How much does zinc weigh with cartridges? Live journal of Andrey Stadnik

Zinc - a rolled 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. For example, 7.62 mm rifle-machine guns, 7.62 and 5.45 machine guns, 5.45 PSM and 9 PM are placed in “zincs” of the same size. But if there are 660 7.62 machine guns, then 5.45 machine guns are 1080 pieces, 2160 in a box. The weight of the wooden box itself is 3 kg. 7.62x39 automatic - in a box there are 2 zinc pieces of 660 each, a total of 1320, the weight of the box is 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 each. in a package 5.45x39 automatic - in zinc 36 packs of 30 pcs. Zinc in each - about 12 kg. Wooden box (two zinc) - about 30 kg. 7.62x51A Soviet - 220 rounds 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. The cartridges are packed in cardboard packs of 20 pieces, packs of 22 pieces are packed in galvanized metal boxes. Two metal boxes are placed in a wooden cartridge box. The box contains 880 rounds. The estimated weight of the box is 25 kg. 5.45×18 - 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 is 2560 pcs. The estimated weight of the box is 28 kg. 9×19 7N21 - 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, if you take into account the weight of zinc. 308 Win - 20 rounds per pack, 25 packs in zinc, total 500. 500x24 grams = 12 kg . + weight of zinc.223 Rem - 20 rounds in a pack, 25 packs in zinc, total 500. 500×11 grams = 5.5 kg. + zinc weight 7.62x33 - (cartridges for M1 Carbine; not to be confused with cartridges for M1 Garand .30-06 Springfield (7.62x63 mm)) were packaged in cardboard packs of 50 pieces, and those, in turn, in a wooden box of 69 pcs, a total of 3450 cartridges in the box; box dimensions 41.5x32x12 cm, weight 51.3 kg, on the front side there is a diagonal red stripe. 11.43v23 - (.45 ACP) were packaged 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 steel sleeve 12 packs of 50 cartridges per 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 The weight of the SP5 cartridge is 32.2 g, the length of the cartridge is 56 mm, the length of the cartridge bullet is 36 mm. The bullets of SP5 cartridges do not have a distinctive color. Only on the corking cardboard boxes of 10 rounds was the inscription “Sniper” applied. SP6 cartridge length - 56 mm, cartridge weight - 32.0 g, bullet length 41 mm, bullet weight - 15.6 g, core weight - 10.4 g. The tip of the SP6 cartridge bullet was painted black. The sealed cardboard boxes for these cartridges were marked with a distinctive black stripe. Later, after the advent of 9-mm machine gun cartridges with the 7N12 armor-piercing bullet, the bullet tip of the SP6 cartridge began to turn blue.

Designations on the covers of stamped-rolled iron boxes of the so-called “zinc”

7.62x39 cartridges are packed in packs of 20 pcs., packs are packed in zinc 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 knife for opening zinc/stamped boxes. 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 packaged in packs, which had 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 they decided not to put any markings on the packs at all. In 1952, the production of bimetallic sleeves was launched to replace iron brass sleeves, and starting from the 1960s. - varnished steel. The cartridges in a varnished steel case were designated 7.62 PS gs.

From left to right: - Cartridge with an iron brass sleeve. — Cartridge with an iron bimetallic sleeve. — A cartridge with an iron bimetallic sleeve and a varnish coating on the bullet joint and on the capsule. — Cartridge with an experienced aluminum sleeve. — Cartridge with varnished steel sleeve.

Markings on the lid of a 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. Thus, in the period from 1949 to 1951, cartridges designated T-45 were first produced in brass-plated steel sleeves, and then there was a transition to production in bimetallic varnished steel sleeves. In 1973, employees of TsNIITOCHMASH, under the leadership of designer Sabelnikov, modernized the existing cartridge with a tracer bullet.

Dug zinc cartridges 7.62 x 39

Edited 11/6/2019

In the Russian, and earlier in the Soviet, armed forces, ammunition packaging is standardly carried out according to the system: box-zinc-pack. Ammunition containers that are foreign and not supplied to Russia are not considered in this article.

Cartridge (capping) box

The cartridges are delivered to warehouses and military units sealed in wooden boxes. Such containers serve as transport and storage containers and are used for storing and transporting these cartridges.

Each box contains two, under one of which a fabric tape is placed for easy removal.

Cartridge boxes are manufactured in accordance with GOST V 1806-75 (ST V SEV 0108-82) “Wooden boxes for small arms cartridges. Technical conditions." from coniferous trees (spruce, pine, fir, cedar), except for the bottom and lid, which are made of fiberboard. Since 1985, it has been allowed to make the side end walls of the box from larch lumber. The cover of the cartridge box is hinged and attached to its body using metal fittings. In addition, the box has two wooden handles for carrying. Until 1979, cartridge boxes were made entirely, including the bottom and lid, of wood with the lid attached to the body of the box with screws.

