Zinc, boxes, cartridges, grenades. Ammunition containers of the Russian (Soviet) army How many cartridges in zinc 5.45 39

27.10.2019

Designations on the covers of die-rolled iron boxes of the so-called "zinc"

Cartridges 7.62x39 are packed in packs of 20 pieces, packs are packed in zinc packs of 33 packs or in stamped boxes of 35 packs. The total number of cartridges in zinc is 660 pieces, and in a stamped metal box - 700 pieces. Two zincs are placed in a wooden box along with a zinc/stamped box opener. In 1960, it was decided to switch from a galvanized steel box to a welded-rolled steel box, as a result of which the dimensions of the box itself and its capacity changed. Cartridges in an iron brass sleeve of early releases were packed in packs, on which there was a designation of the type of cartridge, caliber and number of pieces in the pack. On the zinc cover it was indicated: 7.62 PS gzh (cartridge with a steel core, iron sleeve). Later, it was decided not to put symbols on the packs at all. In 1952, the production of bimetallic sleeves was launched to replace the brass-plated iron sleeves, and starting from the 1960s. - lacquered steel. Cartridges in a steel lacquered sleeve had the designation 7.62 PS gs.

From left to right:
- A cartridge with an iron brass sleeve.
- A cartridge with an iron bimetallic sleeve.
- A cartridge with an iron bimetallic sleeve and a lacquer coating on the joint of the bullet and on the primer.
- A cartridge with an experienced aluminum sleeve.
- Cartridge with lacquered steel sleeve.

Designations on the lid of the box with tracer cartridges (T-45)

Following the created cartridge with a bullet with a steel core, a cartridge with a tracer bullet was designed. So, in the period from 1949 to 1951, the cartridges, which had the designation T-45, were first produced in brass-plated steel cases, and then there was a transition to production in bimetallic steel varnished cases. In 1973, employees of TsNIITOCHMASH, under the guidance of designer Sabelnikov, upgraded an existing cartridge with a tracer bullet.

Digged zinc cartridges 7.62 x 39

In the Soviet armed forces, the packaging of cartridges is standardly carried out according to the system: box-zinc-pack. The main element of capping is a hermetically sealed metal box (colloquially - "cartridge zinc"). In ancient times, boxes made of galvanized iron (soldered) were really used, but they were abandoned in the 1960s in favor of iron welded-sunset, painted with protective enamel (index 57-I-004 and 57-I-004Sh, were used until the middle of 1970 -s), and then integrally stamped. Modern cartridge zinc (index 57-I-0461) - stamped from mild steel and enamelled. Dimensions: 357x156x103 mm, weight 0.9 kg. This type of box is the same for all calibers of small arms, and the number of cartridges they can hold is different. Americans call such cartridge boxes "spam cans" ("tin cans").

Opened box, zinc and a pack of cartridges 7.62-mm arr. 1943 with PS bullets manufactured by the Klimovsky stamping plant

Wooden boxes act as transport and storage (external) containers. Two zinc are placed in each box. Cartridge boxes are made from sawn softwood, except for the bottom and lid, which are made from fibreboard. The lid of the box is hinged and is attached to its body with metal fittings. In addition, the box has two wooden carrying handles. Until 1979, cartridge boxes were made entirely, including the bottom and lid, of wood with the lid fastened to the box body with screws.

The dimensions of a standard cartridge box (index 57-I-005) are 488x350x163 mm, the weight of an empty box varies between 3.6-4.0 kg. The difference between the gross and net weight of the box (the total weight of the contained cartridges) is approximately 7 kg. In addition to the metal boxes themselves with cartridges, a special knife is also placed in the box to open them. In boxes with a lid made of fiberboard, the knife is placed in a slot on the inside of the end wall of the box, and with a lid made of wood - in the corresponding slot on the inside of the lid. The sealed cartridge box is tightly covered (tied) with steel packing tape. The ends of the tape are connected mechanically with sealing or welding.

