Norinco Yellow Box 7.62x39mm Ammo Review

A review of Chinese made Norinco "yellow box" 7.62x39mm steel case, steel core ammo. This ammo is essentially a commercially packaged version of standard M43 ball ammo.

[@314299]

Note to my long term viewers/subscribers - If you think this looks familiar that's because it is a "reworked" version of an old video. For some reason, KZbin had problems with that one so I've edited it and here it is again. Your comments and ratings are appreciated as always.

[@BilltheCanadian]

I’d like to thank you, on behalf of other viewers and especially Canadians like myself. The censorship, imposed by both KZbin and our government, forcing you to “rework” videos to fit their agenda is really becoming a nuisance to all of us. Especially when your content is creative and informative. 314299 for Prime Minister!

[@reloader7sixtwo]

I was lucky enough to get several boxes of that ammo many years ago before importation of Chinese ammo was banned in the states. I remember back in the day when the LGS had all flavors of the Chinese ammo for $2 a box US. I have all mine in my rainy day stash, but it appears to shoot fairly well as combloc 7.62 × 39 ammo goes. Thanks for reposting the video.

[@314299]

We can still get some Norinco 7.62x39 up here, it now comes in red boxes but appears to be basically the same as this stuff. Currently the Norinco ammo sells for about $11 to $18 a box depending on quantity purchased and retailer.

[@reloader7sixtwo]

@@314299 I gave $4 a box for mine that I bought off a gentleman that had a case of it. I started reloading and casting for the 7.62 × 39 when I got my first SKS about twenty years ago,.I never wanted to be dependent on domestic or imported ammo.

[@donwyoming1936]

I remember back in the 1980s, my local gunshop had barrels full of Chinese 7.62X39 on clips. It was $1 per clip. The Chinese ammo in boxes was $2 box. We normally bought the ammo on clips.

[@314299]

@@donwyoming1936 The ammo on chargers was probably from a spam can.

[@thepatriotsrage661]

This Norinco M43 is still widely available in South Africa, I bought 100 rounds the other and am waiting for the next shipment, so I can buy a can. Easy to find, seems to be accurate enough out of my WUM-1 and definitely affordable at less than USD$.50 a round. Thanks for sharing the vid, very interesting!

[@314299]

Basically the same ammo as shown in the video is still sold here in Canada today but in a red box, and is just about the lowest price center fire ammo on the market.

[@wasntmeXYZ]

I purchased a 1000rd case of the silver / gray box NORINCO 7.62x39 back in the 90s for the very nice price of $99.00 dollars! I’m sad to say I’m down now to the last few boxes of this ammunition which performs flawlessly in all my weapons. Wish I would have bought a pallet of it.

[@314299]

That would have been the lead core stuff. Pretty good ammo and decent accuracy for low cost.

[@RUSTYSURPLUS]

WAS hello ..ya my boxes are SILVER too. I have 6 boxes left and there in my collector ammo can. I think i bought like 10 boxes back then for $2.29 a box at my gun shop way back in the 90's

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

The amount of this stuff I shot over the years would probably stagger me. A few years ago I came across 30 or so boxes at a local gun store for a few dollars a box and bought them on the spot. Nothing beats cheap blasting ammo.

[@314299]

Yeah, as long as it is still sure fire it would be worth buying at the right price.

[@AK-ns4mg]

So glad to watch your videos, since they are informative and calming

[@314299]

Thanks. Have a happy new year.

[@skiphinson8620]

Good to know. I have some of this ammo. It too is 91 and 92 head stamps and I recently shot some head stamped 89. The 89 head stamped had a few misfires and a few that were audibly noticeable to be weak. I was not running my chronograph at the time so I don’t have any numbers to report. I do have some silver box Norinco as well from the same general time period. This is ammo that my Pop accumulated back in the 80s and 90s when the SKS rifles were inexpensive and plentiful. I have two of those in fantastic condition. Next range trip with the SKS, I plan to use up most near all of this old ammo I have as I consider its quality to be somewhat questionable at this point. The ammo I have has always been stored properly and still looks great but of the two boxes I fired recently, there was a lot of weak sounding cartridges and a few misfires. Great video.

[@314299]

That is interesting to hear of your experiences with this ammo. All ammo has a shelf life and it is good to test some occasionally to see how well it is holding up. I have late 1960's Chinese surplus ammo that is still reliable.

[@slowhand1198]

Shot up the last of this decades ago. Still have a bit of the pre-Wolf Russian white box stuff though. Also not quite match grade, but at $89.00 a case was worth stocking up on.