According to the GRAU index available to me, there are two types of cartridge boxes

57-Я-001
capping box (wooden) devil. 3-2822 "a", 4-2833. Application: 7.62 mm rifle cartridges 57-B-322 (7.62 B hl), 57-B-323 (7.62 B-30 gzh), 57-BZ-322 (7.62 B-32 hl ), 57-BZ-323 (7.62 B-32 gz), 7.62 B-32 gs, 57-BZT-322 (7.62 BZT gl), 57-BZT-323 (7.62 BZT gz) , 7.62 ZB-46 gzh, 7.62 BZT gs, 57-BT-322 (7.62 BT gl), 7.62 BT gzh, 57-D-422 (7.62 D gl), 57-D -423 (7.62 D gz), 7.62 D gs, 57-DD-322, 57-DD-323, 57-Z-322 (7.62 Z gl), 57-Z-323 (7.62 Z gzh), 57-ZP-322 (7.62 PZ gl), 57-ZP-323 (7.62 PZ gzh), 7.62 PZ gs, 57-N-321 (7.62 L gl), 57 -N-322 (7.62 L gl), 57-N-323 (7.62 L gz), 7.62 L gs, 57-N-323S (7.62 LPS gzh), 57-N-323S- 01 (7.62 LPS gs), 57-N-323U, 57-P-322 (7.62 P gs), 57-T-322 (7.62 T gs), 57-T-322 (7.62 T-46 gl), 57-T-323 (7.62 T-46 gzh), 7.62 T-46 gs, boxes 6-Ya-141, 6-Ya-153, 20 mm ShVAK cartridges
57-Я-005
- capping box (wooden). Application: 7.62 mm rifle cartridges 57-B-322 (7.62 B hl), 57-B-323 (7.62 B-30 gzh), 57-BZ-322 (7.62 B-32 hl ), 57-BZ-323 (7.62 B-32 gz), 7.62 B-32 gs, 57-BZT-322 (7.62 BZT gl), 57-BZT-323 (7.62 BZT gz) , 7.62 ZB-46 gzh, 7.62 BZT gs, 57-BT-322 (7.62 BT gl), 7.62 BT gzh, 57-D-422 (7.62 D gl), 57-D -423 (7.62 D gz), 7.62 D gs, 57-DD-322, 57-DD-323, 57-Z-322 (7.62 Z gl), 57-Z-323 (7.62 Z gzh), 57-ZP-322 (7.62 PZ gl), 57-ZP-323 (7.62 PZ gzh), 7.62 PZ gs, 57-N-321 (7.62 L gl), 57 -N-322 (7.62 L gl), 57-N-323 (7.62 L gz), 7.62 L gs, 57-N-323S (7.62 LPS gzh), 57-N-323S- 01 (7.62 LPS gs), 57-N-323U, 57-P-322 (7.62 P gs), 57-T-322 (7.62 T gs), 57-T-322 (7.62 T-46 gl), 57-T-323 (7.62 T-46 gzh), 7.62 T-46 gs

The dimensions of the cartridge box 57-Ya-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 cartridges contained) is approximately 7 kg.

Also, a special knife is inserted into the cartridge box to open the zinc. 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 in boxes with a lid made of wood - in the corresponding slot on the inside of the lid. The knife is placed with the cutting part inward.

The sealed cartridge box is tightly covered (tied) with steel packing tape. The ends of the tape are connected mechanically with sealing or welding.

Ammo box 5.45 PS (7N6)

Box of cartridges 7.62 PS (7N1), export marking on the lid

Marking of cartridge wooden box

Markings on a wooden cartridge box are applied to the lid and on one side wall.
The lid indicates the gross weight, the conventional number of the dangerous cargo 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 for the transport danger of the cargo "1.4 S" (code "1.4" according to GOST 19433-88 means "Explosive materials that do not pose a significant danger") .
The box with training cartridges is not marked with a cargo discharge sign or a dangerous cargo symbol number and a marking on the transport danger of the cargo. A danger sign or classification code characterizing the transport danger of the cargo in accordance with GOST 19433-88.
The danger sign is printed on a paper label measuring 50x50 mm, which is attached with glue to the lid of the box. The danger label applies only to 12.7 and 14.5 mm cartridges with the MDZ bullet. On the danger sign for these cartridges, according to GOST 19433-88, it is applied on an orange background: in the upper part there is an image of the danger symbol (black exploding bomb), and in the lower part there is a subclass number (1.2), compatibility group (F) and class number ( 1).

Until 1990, the stencil on the lid of the box had a slightly different appearance - the gross weight and a transport sign indicating the category of cargo were indicated (the number “2” in a triangle).

Applied on the side wall

cartridge designation
inscriptions “OBR.43”, “SNIPER”, “RIFLE”, “PISTOL”
batch number
year of manufacture (last two digits)
manufacturer's reference number
gunpowder lot marking
number of cartridges
number of seals (for 7.62 mm cartridges model 1943 with a bullet with reduced velocity US)
a sign or inscription characterizing the type of bullet and (or) cartridge.

You can read a little more about this in.