1 - boxes of cartridges 7.62 mm arr. 1943 with PS bullets, old version with a plank cover;

2 - box of 7.62 mm rifle cartridges with LPS bullets, old, used until 1990, version of the marking on the lid (gross weight and transport sign - the number "2" in a triangle);

3 - a box of cartridges 5.45 PS (7N6);

4 - a box of cartridges 7.62 PS (7N1), export marking on the lid.

The inner containers are cardboard boxes or paper bags with cartridges (in the text of the article they will also be referred to as "packs", not to be confused with a "pack", that is, a "pack loading clip", for a Garand rifle), placed in a metal box. For the convenience of extraction from zinc, a fabric tape is laid under one of the packs of each row, the ends of which are brought to the surface. Cartridge container marking consists of inscriptions, signs and colored distinctive stripes; applied by stenciling, stamping, typography or a special marking machine.

Now specifically for calibers. Military ammunition 7.62x54 mm R is packed in packs with a capacity of 20 rounds. For a long time, unpainted cardboard was used as the material for packs. Later, rolls of waxed paper, stapled on the sides, also began to be used. 22 packs are placed in zinc, a total of 440 rounds.

Opening zinc with cartridges using the included knife

Packs of cartridges 7.62 PS (7N1), cardboard (left) and paper

Cartridges of increased accuracy 7.62 PS (7N1) have a distinctive inscription "Sniper" on the packaging, and cartridges 7.62 SNB (7N14) - the inscription "Sniper" and a black stripe. Cartridges 7.62 LPS (57-N-223S) until 1977 were marked with a white stripe on the cartridge container, the bullet nose was also painted white, but later this color marking was no longer used.

For ammunition for weapons of 7.62x39 mm caliber, designated in the Soviet army as "7.62 mm cartridge of the 1943 model", two standard capping options appear in the instructions for small arms: for the Kalashnikov assault rifle - in cardboard boxes of 20 pieces, 33 boxes in zinc, 660 rounds in total; and for the SKS carbine - in clips of 10 rounds, two equipped clips are placed in a flat oblong cardboard box, 23 boxes in zinc, a total of 460 rounds.

Old galvanized cartridge box from under 7.62-mm cartridges mod. 1943 with BZ bullets. Above - close-up of the markings on the lid of the box

Metal boxes with cartridges of caliber 7.62x39 mm:
1 - armor-piercing 7.62 BP; 2 - with a subsonic bullet 7.62 US;
3, 4 - commercial with a jacketed bullet with a lead core.

However, the actual zinc capacity of this caliber ammunition varies. The most common figures are: 700 shell 7.62 PS gzh, 720 armor-piercing 7.62 BP and 640 commercial sports and hunting cartridges. The explanation seems to lie in the fact that the capacity of zinc (660 rounds) given in the NSD for the Kalashnikov assault rifle is correct for the old galvanized box (57-Ya-002) and the corresponding cardboard pack of the 1950s sample, while the dimensions of the modern container have become somewhat different. The distinctive marking of armor-piercing cartridges 7.62 BP (7N23) is a black stripe on the package, and cartridges 7.62 US with a subsonic bullet (57-N-231U) are a black and green stripe. Abbreviation "L.C.B." on export zinc with sporting and hunting cartridges stands for "lead core bullet" (a bullet with a lead core), since bullets with a steel core are prohibited for hunting in some jurisdictions, and in some even for use by civilians.

Packing cartridges 7.62-mm sample 1943in clips for SKS carbine

Cardboard packs for 20 cartridges 7.62x39 mm of different years of production. Left - 1950s (for galvanized metal box with a capacity of 660 rounds), center and right - 1960s and 1970/80s (for stamped metal boxes with a capacity of 700 rounds)

The packing capacity of 5.45x39 mm cartridges was immediately made a multiple of the capacity of a standard automatic magazine - 30 rounds. Cartridges were originally packaged in cardboard boxes, but switched to a simplified stapled paper wrapper in the mid-1970s. 36 packs with a total of 1080 cartridges fit into a metal box. An unusual feature is the deviation from the standard marking scheme for small ammunition that took place for this caliber until 1982: on all types of cartridge containers, the designation of the type of cartridge case was applied before the designation of the bullet type, and not after. For example, for cartridges 5.45 PS (7N6) - "5.45 gs PS"; starting in 1982, the marking began to be written in the standard order "5.45 PS gs".

