Bogus Radway Green 7.62mm NATO?

[MGMike]

Did RG ever load 7.62 NATO ball in copper-washed steel cases?

I have some that I strongly suspect is of Chinese origin. It doesn't smell right.

The bullet jacket is plated steel, strongly magnetic. Headstamp: @ 12, 3, 6 & 9 o'clock: RG, 60, (Nato cross), L2A2. If rotated to 12'o'clock, the "L2A2" is upside down. Unfortunately the original packaging is absent.

M

[Lee Enfield]

Chinese, highly corrosive, they went so far as faking the packing slips, packets, and wooden cases.

Supposedly it was the ammo they sent with the faked US manufacterer marked M14's (2 known philipine shipments) which they gave to marxist revolutionaries in the late 60's early 70's.

At the same time they manufactured corrosive false coded (French if i recall) .30 M1 carbine ammo.

[MGMike]

I also have some brass-cased NATO with a different headstamp, at 12, 4 and 8 o'clock: (Nato cross), 88 and RG, with purple primer annulus, in white 20-rd boxes packed 240 rds to a clear plastic "brick", said to be RG ...but it looks fishy.

Thoughts?

M

[Brian Dick]

I think yours is legit British manufacture Mike. I bought several thousand rounds of it when it was cheap and cheerful. The Chinese counterfiet stuff is all in copper washed steel cases if memory serves. I think they did som &.62 with lake city headstamps too.

[green]

IIRC the Chinese CWS 30 Carb ctg had an LC hs.

[browningautorifle]

Can you show us some of the actual ammo Mike? You have a nice clear pic, one of several cartridges would be good...

[Lee Enfield]

I think yours is legit British manufacture Mike. I bought several thousand rounds of it when it was cheap and cheerful. The Chinese counterfiet stuff is all in copper washed steel cases if memory serves. I think they did som &.62 with lake city headstamps too.

Look for a tint (orangish or greenish i think) in the extractor cut, where it doesn't look right as a brass case.

If i can find the one in my collection i will post a photo.

Chinese 7.62 x 51 with RG 60 L2A2 headstamp? - General Ammunition Collector Discussion - International Ammunition Association Web Forum link to discussion in IAA forum
Counterfeit Radway Green? - M14 Forum

Help with 7.62 Nato Spam Can Contents - The FAL Files

Chinese 7.62 x 51 RG 60 L2A2 300rd Spam Can

[Bruce_in_Oz]

NEVER use this stuff in a SiG AMT.

It WILL damage the rifle, sooner rather than later.

Unlike MilSpec brass, the steel cases do not do the correct "grip and float" thing in the fluted chamber and will cause the bolt to unlock EARLY and violently. VERY NASTY

See also the dubious Bulgarian steel-cased stuff that occasionally pops up.



The Chinese stuff is OK in gas-operated or bolt-action rifles, HOWEVER, the primers are the most ludicrously corrosive I have encountered. A good way to find out how good your cleaning procedures are.