Site about weapons, weapons of all times and peoples, types of weapons

Unitary cartridges are delivered to military units sealed in wooden boxes, which are used for storing and transporting these cartridges. Transporting unitary cartridges without capping is strictly prohibited (excluding limbers and charging boxes, where unitary cartridges are transported in trays). Capping boxes for unitary cartridges are made of boards and fastened with iron squares for strength. The boxes are closed with lids using one or two cap hinges and turntables. Pinwheels with loops are fastened with wire. To open the box, you need to remove the wire and turn the turntable key into the loop slot. It is forbidden to hit the turntables with a hammer, as the impact may render the turntable unusable. Open boxes carefully. All loose closures must be retained as they must be returned to the military warehouse for reuse. For capping unitary cartridges for 76-mm guns of ground, tank and self-propelled artillery, there are four samples of capping boxes: 1. A new sample box for cartridges for divisional guns and regimental gun mod. 1927. Drawer length 770 mm, width 535 mm. Five cartridges are placed in the box with shells in one direction. The placement of cartridges in the box is shown in Fig. 144. 2. An old-style box for cartridges for divisional guns and regimental guns mod. 1927. Drawer length 785 mm, width 510 mm. Five cartridges are placed in the box with shells in different directions (three cartridges in one direction and two cartridges in the other). The placement of cartridges in the box is shown in Fig. 145. 3. Box for cartridges for mountain cannon mod. 1938. Drawer length 655 mm, width 545 mm. Five cartridges are placed in the box with shells in one direction. The placement of cartridges in the box is shown in Fig. 148. 4. Box for cartridges for mountain cannon mod. 1909. Drawer length 550 mm, width 498 mm. Five cartridges are placed in the box with shells in one direction. For capping unitary cartridges for regimental gun mod. 1943, boxes of cartridges are used for the regimental gun mod. 1927. In all boxes, cartridges are placed in special nests made of wooden inserts. Boxes with unitary cartridges are marked with black paint to identify cartridges. In Fig. 145 shows a sealed box with wartime markings. On the box were marked: on the front side in the middle - the caliber and model of the gun; name of the projectile with which the cartridge is assembled, number of cartridges in the box; ballistic marks of projectiles; cartridge assembly batch number; year of construction; number of the warehouse that carried out the assembly, and the weight of the box (gross). On the side there is the number of the equipment factory, the batch number, the year the projectile was equipped and the equipment code. In peacetime, the following markings are applied to the sealing boxes: on the front side in the middle - the caliber and model of the gun, the name of the projectile with which the cartridge is assembled, the number of cartridges in the box, the ballistic marks of the shells and the gross weight of the box; on the left side - the time of bringing the cartridges to their final loaded form, the brand of the head fuse with which the shells were equipped, and the warehouse number; on the right side - the brand of gunpowder, the batch number of the gunpowder, the year of its manufacture and the manufacturing plant, the batch number of the cartridge assembly, the year of assembly and the number of the warehouse that produced the frill (the warehouse number is enclosed in a rectangular frame). On the side there is the number of the equipment factory, the batch number, the year the projectile was equipped and the equipment code. If unitary cartridges with armor-piercing tracer shells equipped with bottom fuses are placed in the capping boxes, then on the same side of the box the brand of the bottom fuse and the time for bringing the shells into their final loaded state are marked (Fig. 148). On the boxes in which cartridges with smoke shells are placed, to the right and left of the indicated marking there are two black identification stripes, each 30 cm wide. On the boxes in which cartridges with incendiary projectiles are placed, there are in the same places two red identification stripes of the same width. On the boxes in which cartridges with flameless charges are placed, there is an inscription “flameless” on the same longitudinal wall.

None Found

Cartridge zinc (cartridge zinc)

Cartridge zinc (or cartridge zinc) is a factory-sealed metal box in which cartridges for small arms are stored.
Cartridge zincs were originally made from zinc. Later made of sealed galvanized iron. However, such zinc cartridges were abandoned in the 1960s in favor of welded iron ones, painted with protective enamel (index 57-Я-004 and 57-Я-004Ш, used until the mid-1970s), and then solidly stamped. Modern cartridge zincs (index 57-Ya-04B1) are stamped from low-carbon steel and enameled. Dimensions: 357x156x103 mm, weight 0.9 kg. This type of box is the same for all calibers of small arms, but the number of cartridges held varies

. Americans call such cartridge boxes “spam cans” (“tin cans”).

Each cartridge zinc comes with an opening knife (like a can opener, or rather a splinter knife).

Since 1974, in cartridge zinc with bullets containing, in addition to cartridges of 12.7 and 14 mm calibers, boxes with a valve have been used to relieve excess pressure of gases formed over time from the tracer composition during the storage of cartridges.

An explanation of the markings of cartridge zinc is given below.

PM cartridge design

The basis of a standard 9 mm cartridge is a bimetallic alloy case. The capsule is located on the back side . Inside there is a powder charge and a bullet with a steel core, pressed into a lead “jacket”. In earlier models of the cartridge, the cartridge case was made of brass, and the bullet core was lead.

By the way! One of the main conditions set to the designers was the incompatibility of the new cartridge with weapons chambered for the 9x19 mm Parabellum cartridge. A large number of weapons for the latter were in the hands of the population after the end of the Great Patriotic War.

Ballistic characteristics of the cartridge

In its class, this cartridge has one of the best sets of characteristics. The bullet provides reliable penetration of materials such as wood, thin sheets of metal, and lightweight body armor . If fired at denser materials such as concrete or thick steel, the bullet casing is destroyed.

The core, which has a rounded shape, in this case can produce multiple ricochets, which is especially dangerous when shooting in a confined space. A bulletproof vest with steel plates can be a fairly .

Thus, we can conclude that the cartridge has a fairly good stopping effect, but low penetration power. These shortcomings were later eliminated when the cartridge was modernized.

Parameters of the Makarov pistol cartridge

The 9x18 mm PM cartridge, developed by Boris Vladimirovich Semin in 1951, has the following dimensions:

length is 24.8 mm;
diameter 9 mm;
real caliber 9.27 mm.