1 - a box of live ammunition caliber 9x18 mm PM;
2 - boxes of commercial cartridges of the same caliber;
3 - a box of commercial cartridges 9x18 mm PM with an expansive bullet manufactured by the Novosibirsk Cartridge Plant;
4 - a box of live ammunition 9x19 mm PS (7N21).

Cartridges for the 9x18 mm Makarov pistol are packed in cardboard boxes of 16 rounds, which corresponds to the capacity of two pistol magazines. 80 such boxes are placed in zinc, for a total of 1260 rounds. A rather unusual oblong shape has a box of 9x19 mm PS (7N21) cartridges intended for the Yarygin pistol. It holds 34 cartridges, 32 such boxes fit into zinc.

Summary data on the capacity of cartridge containers of various calibers are given in table 1:

Table 1

Notes:

1. The data are valid for cartridge containers of the 1950s model.

2. Each zinc with 7.62 US cartridges contains three spare obturators for the muffler.

3. Modern capping of cartridges 7.62x39 mm PS.

4. In the game, due to the lack of photos of such a pack, a 20-cartridge box of 7.62x39 mm BP cartridges is implemented.

5. LCB - sports and hunting cartridge with a bullet with a lead core.

Marking on the packaging with cartridges is applied: on a wooden box - on the lid and on one side wall; on a metal box - on the lid; on a moisture-proof package on the longitudinal sides of the package; on a cardboard box or paper bag - on one side of the box or bag. An example of marking on a zinc cover (cartridges 7.62 LPS):

7.62 LPS gzh (7.62 - cartridge caliber, LPS - light bullet with a steel core, GZh - bimetallic sleeve), L54-77-188 (L54 - batch number, 77 - batch production year, 188 - plant number (Novosibirsk low-voltage equipment plant)), VT92 / 77S (VT - brand of gunpowder (rifle gunpowder for a heavy bullet); 92 - a batch of gunpowder, 77 - the year of manufacture of gunpowder, C - gunpowder manufacturer), 440 pcs. - the number of cartridges in zinc.

The marking on the side of the box contains similar elements. The cover indicates the gross weight, the conditional number of the dangerous goods in an equilateral triangle (for most types of cartridges these are the numbers "450", for cartridges with an MDZ bullet - "263", for blanks - "471") and the classification code of the transport hazard of the cargo "1.4 S " (code "1.4" according to GOST 19433-88 means "Explosive materials that do not pose a significant hazard"). The danger sign, characteristic of foreign cartridge containers, on an orange paper label is used only for 12.7- and 14.5-mm cartridges with an MDZ bullet. Until 1990, the stencil on the lid of the box had a slightly different look - the gross weight and the transport sign indicating the category of cargo were indicated (the number "2" in the triangle).

Marking on the lid of the cartridge box

For grenade launcher shots to an underbarrel grenade launcher, packaging elements that are similar, but differ in design and size, are used. Three welded-sunset metal boxes of 28 VOG-25 rounds in each are placed in a wooden box. In boxes, shots are stacked in cylindrical paper sleeves in a horizontal position with alternating directions. The density of stacking shots is provided by cardboard pads. In total, there are 84 shots in the box. VOG-25P grenade launcher shots in the same box fit 35 pieces with a vertical arrangement of shots laid with cardboard; accordingly, a total of 105 shots in a box are obtained. One of the three boxes is tied with twine for easy removal from the box. Inserts are placed inside each box to ensure the safety of the shots during transportation and opening the boxes with a knife. A box opener wrapped in paper is placed in a box. The lid of the box is attached to the body on two hinges and fixed with two locks.

