Ammo question. help please

[mjlhenson84]

Ok so I was in the local gun shop this morning and in the bargain bin I notice some surplus ammo that I didn't recognize. two boxes and unmarked. So I ask the owner and he says they're 30-06 which I thought was weird since they kinda looked like my RUSSIAN 7.62/54 surplus ammo. but he said 20 bucks, and for 40 rounds of 30-06 that's not bad so I took a chance. Get home to compare and guess what? Not 30-06. should have followed my gut. good thing I checked. In the picture you'll see 7.62/54 on the left, your typical 30-06 on the right, and in the center is the mystery round. what is it? its definitely a surplus round so who better to ask than the surplus experts

Information

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[gsimmons]

7.9mm Mauser?

[Gun Surfer]

If you have a caliper or micrometer, check the diameter of the bullet. I think you will find that the 7.62x54 is .310 or .311 or close, while the mystery guest in the middle will probably be .323 or close as it looks like Romanian or other foreign steel cased 8mm (7.92) Mauser. What does the headstamp read? The gun dealer needs an education in correct identification before he gets someone injured. Perhaps a good way to reinforce the lesson would be in a return and refund.

[browningautorifle]

Yup, looks like 7.92 to me also.

[Skip]

Romanian 8MM.

[mjlhenson84]

heres the stampings. sorry for the poor quality. after some searching on google I believe 8mm of some variant is correct. on the top it has a 22 and on the bottom appears to be a 75. ill definitely be returning them tomorrow with a bit of information and a strong suggestion to do research on all his unknown ammo. if it was someone else then it could have resulted in them being seriously hurt. maybe I was ment to get these for a reason if only to educate him and prevent a tragedy.

[Parashooter]

If you hire the right lawyer, you could end up owning that shop!

[Gun Surfer]

Yeah, put some bandages on your eye and tell him you tried to shoot one, and now the clinic says you may never regain your sight. Just kidding.

Just FYI typically one number is the Warsaw Pact factory number and the other the date, I think Factory 22 was a Romanian factory code and made in year 1975.

[Skip]

I believe you would not be able to chamber a 7.92 in a 7.62 chamber.

[mjlhenson84]

Well just got back from returning the ammo. The owner didn't have much to say except for thanks for the info and his deepest apologies. He knows what could have happened. However, to kiss my rear a bit, he did make me a sweet deal on a golden state arms 1943 standard in .303 that I put in layaway. Got a few questions about that. But that's for another forum. Guess it all worked out in the end. Now he knows, I got a good deal on a rifle, and the main thing is now no one will get hurt by that particular ammo. Thanks guys for all your help.