Reference! A jacketed bullet with a steel core weighs 6.1 g, and a charge of gunpowder weighing 0.25 g is ejected from the barrel. Thanks to this, it flies out with an initial speed of about 315 m/s.

The cartridge belongs to the “300-joule” category, so called by the amount of bullet energy. This class includes ammunition intended for self-defense and shooting training . True, within this category it is one of the most powerful.

There are a significant number of modifications of the 9x18 mm PM cartridge, differing in their technical characteristics, penetrating and stopping abilities, lethality and purpose.

The vast majority of them can be used to fire Makarov and Stechkin pistols, as well as the silent PB and APB models that were in service with the KGB.

Lead core

One of the first versions of the cartridge was 57-N-181, which was produced from the very moment of development. The bullet in it had a lead core, and the shell was steel . The cartridge case of this cartridge was made of brass. No special markings were used for it.

The main purpose of this modification was to defeat enemy personnel who did not have protective equipment or were equipped with light body armor .

At the very beginning of the 2000s, the Ministry of Internal Affairs ordered the creation of a cartridge with a reduced ability to ricochet. The bullets of these ammunition are also equipped with lead cores and retain their basic fighting qualities. They are produced by one of the factories in Barnaul; such cartridges are marked with the PRS engraving on the bottom of the cartridge case.

With a heavy lead core bullet

This modification was an attempt to improve the ballistic characteristics of the ammunition by increasing its mass. The total weight reached almost 11 g, and the bullet itself with a lead core weighed just under 7 g.

Experiments and test firings showed the low efficiency of this solution and subsequently the choice was made in favor of steel as a material for the cores .

With steel core

One of the first modifications to the cartridge was replacing the bullet. In the new version, the core was made of steel, and the sleeves existed in three types: brass, steel or bimetallic alloy . He received the index 57-Н-181С.

Tutu

The internal packaging of zinc is cardboard boxes or paper bags with cartridges (in the text of the article they will also be called “packs”, not to be confused with), placed in a metal box.
To make it easier to remove cardboard boxes (paper bags) from the cartridge zinc, a fabric tape is placed under one of the cardboard boxes or under one of the paper bags of each row, the ends of which are brought out onto the surface of the boxes (bags).

Cartridges of 12.7 and 14.5 mm calibers are not packaged in cardboard boxes and paper bags, but placed directly in metal boxes. In boxes (metal, cardboard) and paper bags, cartridges are stacked in rows, between which paper or cardboard spacers are placed.

Training cartridges packed in cardboard boxes or paper bags and training cartridges of 12.7 and 14.5 mm calibers are stacked in rows directly in a wooden box (no metal boxes). Training cartridges of 5.45 mm caliber in paper bags can be packed in metal boxes placed in a wooden box. Fastening and cushioning of cartridges in containers is carried out using gaskets, frames, partitions made of various materials (paper, cardboard, plywood, wood, fiberboard, etc.), as well as waste paper or cardboard in various combinations, determined by the requirements for protecting cartridges from mechanical damage during transportation and loading and unloading operations.

Marking on the pack

Markings on a moisture-proof bag are applied to the longitudinal sides of the bag.
The marking on a cardboard box or paper bag is applied to one of the sides of the box or bag.

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

The distinctive marking of 7.62 BP armor-piercing cartridges (7N23) is a black stripe on the packaging, and 7.62 US cartridges with a subsonic bullet (57-N-231U) are a black and green stripe.

Tracer cartridges were marked with a green stripe.

The abbreviation “LCB” on export zinc with sporting and hunting cartridges stands for “lead core bullet” (bullet with a lead core), since bullets with a steel core are prohibited for hunting in some jurisdictions, and in some even for civilian use.

The army will receive new cappings for shells

As part of the current modernization of the armed forces, it is proposed to supply not only new equipment and weapons, but also various auxiliary equipment. The other day it became known that the Ministry of Defense plans to eventually switch to using new containers for ammunition. Instead of the usual wooden closures, it is proposed to use new boxes of an original design for storage and transportation. Deputy Minister of Defense General of the Army Dmitry Bulgakov spoke about plans to switch to new containers for ammunition. According to the deputy minister, next year the military department plans to begin full-scale use of new closures for ammunition. For the foreseeable future, only certain types of shells, etc. will be supplied in new boxes. products. The new closures have already been tested and can now be used by the military.

D. Bulgakov also spoke about some of the features of the new packaging. According to him, the new closures are made from modern materials whose characteristics are superior to wood. The main advantage over existing wooden boxes is fire resistance. The Deputy Minister of Defense explained that thanks to the use of special materials, the new box is capable of withstanding flames of up to 500°C for 15 minutes. This will allow the fire crew to arrive at the fire site on time and prevent the negative consequences of the fire. Also, the use of new containers will increase the shelf life of ammunition. When placed in storage, the new closure will last approximately 50 years.

General view of the new closure with a projectile

To date, according to D. Bulgakov, military tests of two types of new boxes have been carried out. The military checked containers for artillery shells of 152 and 30 mm caliber. The new type of closures are recognized as meeting the requirements, which opens the way for them to the troops. Based on the test results, it was decided to supply new shells of 30 and 152 mm calibers in new closures.

Soon photographs of promising containers for separately loaded artillery rounds appeared in the public domain. As follows from these photographs, when developing a new container, it was decided to create standardized boxes with the possibility of relatively simple adaptation to specific ammunition. For this purpose, the closure consists of several main parts: a unified box and lid, as well as inserts-cradles in which the “payload” is secured.