For automatic cartridges of 7.62x39 mm and 5.45x39 mm calibers with lacquered steel cases, along with metal boxes, there is an alternative packaging method - in special moisture-proof bags, 120 pieces each. These bags are made of waterproof paper coated on the outside with a polyethylene terephthalate (lavsan) film, and on the inside, facing the cartridges, coated with a paraffin-polyisobutylene mixture. Inside the moisture-proof package, cartridge packs are laid in one or two rows, laid along the perimeter of the package with a lining of wrapping paper. The sealing of the moisture-proof package is carried out by welding the seams and bending the valves. In this case, the same wooden box is used as a transport and storage container, the inner surfaces of which are laid with waterproof paper coated on both sides or on one side with a paraffin-polyisobutylene mixture.

120-round 5.45x39mm moisture-proof packs

And for the AK-74, in order to facilitate and speed up the process of equipping the store, steel clips (the so-called "combs") for 15 rounds were introduced with an attached adapter - an accelerator loading ("spoon"). The solution was "peeped" by the Americans, who have been using similar loading accelerators for the M14 and M16 for many years. Later, similar kits appeared for weapons of other calibers, including for the VSS silent shooting complex - 10 rounds of 9x39 mm caliber in a clip.

Kit for quick reloading of AK-74 magazines and packs of 5.45x39 mm cartridges

Ammunition caliber 9x39 mm:

1 - equipped magazine and a clip of armor-piercing cartridges with an adapter - an accelerator of loading;

2 - boxes with SP-5 cartridges;

3 - boxes with cartridges SP-5 (far left), SP-6 and PAB-9.

A few words about expiration dates. According to the norms of the former USSR, the period of storage of ammunition for small arms in the central warehouses - in zinc and capping - is 20 years, after which they are distributed among departments for destruction (shot). Law enforcement agencies store 10 years, after which the cartridges must be replaced with new ones, and these are shot. Unpacked cartridges are stored for 4 years, after which they are subject to destruction (shoot). I don’t presume to judge whether and how strictly these standards have always been observed and how things are now, but I think that even with an optimistic approach, the period within which the cartridge, although it no longer fully corresponds in its parameters to a new product, is, with some reservations, suitable for use, should not exceed 40 years. However, on the weapons forums there are stories about firing from a TT pistol with cartridges of 1938 release and about the amazing accuracy of 1963 rifle cartridges that cannot be compared with modern commercial products. Alexey Potapov in the book "The Art of the Sniper" calls the shelf life of galvanized rifle cartridges 70-80 years real, without losing combat qualities. On the other hand, there are many cases of injuries to shooters and damage to weapons due to the use of expired ammunition ... With regard to cartridges for hunting rifled weapons, GOST 23128-78 establishes an expiration date (within which the cartridges retain all the parameters established by GOST and the probability of trouble-free operation not less than 99.7%) in sealed packaging - 10 years, in non-hermetic packaging - 2 years.

Lenin 25-06-2005 12:18

Please tell me what is the size of zinc (height, width, length), you are interested in a box with 5.45x39 automatic cartridges, its weight with cartridges, and the number of cartridges in it.

If not difficult, the same questions with ammunition 7.62x39

Very necessary
Thanks in advance

extractor 25-06-2005 05:05

Vladimir Ilyich!
Are you leaving for Razliv again?
With SW.extr,

MonGoL 26-06-2005 12:57

from the Handbook on Shooting: "cartridges model 1943 are sealed in wooden boxes. 2 hermetically sealed metal boxes of 660 parons each are placed in the boxes; cartridges in boxes are packed in cardboard packs of 20 rounds. In total, 1320 rounds are placed in the box.

about 5,45, then 1000 rounds seem to fit in zinc

taking into account the fact that the mass of the cartridge, g. 12.48 16.2 10.2, it is easy to obtain the weight of zinc ~ 15 kg.