[@314299]

I guess this was just about the cheapest center fire ammo you could get back then.

[@jordangouveia1863]

I bought a few thousand rounds of this for my Norinco MAK91 good ammo.

[@314299]

Good reliable stuff and about as accurate as any steel core ammo will be.

[@hailsland]

As I always say when it comes to corrosive vs "non- corrosive" ammunition; "Are you cleaning your rifle at some point in the next year?"

[@314299]

If I've fired corrosive ammo I clean them as soon as I get home.

[@alancoventry4406]

We used to get this for $1.50 a box back in the early 90's before billy jeff and the pantsuited beefdemon.

[@314299]

Wow that is cheap. Up here I dont think I ever saw it sold for less than $3.50 a box.

[@thorsaxe5881]

I remember quite clearly how inexpensive that ammunition was, however back then in the U.S. the economy was going through drastic changes, cost of basic living was reaching higher and higher. But, that ammunition provided a lower cost to going to the range that wouldn't pinch you too hard. Peace - Dave

[@314299]

It was inexpensive up here as well, but never as cheap as I've heard it was down south.

[@thorsaxe5881]

@@314299 Well, I hope that we all do better financially in the years ahead of us and that Go's for everything we need. you,, just like me are at that age or going to be that age soon where we will be on fixed incomes being retired. retired people are the real victims of inflation. Peace out Bro. - Dave

[@rogerjohnson8707]

I have boxes of this in the bright yellow box.

[@314299]

I assume that is the same stuff but in a less orange shade of yellow.

[@heinekenboy6901]

great video my friend

[@314299]

Thank you. I hope you have a good new year.

[@senorwilliams3969]

Were you in the military/armed forces? I only ask because my father, who was in the navy for several years, also only writes in all caps!

[@314299]

I was in the army reserves many years ago, but that's not where I got my habit of printing like I do.

[@coreylahey9309]

Good video

[@314299]

Thanks. Happy new year.

[@RUSTYSURPLUS]

Hello 314299 I have 6 boxes of that ammo and my boxes are silver in color. Do you know any thing about that ? THANKS for showing.

[@314299]

Does it look like the ammo in this video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4rIanqCe9J1ma8

[@RUSTYSURPLUS]

@@314299 Hello.... Mine is steel case but not copper washed. The rest of mine is going in my collector ammo can. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWisdpx3YpplbbMsi=U99-CxMwRbURbkz4

[@richardchapman6340]

Burnt through 1000s of rounds of that stuff .

[@314299]

Back in the day it was cheap and plentiful so I can see why you would.

[@richardchapman6340]

@314299 good memories, too 🙂

[@davidv.3135]

Cool!

[@314299]

Thanks. Happy new year.

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

I would like to know the diameter of it. I have some Norma tactical produced in 2021. That’s coming out at .310 but the bore on my Zpap m70 is .315 .316 . I did a chamber cast because I wasn’t getting very good accuracy.

[@314299]

The bullet diameter is shown at 6:22 in the video.

[@donwyoming1936]

The standard bullet diameter for 7.62X39 is .310". The Norma ammo I have is .311". But that's the largest diameter bullet I've ever found in any 7.62X39. Some Russian ammo runs as small as .3095".

[@314299]

@@donwyoming1936 Most I have measured was either .310" or .3105"

[@tonydiesel3444]

Very accurate 4 me primers are corrosive

[@314299]

Yes, while the box states "non corrosive" it lies, this stuff is corrosive.

[@ThorntonsWelding]

still shoot this in Canada

[@314299]

They still sell Norinco 7.62x39mm ball, but now it comes in a red box and is actually non corrosive.

[@ThorntonsWelding]

@@314299 Yep, I haven't seen any crates of it tho. Have you?

[@tonydiesel3444]

They hotttttt fast fps

[@314299]

This lot averaged 2333 fps which is not "hot" at all for the standard bullet weight used.

[@billy56081]

If I remember right, this was some stinky ammo to shoot.

[@314299]

I dont recall this stuff being especially smelly.

[@tonydiesel3444]

Will rust the barrel...... willlll

[@314299]

If you shoot these in a non chrome lined barrel it will indeed rust if left long enough, but a chrome lined barrel is unlikely to rust. Other parts of a semi like the gas port and gas cylinder will also rust if left uncleaned for a long enough period.

[@mikepsi1359]

Non corrosive... not : ).

[@314299]

9:23

[@AZ2KC]

Great video and detailed review. I sent you a Face book message with a question. If you have the time please review