The main elements of a promising closure are a special plastic box of a rectangular oblong shape. The dimensions of this product are designed so that it can accommodate various types of ammunition. Thus, photographs show that 152 mm and 122 mm shells can be transported in boxes of the same size with different supports.

The main box and its lid are made of a special composite material, the type and composition of which has not yet been specified. In discussions about the news about closures, various assumptions are put forward, but they do not yet have any acceptable evidence. Perhaps the new box is proposed to be made of fiberglass with special additives that increase strength and provide flame resistance. Thus, resistance to heat, including contact with open fire, is ensured, first of all, by the outer “shell” of the closure.

The outer box is made of two parts of a similar shape, but of different sizes: the lid has a smaller height compared to the main box. To increase the strength and rigidity of the structure, numerous protrusions are provided around the box and lid. There are recesses on the sides of the main box that can be used as carrying handles. The box and the lid are joined together using a protrusion and a recess running along the perimeter of the joint. In this case, the lid is equipped with a rubber seal that seals the container. They are connected to each other using a set of hinged locks. Three such devices are provided on the long sides of the closure, and two on the short sides.

The inside of the box and lid are covered with a layer of fibrous material, which can serve as additional thermal insulation. Thus, the body of the box protects the contents from open fire, and the internal thermal insulation prevents it from overheating. In addition, the thermal insulation probably plays the role of a seal, ensuring a tighter fit of the cradle liner.

Another capping option designed for a smaller caliber projectile

To rigidly fix the payload inside the new closure, it is proposed to use two plastic supports placed in the box and its lid. These products provide recesses of appropriate shapes and sizes into which the projectile and cartridge case or other products supplied to the troops should be placed. The closures shown in the photographs have a curious feature: on the “working” surface of their inserts, next to the main recesses, additional recesses and protrusions are provided. With their help, the correct joining of the cradle is ensured and the prevention of their shift relative to each other.

Currently, there are versions of similar products for several types of artillery shells, and in the future new modifications may appear with updated inserts adapted to accommodate other payloads, up to small arms cartridges, hand grenades, etc.

The proposed closure design allows us to successfully solve the main problems of transportation, storage and use of various types of ammunition. The durable plastic outer shell of the box provides protection from mechanical damage and, unlike wood, does not burn and can withstand high temperatures for a long time. Sealing the joints prevents moisture from entering the box and thereby protects its contents from corrosion. Finally, there is an advantage in service life. The possibility of using the new closure for 50 years is declared.

New plastic closures for ammunition are expected to replace existing wooden products. For this reason, many discussions of the innovation attempt to compare old wooden and new plastic boxes. At the same time, it turns out that in some cases new closures may indeed be better than old ones, but from the point of view of other features they are inferior to them.

Perhaps the greatest interest is in the abandonment of wood in order to solve fire safety problems. Indeed, fires regularly occur in ammunition depots, resulting in the destruction of a large number of shells, as well as the destruction of buildings. In addition, many times during such events people suffered, both military personnel and residents of nearby settlements. For this reason, the fire resistance of the new boxes could be considered a very useful innovation, which, with certain reservations, could even justify the existing disadvantages.

However, the absence of any wooden elements in some situations can turn into a disadvantage. Empty wooden ammunition caps have traditionally been not only a multi-functional container, but also a source of wood. Wooden boxes can be used by troops for a variety of purposes. With their help, you can build some objects, such as dugouts, trenches, etc., and a disassembled box becomes firewood for a fire. Plastic containers can be used for construction, but it will be impossible to keep warm or cook food with it.

Trials by Fire

An important feature of the new closure is its lighter weight. By using relatively thin plastic housings and inserts made of similar materials, significant weight savings can be achieved in comparison with wooden packaging.

When evaluating a new ammunition container, you should consider not only compliance and some additional “consumer characteristics”, but also cost. Unfortunately, at the moment there is no information about the price of the new boxes. There is some information about orders for various containers for the armed forces, but this cannot be directly linked to the new boxes. However, it is obvious that promising plastic containers should be noticeably more expensive than traditional wooden ones. How much is still unknown.

Troops have tested two options for new closures this year, according to the Undersecretary of Defense. These products are designed to transport shells of 30 and 152 mm caliber. The tests were completed successfully, which resulted in the decision to use new packaging in the future. Already next year, the armed forces should receive the first batch of artillery shells, packed in new boxes. In addition, there is information about the existence of closures for 122-mm shells, and the design of this product makes it possible to build boxes for other products. Thus, new types of closures may appear in the foreseeable future.

According to the military department, the promising closures fully comply with the requirements and will be supplied starting next year. It is not yet entirely clear what the pace of supply of new packaging will be and whether it will be able to completely replace existing wooden boxes. Nevertheless, there is every reason to believe that promising closures will not only be able to reach the military, but also win a prominent place in warehouses from traditional containers.

