LC52 Headstamp - Legit Lake City Ammo???

[SSgt's Son]

Read the article about corrosive Chinese .30 carbine ammo headstamped LC 52 in the Jan 09 Carbine Club newsletter - and noticed 550 rnds of ammo, headstamped "LC52" being sold on GB ("30 carbine 550 rounds lake city Auction # 125953241"). The headstamp isn't pictured, but the boxes do not appear to contain the manufacturer's name, and the printing is in blue ink (these are two points that were raised in the article as beingindicative of the phony LC ammo). I'm guessing that, even with a shortage of .20 cal ammo, this isn't worth taking the chance.

Any thoughts on this?

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[conductor]

The Chinese .30 carbine ammo is packed in thin cheap cardboard 50-round boxes that are rubber-stamped "7.62 MM". The cartridges are headstamped "LC 52". They are Berdan primed, and are as corrosive as battery acid. There is a lot of it around. At the last two Chantilly gun shows, Billy Printz was selling it, claiming it was Lake City GI ammo, although two people I know told him what it really was. I wouldn't buy it under any circumstances. If you have any doubt as to what it is, pull one of the bullets and check for the two flash holes in the base of the cartridge.

[ScottR]

Yes, that auction is the Chinese carbine ammo.

Scott

[Curt]

I think the real LC 52 ammo had primer sealant and the china stuff does not as well.

[Bruce McAskill]

The first thing to look for is the color of the primer. If it's brass colored it's most likely Chinese as most if not all USGI LC-52 were silver in color. The best way to tell is to pull a round and look for the amount of flash holes present in the bottom of the case. One is USGI and two in Chinese. The boxes are a give away as they are not even close to USGI boxes and the printing on them is rubber stamped as stated above.

[Vos Parate]

LC52 Ammo

[Mizzouboy]

To add to the confusion, Georgia Arms was, until a few months ago, selling ammo with LC 52 headstamps. It was good clean Boxer primed brass reloads with GI type ball bullets.

[stonewall56]

Was almost taken in at our local gun show last month. Fellow had three bandoleers of "LC 53" at $40 each, the bandoleers looked new and the primers were brass. It didn't look nor feel right and in the back of my mind I remembered an article regarding the fake Chinese ammo. I passed. Ordered some Aguilar from the CMP on Jan. 22 and got a hit on my credit card Friday. Hopefully it will come soon.

[SSgt's Son]

Thanks to all who commented.

It's obvious to me (now) that this is precisely the Chinese ammo that was mentioned in the Carbine Club newsletter.

I've been on GB, looking at other auctions - one seller had 250 rounds of "Lake City" up for sale. Four boxes of 50 each were in properly marked boxes (and all that proves is that the box is ok, not the ammo inside of it. One box of 50 was the blue-stamped box, likely with Chinese ammo.

Have also seen one seller, selling the same stuff, but at least he indicated that it was "berdan" primed. Of course, if you don't know what that means, and you don't clean your carbine, God help you...

[A. F Medic]

I am looking at a box of them right now. Blue stamped 7.62 MM LC. Light brown box and stapled at the sides.

I was given these and then I found out they were Chinese and shouldn't be fired. Information source said that these were made up to be used in the M1 Carbines that Victor Charlie captured.