Originally Posted By T18B40:
The Russian stuff in the tin and paper bundles is steel cored ammo, if that makes a difference to anybody.

Originally Posted By Buffman_LT1:
B scale hardness steel core though. The more desirable 7N6 would be the "M" version in production late 91-92+ onward. Same core but hardened to 60C on the Rockwell scale.

Originally Posted By R2point0:
Interesting. I'll need to check my head stamps.

Originally Posted By 1Devildog:


Unfortunately, none of the "M" was imported. You will only find it in cartridge collections here in the US.

Originally Posted By Buffman_LT1:
I've come across quite a bit of 7n6M of the Bulgarian variety

Originally Posted By 1Devildog:


According to the European collectors I know who study Soviet and WP ammunition, only the USSR/Russia made the 7n6M. There are questions if they actually switched over to the M at all, as no confirmed examples are known.

The Bulgarian 5.45 surplus with '90 and '91 dates that came in were regular 7n6 pattern. If you have some with a confirmed, hardened core, I'd love to examine it for my collection.

Originally Posted By 1Devildog:
Fantastic information! With your permission, I'd like to share this with the cartridge collector community.

I'm sure it will be a revelation.

FWIW, I'm told all Soviet/Russian production dated 1987 and later is of the "M" variety. A Ukrainian soldier and ordnance expert I'm an acquaintance of has recently confirmed 1995 dated 7n6M.

Originally Posted By Buffman_LT1:
I've found most Bulgarian late 91 and 92 have the hardened core.

Headstamp 10/92
Bullet Weight: 53.5gr
Bullet Length: .996"
Core Weight: 22.2gr
Core Length: .598"
Core Diameter: .1625"
Hardness: 54/57 RHC (tested two spots)
Material Makeup:
1.00% Mn
98.76% FE
.032% MO


https://live.staticflickr.com/4284/35299208152_3d094ebc12_z.jpg5.45x39mm 7N6 by Buffman RANGE, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/4258/35465947355_fabab8c234_z.jpg5.45x39mm 7N6 by Buffman RANGE, on Flickr

Originally Posted By tac556:


@Buffman_LT1

Still sorting out my 7n6 and looking for 7n6M in the stash-
Any idea on how to tell early vs late '91 Circle 10 stuff from crate/tin markings?  All I can find is lot/year/plant and the type/lot/year for the powder.   Maybe by powder lot number?  (Low vs high, assuming they went in order?  Not that I can read the powder type anyhow).

Just trying to see it there is any way to tell vs testing some from each different lot I guess.  Looks like I have some '91 and '92 Circle 10 tins, plus a '93 as well.  All the rest is either older or late 70's various Soviet plants so I know they will be the regular 7n6.  

Also I do need to go check my range box and loaded mags to make sure I am not shooting up the better stuff while blasting paper!  

Then I have a couple small 40mm cans full of paper wrapped 30 rd bundles to check as well, but all of that likely will be earlier Soviet stuff, (though I certainly won't mind if some of the M variant got mixed in with it )

Also- almost forgot to ask 2 other things:

Have you done any testing on the 7n6 vs 7n6M performance wise?  

And you mentioned the hardness reading on the M stuff, any idea where the hardness of the regular stuff comes in at?  

Thanks for all the prior info, I was happy when I found stuff that appears to be the M variant!