ULD 27-06-2005 15:20

5.45 rounds in zinc 1080pcs.

1STALKER1 21-08-2005 02:04

In a box 5.45x39 2 zinc in total 2160 rounds. Zinc 1080 patr has a total of 36 magazines

slavko 25-08-2005 01:00

There are fewer tracers 5.45 in zinc.

1STALKER1 25-08-2005 14:32

ULD 26-08-2005 12:51

Not always.
Depends on packaging - if moisture-proof bags - yes. If ordinary paper packs - the same amount. In zinc with tracers, there is a hole closed with a rubber stopper to bleed gases that are released during long-term storage of the tracer composition.

1STALKER1 26-08-2005 20:13

Not always.
Depends on packaging - if moisture-proof bags - yes. If ordinary paper packs - the same amount. In zinc with tracers, there is a hole closed with a rubber stopper to bleed gases that are released during long-term storage of the tracer composition.

What are waterproof bags? Are these blocks of 120 pieces? are they waterproof? And what kind of gases are those that are released during long-term storage of the tracer composition? Cheto I didn’t see a cork there ... from which side is it ??

ULD 29-08-2005 16:21

Yes, 120 pieces, like milk bags - they are waterproof.

It's in the top left corner of the zinc cover.

Raven1 31-08-2005 08:02

quote: Originally posted by ULD:
...
Didn't you see the hole? Didn't look there
It's in the top left corner of the zinc cover.

Not on all zinc, but after a certain year of manufacture. When swelling is allowed, piercing with an awl, followed by embedding with plasticine.

Zinc - rolled up tin box, approx. 35 cm and width approx. 15 cm, painted with protective paint. The sizes of zinc for many cartridges are the same, only the number of cartridges in zinc changes. So, for example, 7.62-mm rifle-machine-gun, 7.62 and 5.45 automatic, 5.45 PSM and 9 PM fit into "zinc" of the same size. But if there are 660 7.62 machine guns, then 5.45 machine guns - 1080 pieces, 2160 in a box. The weight of the wooden box itself is 3 kg. 7.62x39 automatic - in a box 2 zinc 660 each, total 1320, box weight about 25 kg. Cartridge weight - 16.3 g; cartridge length - 56.0 mm; average bullet weight - 7.9 g; the average weight of a powder charge is 1.6 g or 1.56 g. 7.62x39 hunting - in zinc 440 pieces 7.62x39 also come not in zinc, but in plastic bags, 120 pieces in a package of 5.45x39 submachine guns - in zinc 36 packs of 30 pcs. in each Zinc - about 12 kg. Wooden box (two zinc) - about 30 kg. 7.62x51A Soviet - 220 cartridges in zinc, 440 in a box 7.62x54R Cartridge weight - 22 g; bullet weight - 9.6 g; charge weight - about 3.2 g; cartridge length - 77.16 mm; bullet length - 28.6 mm; sleeve length - 54.8 mm. Cartridges are packed in cardboard packs of 20 pieces, packs of 22 pieces are packed in galvanized metal boxes. Two metal boxes are stacked in a wooden ammo box. There are 880 rounds in a box. Estimated weight of the box is 25 kg. 5.45x18 - PSM 2016 pcs. in zinc SP-5 - 580 pcs. in zinc 9x18 PM Cartridge weight 9.2-10.4 g. Cartridge length 24.48-25.0 mm. Bullet weight 5.75-6.15 g. Number of cartridges in zinc - 1280 pcs. The number of cartridges in a wooden box - 2560 pcs. Estimated weight of the box is 28 kg. 9x19 7Н21 - 1088 pcs. in zinc Cartridge weight 9.6-9.8 g. Estimated zinc weight 11 kg. 9x19 Para - 50 rounds per pack, 16 packs in zinc, total 800. 800x12 grams = 10 kg, taking into account the weight of zinc. 308 Win - 20 rounds per pack, 25 packs in zinc, total 500. 500x24 grams = 12 kg. + zinc weight. 223 Rem - 20 cartridges per pack, 25 packs in zinc, total 500. 500x11 grams = 5.5 kg. + zinc weight 7.62x33 - (cartridges for M1 Carbine; not to be confused with cartridges for M1 Garand .30-06 Springfield (7.62v63 mm)) packed in cardboard packs of 50 pieces, and those in turn in a wooden box of 69 pcs, total in a box of 3450 rounds; box dimensions 41.5x32x12 cm, weight 51.3 kg, on the front side there is a diagonal red stripe. 11.43v23 - (.45 ACP) were packed as follows: 100 packs of 20 rounds, 2000 in total, in an iron box, and that in a wooden box measuring 41.5x32x12, weighing 48 kg; cartridges with a steel sleeve 12 packs of 50 cartridges in a cardboard box, 600 in total, two boxes in a wooden box, 1200 in total, box size 40.5x25x18; another option - 10 packs of 20 or 4 of 50 in a wooden box, dimensions and weight are not indicated. 9x39 Cartridge weight SP5 - 32.2 g, cartridge length - 56 mm, cartridge bullet length - 36 mm. Bullets of SP5 cartridges do not have a distinctive color. Only on corking cardboard boxes for 10 rounds was the inscription "Sniper". The length of the SP6 cartridge is 56 mm, the cartridge weight is 32.0 g, the bullet length is 41 mm, the bullet weight is 15.6 g, the core weight is 10.4 g. The tip of the bullet cartridge SP6 was painted black. The sealed cardboard boxes for these cartridges were marked with a distinctive black stripe. Later, after the appearance of 9-mm automatic cartridges with an armor-piercing bullet 7N12, the bullet tip of the SP6 cartridge began to turn blue.

