…..or does anyone have a "link"(s) to Russian/Bulgarian ammo-crate/can markings they would like to share (?).

Also, why did the Russians only pack 870-rounds of 5.45x39mm in each can (?)….instead of the usual 1080-rounds (?).

TIA, RichardS
US Army, RET

 

I’ve never seen a tin of 870, I wonder if it’s in boxes that would make it so they couldn’t pack as much in there. I don’t know if any ammo that came on 5.45 strippers since they were not meant to be disposable. So top row is cartridge size, then first two letters are bullet type then last two are case type. Middle row you have production date (08-75) then factory 539 followed by the powder lot info. And qty on the bottom.

 

someone on this forum shared this image with me a good while back. unfortunately, I can't remember who it was, or I would give them credit.

 

The 870 round crates appeared shortly after the 7n6 ban was announced and the supply from distributors quickly dried up.

These are some of the earliest lots of ammo produced and as you can see on the can in the OP it was made in 1975 with powder made in 1974.

Distributors had set aside these crates as they did not have the usual 1080 rounds buyers were accustomed to.

These cans and crates have the ammo packed in actual boxes instead of paper wraps and the shape of the boxes take up a lot of extra space in the cans therefore they hold significantly less ammo.

When the supply of 7n6 dried up distributors dusted off these odd sized cans and people gladly bought them up due to the restricted supply.