Based on materials from the sites: https://vz.ru/ https://vpk-news.ru/ https://redstar.ru/ https://twower.livejournal.com/

How many cartridges are in zinc

7.62 mm

Military ammunition 7.62x54 mm R is packaged in packs with a capacity of 20 rounds.
For a long time, unpainted cardboard was used as pack material. Later, waxed paper rolls, stapled at the sides, were also used. Zinc holds 22 packs, for a total of 440 rounds. For weapon ammunition of 7.62x39 mm caliber, designated in the Soviet army as the “7.62 mm cartridge of the 1943 model”, the manuals for small arms indicate two standard closure options: for the Kalashnikov assault rifle - in cardboard boxes of 20 pieces, 33 boxes in zinc, a total of 660 rounds; and for the SKS carbine - in clips of 10 rounds, two loaded clips are placed in a flat oblong cardboard box, in zinc there are 23 boxes, for a total of 460 rounds. However, the actual zinc capacity of this caliber ammunition varies.

The most common figures: 700 shell 7.62 PS gzh, 720 armor-piercing 7.62 BP and 640 commercial sporting and hunting cartridges. The explanation seems to be that the zinc capacity (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 from the 1950s, while the dimensions of modern containers are steel somewhat different.

5.45 mm

The packaging capacity of 5.45x39 mm cartridges was made a multiple of the capacity of a standard machine gun magazine - 30 rounds.
Initially, cartridges were packaged in cardboard boxes, but in the mid-1970s they switched to simplified paper wrapping, secured with staples.

The cartridge zinc holds 36 packs with a total of 1080 rounds.

An unusual feature is the deviation from the standard marking scheme for small arms 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 type of bullet, and not after. For example, for cartridges 5.45 PS (7N6) - “5.45 gs PS”; starting in 1982, markings began to be written in the standard order “5.45 PS gs”.

9 mm

Cartridges for the 9x18 mm Makarov pistol are packaged in cardboard packs of 16 rounds, which corresponds to the capacity of two pistol magazines.
80 such packs are placed in zinc, for a total of 1280 rounds. In a wooden box - 2560 rounds

The box of 9x19 mm PS (7N21) cartridges intended for the Yarygin pistol has a rather unusual oblong shape. It holds 34 cartridges, 32 such boxes fit into the zinc.

9×19 7N21 - 1088 pcs. in zinc

9x19 Para - 50 rounds per pack, 16 packs in zinc, 800 in total.

Summary data on the capacity of cartridge containers of various calibers are given in the table
Notes: 1. Data is valid for cartridge containers of the 1950s. 2. Each zinc with 7.62 US cartridges contains three spare seals for the silencer. 3. Modern closure of cartridges 7.62x39 mm PS.

How many 5.45 mm cartridges are there in zinc? Live journal of Andrey Stadnik. Commercial Ammo Packaging

Designations on the covers of stamped-rolled iron boxes of the so-called “zinc”

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

Dug zinc cartridges 7.62 x 39

Designations on the covers of stamped-rolled iron boxes of the so-called “zinc”

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

Dug zinc cartridges 7.62 x 39

Following on from the revision of cartridge packaging made in ARM5.1. In the first part of the publication we will look at the principles and rules for capping cartridges for small arms in the USSR, Russia and some states of the former Warsaw bloc, in the second we will look at how things stand with this in America.

In the Russian and previously in the Soviet armed forces, the packaging of cartridges is standardly carried out according to the system: box-zinc-pack. The main element of the closure is a hermetically sealed metal box (in common parlance - “cartridge zinc”). In ancient times, boxes made of galvanized steel (soldered) were actually used, but in the 1960s they were abandoned in favor of welded-sunset ones (index 57-Я-004 and 57-Я-004Ш, used until the mid-1970s), and then completely stamped, covered with paint. Modern cartridge zincs (index 57-Я-0461) are 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, but the number of cartridges held varies. Americans call such cartridge boxes “spam cans” (“tin cans”).

Wooden boxes act as transport and storage (external) containers. Each box holds two zincs. Cartridge boxes are made from softwood lumber, except for the bottom and lid, which are made from fiberboard. The lid of the box is hinged and attached to its body using metal fittings. In addition, the box has two wooden handles for carrying. Until 1979, cartridge boxes were made entirely, including the bottom and lid, of wood with the lid attached to the body of the box with screws.

The dimensions of a standard cartridge box (index 57-Ya-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 cartridges contained) is approximately 7 kg. In addition to the metal boxes with cartridges themselves, a special knife is also placed in the box for opening 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.

Internal containers are cardboard boxes or paper bags with cartridges (in the text of the article they will also be called “packs”, not to be confused with a “pack”, that is, a “clip for pack loading” for a Garand rifle), placed in a metal box. For ease of removal from zinc, a fabric tape is placed under one of the packs of each row, the ends of which are brought to the surface. Marking of cartridge containers consists of inscriptions, signs and colored distinctive stripes; applied by stenciling, stamping, printing or a special marking machine.

In the game, cartridge boxes are implemented as “Items”. Using the context menu command “Print box” (via RMB) we get two zincs, each of which is an “AmmoBox” and contains the corresponding number of cartridges, as well as an empty box suitable for storing and transporting items. The mechanism is not ideal, but it fully reflects the real state of affairs.

Now specifically about calibers. Military ammunition 7.62x54 mm R is packaged in packs with a capacity of 20 rounds. For a long time, unpainted cardboard was used as pack material. Later, waxed paper rolls, stapled at the sides, were also used. Zinc holds 22 packs, for a total of 440 rounds.

For weapon ammunition of 7.62x39 mm caliber, designated in the Soviet army as the “7.62 mm cartridge of the 1943 model”, the manuals for small arms indicate two standard closure options: for the Kalashnikov assault rifle - in cardboard boxes of 20 pieces, 33 boxes in zinc, a total of 660 rounds; and for the SKS carbine - in clips of 10 rounds, two loaded clips are placed in a flat oblong cardboard box, in zinc there are 23 boxes, for a total of 460 rounds.

