Help with identifying the markings on a spam can of 7.62x54r

[VDW]

I bought this a while back while heavily medicated and I don?t know what it is, other than 7.62x54r. Any help with bullet weight/type, year of manufacture, and country of origin would be much appreciated.
80835

[Irving]

Looks like it says
762 <2AK> [T] MOD 53
OZ - 1 /88-3
COPE 440 111-3/124-85-3







You're welcome.

[VDW]

I appreciate your help, I can't make heads or tails of half the letters, let alone what they mean. The Russians use Cyrillic letters, so I'd be willing to bet some of those markings may not be what you think. This doesn't follow any of the markings templates I find when searching the internet.

[Irving]

I'm just being facetious, I have no idea what any of the numbers mean. Someone will come along that knows.

[.455_Hunter]

I am guess non-military, but special production for Cope's Distributing?

[ray1970]

Copenhagen, Denmark?

[VDW]

I am guess non-military, but special production for Cope's Distributing?

[ROFL1] Definitely not a special run for Cope's.

I believe it's Soviet era production. There is a red paint mark on the back side, which usually indicates incendiary, but I definitely don't remember ever seeing incendiary 54r ammo for sale by the spam can in the last 10 years. Also, there is the remnant of a sticker on the bottom that says "Made in Albania" in English, but I doubt that even was supposed to be there (though they did produce some 54r ammo there, I believe).

[VDW]

The 440 is the number of rounds in the can...standard amount.

[.455_Hunter]

[ROFL1] Definitely not a special run for Cope's.

I believe it's Soviet era production. There is a red paint mark on the back side, which usually indicates incendiary, but I definitely don't remember ever seeing incendiary 54r ammo for sale by the spam can in the last 10 years. Also, there is the remnant of a sticker on the bottom that says "Made in Albania" in English, but I doubt that even was supposed to be there (though they did produce some 54r ammo there, I believe).

If you say so. I have seen special runs for distributers before, but that doesn't mean this is something like that. If the 88 means 1988, then of course my theory is right out.

[VDW]

From what I can find, apparently it is Albanian, probably brass cased, but I don't know what any of the rest of the markings mean, including the year. You did have me looking to see if Wolf or Barnaul did a run in traditional spam cans...

[ray1970]

I ran a ton of Albanian 7.62x54 through my Nagant. It shot really well.

[VDW]

I'd be guessing, but I'd say either the 88-3 or the 86-2 is the year and date of manufacture. Based on some of the other Soviet spam can codes, one date may be the date of powder manufacture, and the other might be the assembly date. But again, this can does not follow the "standard" soviet spam can markings, and I can't find anything resembling this one other than a few old posts of people asking what they were. The answers were always "check out this post" where there are either a list of headstamps and their corresponding manufacturer or a link to the spam can markings post that doesn't cover this style at all.

[VDW]

Thanks Ray, that seems to be the consensus, although some people say the exact opposite.

[VDW]

Ray, do you have any idea if it was light or heavy ball? Apparently the heavy ball can tear up a PSL, and I assume a VEPR too?

[ray1970]

I don't want to lie to you but I believe it was a lighter projectile. Something like 147 ish if I recall. Been a while.

[XJ]

This is what I used when trying to identify markings on cans.

http://www.7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinAmmoID.htm

[CS1983]

Can marking discussion (same main markings as yours):
https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?769810-Origin-of-spam-can-of-7-62x54-ammo

Ammo discussion:
https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?455481-Albanian-7-62x54r-surplus-ammo-question

Sounds like Albanian and it's either going to be good or horrible, depending on how your rifle likes it.

ETA:

The Macedonians say it's awful.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52YOsjGINSc

[VDW]

Thanks CS1983 and XJ. I found both of those sites, but neither actually tells me what year, weight projectile, etc. without opening the crate and checking the headstamps, right? I also found:

https://m1-garand-rifle.com/mil-surplus-ammo.php

http://russianammo.org/russabb.jpg

Both are pretty good for decoding Soviet era spam cans, but not the Albanian cans?

[Gman]

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinAmmoID11.htm

Type 53 bullet (steel core light ball - 147-148gr). Will apparently do a number on steel targets.

Made in 1988 (88) in Albania (3)

[VDW]

Thanks Gman, I guess I missed that (3) was the code for the Albanian factory. Makes sense

[CS1983]

That ammo is older than AOC, an immigrant, and has a commie background. Do you think she'd still be in favor of banning it? :D

[VDW]

That ammo is older than AOC, an immigrant, and has a commie background. Do you think she'd still be in favor of banning it? :D

Good question...but it does apparently have a steel core (armor piercing - like all rifle ammo isn't), and it goes in an evil "military style" gun...so I'm going with - YES

[Gman]

"The Mosin Nagant is a WEAPON OF WAR!!!! Nobody needs that!"

"What, nobody needs 19th century technology for defense?"