Eastern Bloc Ammo Color Codes and how to read ammo tins.

[AFJuvat]

Most of the eastern bloc followed Russian/Soviet marking practices, and adopted the same types of ammunition.

The following color codes are valid for all surplus ammunition from the former Warsaw Pact/Eastern Bloc countries that was made after WWII. Note that in some cases, ammunition that had a tip color at one point in production may not have it at another point in production. The information printed on the ammo tin is actually the best source of information as to what type of ammo it contains.

Most Eastern Bloc ammunition has at least a partial steel core. This was done to speed production and does not mean that all Eastern Bloc ammunition is armor piercing.

When Cyrillic characters that are different than English characters are used, annotations are given in Cyrillic, followed by English in parenthesis. Ex: ЛПC (LPS)

All Eastern Block surplus ammo should be considered corrosive unless specifically marked "Non-Corrosive"

5.45x39
(Color codes are a band above the case neck and/or on the tip of the bullet.)
Red Band - Armor Piercing: Mild steel core. Can marking БП (BP) Importation banned 2014 by ATF. Still readily available on open market.
Violet Band - Armor Piercing: Hardened steel core. Can marking БП (BP)
Red Band with Black Tip - Armor Piercing: Hardened steel dart in core. Can marking БП (BP)
Black Band - Armor Piercing: Tungsten Core. Can marking БП (BP)
Green Tip - Tracer: Can marking 7T3 or 7T3M
Black Tip over Green - Subsonic: Subsonic round. Can marking YC (US)

Typical 5.45x39 'Spam can'.



Top Row: Caliber and type
Bullet Caliber, Case Type, Bullet Type
5.45, ГС, ПС (5.45, GS, PS) 5.45x39, Lacquered Steel Case, Standard Bullet

Middle Row: Production Information
Lot Series Number, Year, Factory. Powder type, Powder Lot #/Powder year, Powder Factory
П63, 76, 270, Cф033фл, 215/76, M (P63, 76, 270, SF-033-FL 217/76, M)
Lot P63, 1976, Factory 270, Powder Type Sf033fl, Powder Lot 215, 1976, Factory M.

Third Row: Quantity
Quantity
1080 ШT (1080 ShT) (1080 Rounds)

7.62x39
Black Tip - Armor Piercing: Can marking БП (BP)
Green Tip - Tracer. Unknown Can Marking. Possibly T231

Most of the 7.62x39 spam cans imported to the US were marked in English. If you should happen to come across a 7.62x39 spam can that isn't, it probably looks like the one pictured below.

Note the can is marked 7.62x59. This was to avoid mixing the ammo up with 7.62x54r ammo.



First Row Caliber, Case Type, Bullet Type, Lot Number, Year
7.62x39-8, ГС, ПС, 649, 94 (7.62x39-8, GS, PS, 649, 94 (7.62x39 - 8 (Civilian), Lacquered Steel Case, Standard Bullet, Lot 649, 1994)

Second Row
Патроны Oхотничьи (Hunting Ammunition)

Third Row: Quantity, Powder Info,
660 ШT CCNф 30/3.97, 18/93, Б
(660 ShT, SSNf 30.3,97, 18/93, B
660 Rounds, SSNf powder 30/3.97 (Unknown marking: perhaps powder weight?), Lot 18/1993, Factory B (Barnaul)

7.62x54R
7.62x54R is now in its third century of use. It is the longest continuously produced ammunition in history. While once the standard Russian military round, it is still produced and issued today for use in sniper rifles as well as light machine guns.

Black Tip - Armor Piercing: WWII Only. Can marking Б-30 (B-30)
Black Tip - Armor Piercing: Current Production Can marking БП (BP)
Black Tip over Red - Armor Piercing/Incendiary Can marking Б-32 (B-32) or Б-32M (B-32M) Some availability in US.
Purple Tip over Red - Armor Piercing/Incendiary/Tracer. Can marking БЗТ (BZT)
Red Tip - Incendiary: Can marking varies depending on factory and year of manufacture. Could be ПЗ, ЗП, З (PZ, ZP, Z)
Green Tip - Tracer: Can marking varies depending on factory and year of manufacture. Could be T-46, T46M, T-46M1
Yellow Tip - Long Range Heavy Ball. 180 grain bullet, All lead core. Very accurate ammo if you can find it. Can marking Д (D).
Silver Tip - Light Bullet, Steel Core: 147 Grain, steel core. Can marking ЛПC (LPS) Note that this is a mild steel core, it is not and should not be considered Armor Piercing.
Yellow Tip over Silver - Heavy Ball, with steel core. Same as yellow tip, but with a steel core. Can marking ДПС (DPS).
No Tip Color - Identical to the silver tip. Can marking ЛПC (LPS)
No Tip Color - Can marked ПС (PS) with additional line under cartridge designation снайперские (for Sniper Rifles) 152 grain with a steel/lead core.

Common 7.62x54r Spam cans.

LPS bullets, with or without silver tips.

Without



Top Row (Caliber, Bullet type, Case type
7.62 ЛПC ГЖ (7.62, LPS, GZh)
7.62, Light ball, steel core, copper washed steel case

Middle Row: Lot, Year, Factory, Powder Type, Powder lot, year, factory.
K17-81-188 BT 33/81 C (K17-81-188 BT 33/81 S)
Lot K17, 1981, Factory 188, Powder type BT, Lot 33/1981, Factory S

Third Row: Quantity
440 ШT (440 ShT)
440 rounds

With



Top Row (Caliber, Bullet type, Case type
7.62 ЛПC ГЖ (7.62, LPS, GZh)
7.62, Light ball, steel core, copper washed steel case

Middle Row: Lot, Year, Factory, Powder Type, Powder lot, year, factory.
H21-73-188 Silver BT 33/81 C (K17-81-188 BT 57/72 S)
Lot H21, 1972, Factory 188, Silver Powder type BT, Lot 57/1972, Factory S

Third Row: Quantity
440 ШT (440 ShT)
440 rounds

D or DPS bullets



Not the best picture, but the only one I could find. Markings are essentially the same as above, Note the "Д" after the 7.62 as well as the yellow paint marking on the can.
Yellow/Silver tipped bullets are in cans that usually use non Cyrillic characters. Marking pattern is the same.

Sniper bullets.
These are meant for the 'Drugnov' SVD sniper rifles. The bullets weigh 152 grains, and have a lead/steel core.



Top Row: Caliber, Bullet Type, Case Type
7.62 ПC ГЖ (7.62, PS, GZh)
7.62 Sniper Bullet, copper washed steel case.

Second Row: Description
снайперские (for Sniper Rifles)

Note the third row does not have a factory code. All Sniper rounds came from factory 188. otherwise, the markings are identical to other spam cans.

Chinese:



Top row
Type 56 (7.62x39), 7.62 Regular, steel core. 550 rounds.

Middle row.
0145-31(Factory code), ('stick figure' symbol) on stripper clips

Third row
11-64 (manufacture date), (symbols)"2 metal tins per case", 11/xxx - 25 (Lot Number)