7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm Cartridge Identification Guide The most important information used to determine the origin of a cartridge is found at the base of the cartridge case. At that location will be found what is called the headstamp, which is placed there by what is called a bunter during the series of draws made by dies that form the cartridge case through several distinct stages. The information usually, but not always, found around the primer) and the case mouth or projectile sealant, if present, can also indicate the origin. For example, the primer annulus and case mouth sealant from the arsenal in Yugoslavia are a distinctive red: ‘orange used by no other manufacturer. The color tip of| a bullet can indicate the type of projectile—such as ball, tracer, armor-piercing incendiary, or incendiary tracert on the headstamp indicates the arsenal of manufacture, the year of manufacture (usually just the last two digits), and the caliber. This information is most often ‘embossed into the head of the case, but sometimes, such as on Russian caliber 7.62x54R cases, it will be found as raised letters and numerals, ‘There are other characteristics that can help us determine the origin of a cartridge. The nature of the case itself is useful, as it can be made of brass, copper: washed steel, brass-washed steel, or lacquered steel ‘The color and type of the primer annulus (the sealer TAVPEN MOA eC 9 —and sometimes also the origin. Below is @ detailed list of this data, found on hundreds of cartridges in the calibers 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm, ‘The abbreviations used inthe lstare: CW! pper- ‘washed steel case, BrWS = brass-washed steel case, BRS = brass case, LSC ‘mouth, OD projectile sealant, pro} HP = hollowpoint, SP incendiary, and T= incendiary tracer. lacquered steel case, cm live drab, ann = primer annulus, seal = ojectile, RN = roundnose, ft point, API = armor-piercing. case | FACTORY CODE-HEADSTAMP | OTHER FEATURES TYPE HP *7,62139 green, red or purple; ann; BRS or OD LSC ball FN with 70, 76, of 77 purple or no ann; BRS ball (CBC or MRP with 7.62x39 purple ann; BRS ball and sometimes a date 10 with dates from 57 to 94 red or no ann; LSC; green tip for tracer various 13 with dates from 81to 87 ted ann and seal; CWS ball Czechoslovakia 2V, bxn or aym from 54 to 87 black primer; grey LSC fluted-case dummies; | various green tip for tracer East Germany (04 or 05 dates from 62 to 88 no ann, purple or red ann OD LSC; green tip | various for tracer Egypt mostly 27, but also 03 39; dates | red or purple ann; BRS blackired tip for API, | various from 59 to 90 green tip for tracer Finland mostly VPT, but also PT, LAPUA, SO, | no ann; BRS; numerous plastic training rounds; | various SAKO or 539 white tip for tracer Hungary 21 oF 23; dates from 60 to 88 red or no ann; grey LSC blackired tip for API, | various green tip for tracer Iraq (Arabic script) (69) ‘no ann; BRS ball Israel IMI 7.62x39 ‘no ann; BRS ball or SP Netherlands NWM7.62x38 59 date black or red ann, BRS ballCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN | FACTORY CODE-HEADSTAMP —_| OTHER FEATURES TYPE North Korea 93 or Korean script dates from | no ann; CWS; green tip for tracer various 74 to 85 Norway No markings colored plastic bodies wialuminum projectiles | blank Peru FAME 7.62x39 green ann; BRS ball Poland 21 or 343 with inverted dates from | no or red ann; OD LSC ball 57 to 82 Portugal 7.62x39 FNM with 2-digit date green ann; BRS ball and -1 or -2 People’s Republic of China numerous arsenals: 31, 51, 61, 71, 81, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 201, 301, 311, 321, 341, 351, 391, 501, 601, 651, 661, 671, 811,921, 946, 948, 964, 6201, 6202, 6203, 9121, 9141 and 7.62X39_CNIC green or red ann; red proj seal; CWS or green LSC; black tip for API; green tip for tracer; many dummy training rounds with black plastic bullets various Romania RP R 22, 22, 323, 32, 324, 325 with | red proj seal and red or green ann, grey LSC 2digit year date, or no code with | with green tip for tracer date only South Africa 12 or 13 with 87 or 88 date red or no ann; BRS ball South Korea PMC 7.62X39MM_ red or no ann; BRS ball Sweden NORMA 7.62X39 no ann; BRS ball Syria 39x7.62 or 7.6239 *64 red or purple proj seal/ann; BRS ball *(64 to 80) United States none, L C7 1, MIDWAY 7.62X39, red ann; BRS ball FC 7.62 x 39,R - P 7.62X 39mm 101, bxn 53 1 (reworked 7.62x45mm - T.C.C.1.), WCC 7.62 X 39, WINCHESTER 7.62 x 39 USSR ‘numerous arsenals: 3, 17, 60, 270, | red proj seal and ann; mostly CWS, some green | various 539, 711, dates from 51 to 93 LSC; black/red tip for API, green tip for tracer [sometimes in Cyrillic] West Germany none or 01 71 green ann; BRS ball Yugoslavia ‘nny (Cyrillic with 4-digit date), red-orange ann, occasionally violet ann; various IK with 2-digit date, NK (Cyrillic | green tip for tracer; BRS or grey LSC with 4-digit date) VEST Me ataT (0-03 Bulgaria 10 with 2-digit dates in the 80s red proj seal and ann; LSC ball East Germany (05 with 2-digit dates in the 80s | red proj seal and ann; LSC; green tip for tracer, | various white plastic bullet for gallery round West Germany RWS 215 no ar SC JHP- Romania 323 with 2-digit dates in the 80s __| red proj seal and ann; LSC ball US.S.R. numerous arsenals: 3, 17, 60,270 | red proj seal and ann; LSC; green tip for tracer | various 76 to mid 90s, and white plastic bullet for gallery round There are undoubtedly omissions and anomalies with any list of this type, which must be continuously revised and updated. Nevertheless, most 7.62x39mm and 5.45%39mm cartidges can be identified by matching their salient characteristics with the rounds on this chat.