7.62 Brass

[SgtSki]

I have come across 7.62 Ammo with a head stamp that I'm not familiar with. It is stamped ZV at 12 o'clock 69 at 5 0'clock and 7.62 at 7 o'clock.
It also has a black colored primer. Any information as to origin and how it performs would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[psteinmayer]

I would guess foreign made... possibly Czech or some other bloc country. Are they annealed? Any markings like you describe means that they are military stock. I have a bunch of cases marked IK-72 and 7.62mm (Swiss I think), and they were pretty good accurate stuff... and completely reloadable. Have any been fired? Look in the case and see if there are two flash holes. If so, they are Berdan primed and not worth the effort to mess with. A single flash hole in the center is Boxer primed, and they may be reloadable.

[Major Tom]

Is it 308 brass? There is 7.62x39 brass for AKs.

[Dan Shapiro]

ZV = Sellier & Bellot, Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) Factory in Vlasim

[gwp]

I have a bunch of cases marked IK-72 and 7.62mm (Swiss I think), and they were pretty good accurate stuff... and completely reloadable.

That head stamp is for Igman Zavod that was manufactured in Yugoslavia.

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

Good site for head stamp codes.

http://cartridgecollectors.org/?page=headstampcodes

[Sunray]

Sellier & Bellot, Prague, Czechoslovakia is commercial ammo. cartridgecollectors.org is your friend. Good stuff if your rifle likes it.

[psteinmayer]

That head stamp is for Igman Zavod that was manufactured in Yugoslavia.

Ya know... now that you've said that, I do remember that it was Yugo! It was pretty good stuff though... Of course, it's all shot up now, but I do reload that brass occasionally.