However, the actual zinc capacity of this caliber ammunition varies. The most common figures: 700 shell 7.62 PS gzh, 720 armor-piercing 7.62 BP and 640 commercial sporting and hunting cartridges. The explanation seems to be that the zinc capacity (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 from the 1950s, while the dimensions of modern containers are steel somewhat different. The distinctive marking of 7.62 BP armor-piercing cartridges (7N23) is a black stripe on the packaging, and 7.62 US cartridges with a subsonic bullet (57-N-231U) are a black and green stripe. The abbreviation “LCB” on export zinc with sporting and hunting cartridges stands for “lead core bullet” (bullet with a lead core), since bullets with a steel core are prohibited for hunting in some jurisdictions, and in some even for civilian use.

The packaging capacity of 5.45x39 mm cartridges was immediately made a multiple of the capacity of a standard machine gun magazine - 30 rounds. Initially, cartridges were packaged in cardboard boxes, but in the mid-1970s they switched to simplified paper wrapping, secured with staples. A metal box contains 36 packs with a total of 1080 rounds. An unusual feature is the deviation from the standard marking scheme for small arms 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 type of bullet, and not after. For example, for cartridges 5.45 PS (7N6) - “5.45 gs PS”; starting in 1982, markings began to be written in the standard order “5.45 PS gs”.

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

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

Markings on packaging with cartridges are applied: on a wooden box - on the lid and on one side wall; on a metal box - on the lid; on a moisture-proof bag on the longitudinal sides of the bag; on a cardboard box or paper bag - on one side of the box or bag. Example of markings on a zinc cap (7.62 LPS cartridges):

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 - year of batch production, 188 - plant number (Novosibirsk low-voltage equipment plant)), VT92/77S (VT - brand of gunpowder (rifle powder for a heavy bullet); 92 - batch of gunpowder, 77 - year of manufacture of gunpowder, C - gunpowder manufacturer), 440 pcs. — number of cartridges in zinc.

The markings on the side of the box contain similar elements. The lid indicates the gross weight, the conventional number of the dangerous cargo 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 for the transport danger of the cargo “1.4 S” "(code "1.4" according to GOST 19433-88 means "Explosive materials that do not pose a significant danger"). The danger sign on an orange paper label, characteristic of foreign cartridge packaging, 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 appearance - the gross weight and a transport sign indicating the category of cargo were indicated (the number “2” in a triangle).

Marking on the cover of the cartridge box

For grenade launcher shots to the under-barrel grenade launcher, packaging elements that are similar, but differ in design and size, are used. Three welded metal boxes containing 28 VOG-25 rounds each are placed in a wooden box. In boxes, shots are placed in cylindrical paper cartridges in a horizontal position with alternating directions. The density of the shots is ensured by cardboard spacers. There are a total of 84 shots in the box. The same box holds 35 VOG-25P grenade launcher rounds with the rounds arranged vertically, lined with cardboard; accordingly, a total of 105 shots are obtained in the box. One of the three boxes is tied with twine for easy removal from the box. Inside each box there are liners 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 box lid is attached to the body on two hinges and secured with two locks.

For machine gun cartridges of caliber 7.62x39 mm and 5.45x39 mm with varnished steel sleeves, 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 polyethylene terephthalate (lavsan) film, and on the inside, facing the cartridges, coated with a paraffin-polyisobutylene mixture. Inside the moisture-proof bag, cartridge packs are placed in one or two rows, lined with wrapping paper around the perimeter of the bag. The waterproof bag is sealed by welding the seams and bending the valves. In this case, the same wooden box is used as a transport and storage container, the internal surfaces of which are lined with waterproof paper coated on both sides or one side with a paraffin-polyisobutylene mixture.

And for the AK-74, in order to facilitate and speed up the process of loading a magazine, steel clips (so-called “combs”) for 15 rounds with an attached adapter - a loading accelerator (“spoon”) were introduced. The solution was “sniffed out” 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 rifle complex - 10 rounds of 9x39 mm caliber in a clip.

In the design bureau of JSC KBAL named after. L.N. Koshkin" developed a technological process for loading cartridges into plastic clips and packaging them in bags made of multilayer polymer films. The package capacity is 90 rounds. According to design bureau specialists, such closure should ensure guaranteed storage of ammunition for 40 years. However, as one might assume, it currently retains its experimental status.

In the states of the Warsaw bloc, as well as in China, the Soviet system of cartridge capping was copied, and in many places it has been preserved today. The photo below shows cartridge boxes from Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and China. The greatest similarity is found in Bulgarian cartridge containers, marked in Cyrillic letters. Bulgarian products can be identified by the factory mark - the number “10” in a double circle. At the link you can watch a detailed video depicting the opening of a box (an old model, with a wooden lid) and zinc with 7.62 LPS cartridges produced by the Friedrich Engels Engineering 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 placed in it) are marked in a foreign language.