Following up on the revision of ammo packs made in ARM5.1. In the first part of the publication, we will consider the principles and rules for capping cartridges for small arms in the USSR, Russia and some states of the former Warsaw Pact, in the second we will see how things are in America.

In the Russian and earlier in the Soviet armed forces, the packaging of cartridges is standardly carried out according to the system: box-zinc-pack. The main element of capping is a hermetically sealed metal box (colloquially - "cartridge zinc"). In ancient times, galvanized steel boxes (soldered) were really used, but they were abandoned in the 1960s in favor of welded-set ones (index 57-I-004 and 57-I-004Sh, were used until the mid-1970s), and then one-piece stamped, covered with paint. Modern cartridge zinc (index 57-I-0461) - stamped from low-carbon steel, painted in a protective color. Dimensions: 357x156x103 mm, weight 0.9 kg. This type of box is the same for all calibers of small arms, and the number of cartridges they can hold is different. Americans call such cartridge boxes "spam cans" ("tin cans").

Ammo boxes are implemented as "Items" in the game. On the context menu command "Print box" (via RMB), we get two zinc, each of which is an "AmmoBox" and contains the appropriate number of rounds, as well as an empty box suitable for storing and transporting items. The mechanism is not ideal, but it reflects the real state of affairs.

Summary data on the capacity of cartridge containers of various calibers are given in table 1:

Lid marking
ammo box

The design bureau of OAO "KBAL named after L.N. Koshkin" has developed a technological process for equipping cartridges in plastic clips and packaging in bags of multilayer polymer films. Pack capacity - 90 rounds. According to KB specialists, such capping should provide guaranteed storage of ammunition for 40 years. However, as can be assumed, at present it retains the status of an experimental one.

In the states of the Warsaw Pact, as well as China, the Soviet system of capping cartridges was copied and in many places it has been preserved now. The photo below shows cartridge boxes from Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and China. The greatest similarity is possessed by the Bulgarian cartridge container, which is marked in Cyrillic letters. Bulgarian products can be identified by the factory sign - the number "10" in a double circle. Link [ Uncrating Bulgarian 7.62x54R Ammo] you can watch a detailed video showing the opening of a box (an old model, with a wooden lid) and zinc with 7.62 LPS cartridges produced by the Friedrich Engels Machine-Building Plant (now Arsenal AD). Commercial ammunition intended for export abroad (in the photo below we see a box and boxes of FMJ LCB 7.62x39 mm cartridges packed in it) are marked in a foreign language.

