K98, M-48, K31,P-14, No.4 mk 1*LB, M96, M38, TT-33, SVT-40, 2 x Tula SKS, Izhevsk M/N "beast"

I'm of the opinion that if I'm gonna spend that amount of money for factory loaded match ammo,it had better come with reloadable brass cases .......Larry

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Once i get rid of this filthy "sleeping where it's warm and dry
and eating regularly habit",i'll have more money to spend on guns

I hear what you're saying but there is a limited number of options for protecting steel cases from rust, so you will have a convergence of appearance regardless of manufacturer. I've got '90's era 762x39 from China that looks startlingly similar to "Wolf Polyformance" from 2005 - better than lacquer!

Regards,
Brian

I love the look of the Chinese copper washed cases. Wish we could get more here, and at the old prices...remember 1200 rounds for 99 bucks???

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"The beatings will continue until morale improves -Management"

Thanks for the replies Gents, especially yours, Charles. I missed the boat on the 1200 rounds for $99 but I'm buying up the 148gr Bulgarian surplus as much as I can. Although I have taken a break since prices have gone nuts, I'll resume once it calms down.

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"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself." -George Washington

Nothing wrong with steel and brown bear is very good ammo.
Most ammo is made overseas no matter what name is on it.

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This is so easy, If my dog had thumbs, He could do it!

U.S.N. Retired 1985-2005

From what I've heard lately,even Winchester is importing some calibers from overeas.I can deal with that to an extent,but it better be in boxer primed reloadable cases. I really like Privi ammo. Good sound brass to reload and accurate out of the box.Larry

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Once i get rid of this filthy "sleeping where it's warm and dry
and eating regularly habit",i'll have more money to spend on guns

You were getting ripped off. LOL. It used to be $80 in our neck of the woods. And it was steel cored with the stripper clips as well. Oh those were the days.
Thanks
JR

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Don't flinch, you'll miss.

How about 350 for your choice of wood stock or folder A k 47 w/ 3 mags , bayonet , cleaning kit , sling , And 1200 rounds of allowing ?

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"The beatings will continue until morale improves -Management"

That Romanian 8mm at $90 for two cans was a great deal !