Yugoslavia stands apart with its remarkable way of capping cartridges manufactured by the First Partizan plant. For this purpose, a wooden box is used, inside of which is enclosed a large box of galvanized tin, sealed on top (the Germans packed cartridges in the same way during the Second World War). Opening method - lift the lid of the box, pull out the wire (the tin breaks), bend it to the side, pull out the cardboard boxes with cartridges. The most common and well-known packages with cartridges M67 caliber 7.62x39 mm. There are two types of boxes: 15 rounds each (for the Zastava M70 assault rifle, the Yugoslav analogue of the AK) and 40 rounds in 10-round clips (for the M59 / 66A1 carbine, the Yugoslav analogue of the SKS). In the first version, 84 boxes are placed in a box, a total of 1260 cartridges, gross weight - 28 or 29 kg; in the second - 28 boxes, a total of 1120 rounds, gross weight - 27.5 kg. M30 cartridges of caliber 7.62x54 mm R are sealed in the same way: 15 cartridges per pack, 1200 per box, gross weight - 32 kg. However, such a method of capping, in which the outer container combines the properties of a box and zinc, is not Yugoslav know-how, since a similar method of packaging has been found in other countries, including, by the way, in Spain.
Note. The game features two variants of the Yugoslav M67 ammo crate. The first - for 1120 rounds, by command of the context menu, it breaks up into 28 cardboard boxes of 40 rounds each. An empty crate can be used to store items. The second - for 1260 rounds, is implemented as "AmmoBox", i.e. contains ammo. In ARM5.1, this is the only ammo box made in this way.

Another major "player" in the military surplus market is the Czech Republic. True, a few years ago this country lost its national cartridge production, since Sellier & Bellot was bought by the Brazilians and became part of the CBC holding. But during the time of Czechoslovakia's participation in the Warsaw Pact, live ammunition was produced in such a huge amount that now the Czech Republic regularly supplies all former "potential adversaries" with its "military surpluses". The Czech way of capping is similar to the Serbian one: also a wooden box with an enclosed tin box (pictured). Cartridges 7.62-43 are equipped in clips designed for quick loading of the SA Vz.58 assault rifle. Cardboard pack holds 3 clips of 10 rounds. Boxes are packed in dense polyethylene, ten in each block. Box capacity - 1200 rounds, gross weight - 28 kg or earlier 1120 rounds and 27 kg. Ammunition of caliber 7.62x54 mm R (in Czech - "7.62-59") was sealed in the same boxes: packs of 20 rounds, a box for 800 or 780 rounds, gross weight - 24 kg.

In some former people's democracies and ex-Soviet republics, they switched to packing cartridges in the German (in rubberized battle packs) or American (in M2A1 steel boxes) manner. For example, the production of the Lithuanian company Giraitės Ginkluotės Gamykla (GGG) is a waterproof package for 200 rounds of 7.62x51 mm caliber. It holds 10 cardboard packs of 20 cartridges; 5 such packages are packed in a wooden box, but the boxes are used in the old Soviet style. By the way, the same Serbs now also began to pack 200 pieces in "battle packs". And cartridges of caliber 5.56x45 mm are packed by Lithuanians in 1000 pieces in metal boxes M2A1.

In the original version of "7.62" there was no division of cartridges into military and commercial. It appeared in the "Arma Realista" mod. With the military, how they are actually packed is understandable. Now let's go through commercial. Here, the requirements for containers are softer, both in terms of tightness and standardization. Often, packs of cartridges are simply placed in cardboard boxes packed in polyethylene or even without it at all, and sealed with tape. The design of cartridge packs, made of cardboard in a typographical way, is characterized by bright colors and various design delights, which makes them strikingly different from discreet military packages. The standard capacity of commercial ammo boxes is 20 for rifle calibers and 50 for pistol calibers. Data on the weight indicators of cardboard boxes with cartridges are given in Table 2 using the products of the Tula Cartridge Plant as an example.

To fix pistol cartridges inside the box, a plastic or cardboard stand is usually used. The sizes of the packs vary significantly depending on the method and density of stacking cartridges. However, in general, boxes of Russian manufacturers are characterized by more modest pack sizes than those of popular foreign brands. It should also be noted here that the brands "Wolf" and "Bear" widely known abroad, the attributes of which were used by the designers of "Apeiron" for the models of Russian caliber cartridges in the game, including armor-piercing and special subsonic cartridges, are not Russian at all, but belong to American importing companies Sporting Supplies International, Inc. and DKG Trading Inc.

DKG imports products from the Barnaul and Ulyanovsk Cartridge Plants. Within the main Bear brand, there is a division into trademarks "Brown Bear" for cartridges with lacquered steel cases, "Silver Bear" for cartridges with galvanized cases, and "Golden Bear" for cartridges with brass-plated steel cases. The latter also met Serbian production. Sporting Supplies previously imported mainly ammunition from the Tula Ammunition Plant. However, at present, TPZ products are sold abroad under their own brand "Tulammo", and under the brand "Wolf" in the USA and Canada, since 2011, the products of the Lugansk and Barnaul cartridge factories have been operating, and recently Taiwanese-made "Golden Wolf" cartridges have appeared.

A significant volume of the commercial ammunition market abroad falls on cartridges of the "surplus" category, i.e. military cartridges from warehouse surpluses and / or with outgoing shelf life. Naturally, this applies only to conventional cartridges with a jacketed bullet, because. armor-piercing, incendiary, etc. for civilians, as a rule, are prohibited. Surplus cartridges are sold in standard military packaging (often with a very shabby appearance) or loose in any suitable container or sealed in tight plastic bags. In the domestic market, the active development of surpluses accumulated in the "bins of the Motherland" is hindered by domestic weapons legislation. So, in order to get illustrative material on the topic, it is better to google in the "language of a potential enemy": "Russian wooden ammo box" or "Russian ammo can" - the search engine will return many illustrations of Soviet cartridge containers of the 1960-1980s. But it will be ammunition with PS and LPS bullets. With photographic materials on the packaging of special cartridges, the situation is worse. And if photographs of boxes of incendiary and tracer ammunition are still more or less found, then for armor-piercing - extremely rarely. As a result, I failed to find proofs by the appearance of packs with cartridges 7N22, 7N23 and 7N26. By the way, this problem also applies to foreign ammunition, which we will talk about.

Website materials used: aimsurplus.com, akfiles.com, ak-info.ru, ar15.com, armslist.com, bulkammo.com, calguns.net, cheaperthandirt.com, cruzworlds.ru, etsy.com, falfiles. com, floridaconcealedcarry.com, forum.guns.ru, gspo.ru, gunauction.com, gunlistings.org, gunmag.com.ua, gunrf.ru, guns.allzip.org, gunsamerica.com, gunsua.net, hk94. com, kupsilla.ru, lveplant.ru, m1-garand-rifle.com, nastavleniya.ru, nnm.me, ohrana.ru, patronen.su, photoshooter.ru, pistonheads.com, popgun.ru, rkka.ru, sgammo.com, sgcusa.com, shootersrealm.com, sinodefenceforum.com, soldat61.ru, sportsmansguide.com, texasguntalk.com, the-armory.com, topwar.ru, vif2ne.ru, warrelics.eu, wikipedia.org, wolverinesupplies.com, xreferat.com, zhurnal.lib.ru, tula-patron.rf, 7.62x54r.net.

This material was written for informational support of the "Arma Realista" mod for the computer game "7.62".

Zinc, boxes, cartridges, grenades. Ammunition containers of the Russian (Soviet) army How many cartridges in zinc 5.45 39

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