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

Another major “player” in the military surplus market is the Czech Republic. True, several years ago this country lost its national cartridge production, since the Sellier & Bellot company 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 huge quantities that now the Czech Republic regularly supplies all former “potential opponents” with its “military surplus”. The Czech method of capping is similar to the Serbian one: also a wooden box with an inserted tin box (pictured). The 7.62-43 cartridges are loaded into clips designed for quick loading of the SA Vz.58 assault rifle. A cardboard pack holds 3 clips of 10 rounds. The boxes are packed in thick polyethylene, ten in each block. The capacity of the box is 1200 rounds, the gross weight is 28 kg, or at an earlier time 1120 rounds and 27 kg. Ammunition of caliber 7.62×54 mm R (in Czech - “7.62-59” in Czech): packs of 20 rounds, a box for 800 or 780 rounds, gross weight - 24 kg were also sealed in the same boxes.

In some former people's democracies and ex-Soviet republics, they switched to packaging cartridges in the German (in rubberized battle packs) or American (in M2A1 steel boxes) manner. For example, the product of the Lithuanian company Giraitės Ginkluotės Gamykla (GGG) is a waterproof package for 200 rounds of 7.62×51 mm caliber. It holds 10 cardboard packs of 20 rounds; 5 such packages are placed in a wooden box, but the boxes used are of the old Soviet type. By the way, the same Serbs have now also started packing 200 pieces in “battle packs”. And the Lithuanians pack 5.56x45 mm cartridges in 1000 pieces in M2A1 metal boxes.

In the original version of "7.62" there was no division of cartridges into military and commercial. It appeared in the Arma Realista fashion. With the military, how they are actually packaged is clear. Now let's go through the commercial ones. 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 plastic or even without it at all, and sealed with tape. The design of cartridge packs, made from cardboard using a printing method, is characterized by bright colors and various design delights, which makes them strikingly different from discreet military packaging. The standard capacity of commercial ammo boxes is 20 rounds 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 example of products from the Tula Cartridge Plant.

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

The DKG company imports products from Barnaul and Ulyanovsk cartridge factories. Within the main Bear brand, there is a division into the trademarks “Brown Bear” for cartridges with varnished steel sleeves, “Silver Bear” for cartridges with galvanized sleeves and “Golden Bear” for cartridges with brass-plated steel sleeves. The latter were also of Serbian origin. Sporting Supplies previously imported mainly ammunition from the Tula Cartridge Plant. However, currently TPZ products are sold abroad under its own brand “Tulammo”, and products from the Lugansk and Barnaul cartridge factories have been under the “Wolf” brand in the USA and Canada since 2011, and recently “Golden Wolf” cartridges made in Taiwan have appeared.

A significant volume of the commercial ammunition market abroad is accounted for by cartridges of the “surplus” category, i.e. military ammunition from warehouse surplus and/or with expiring shelf life. Naturally, this only applies to conventional cartridges with a jacketed bullet, because... armor-piercing, incendiary, etc., are generally prohibited for civilians. Surplus cartridges are sold in standard military packaging (often having a very shabby appearance) or loose in any suitable container or sealed in thick plastic bags. On the domestic market, the active development of surpluses accumulated in the “bins of the Motherland” is hampered by domestic weapons legislation. So, 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 ammunition containers produced in the 1960s-1980s. But this will be ammunition with PS and LPS bullets. With photographic materials on special cartridge packaging, the situation is worse. And while photographs of boxes of incendiary and tracer ammunition are still more or less common, those of armor-piercing ammunition are extremely rare. As a result, I was unable to find proofs based on the appearance of the packs of 7N22, 7N23 and 7N26 cartridges. By the way, this problem also applies to foreign ammunition, which we will talk about.

A few words about expiration dates. According to the regulations of the former USSR, the storage period for small arms ammunition in central warehouses - in zinc and capping - is 20 years, after which they are distributed among departments for destruction (shot). Law enforcement agencies store them for 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 (shot). I don’t presume to judge whether and how strictly these standards have always been observed and how things stand now, but I think that even with an optimistic approach, the period within which the cartridge, although no longer fully consistent in its parameters with the new product, is, with some reservations, suitable for use must not exceed 40 years. However, on weapons forums there are stories about shooting from a TT pistol with cartridges produced in 1938 and about the amazing accuracy of rifle cartridges produced in 1963, which cannot be compared with modern commercial products. Alexey Potapov in his book “The Art of the Sniper” calls the shelf life of rifle cartridges in galvanized form 70-80 years realistic, without losing their 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... For 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 is not less than 99.7%) in sealed packaging - 10 years, in non-sealed packaging - 2 years.

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 the purpose of information support for the “Arma Realista” mod for the computer game “7.62”.

5.45x39 cartridges are packed in paper wrappers of 30 pieces, which is equal to the number of cartridges in a machine gun magazine. Packs are placed in a steel box of 36 packs with a total quantity of 1080 pieces. Two boxes are placed in a wooden box with a total of 2160 cartridges. with a knife for opening steel boxes. On the lid of the stamped box and the box there are basic designations of the ammunition contained in them: their caliber, bullet type, case material, brand of gunpowder, production date and factory code.

Explanation of the designations on the stamped-rolled box: 5.45 - cartridge caliber. PS - type of bullet (with a steel core). GS - sleeve material (steel sleeve). SF033fl - brand of gunpowder (spherical phlegmatized; 0.33 - diameter of the powder grain). 601/84B - series/year of gunpowder production. O27 - ammunition production series. 84 - year (1984) of ammunition production. 270 - manufacturer's plant code. 1080 pcs. — the total number of cartridges in the box. Until 1982, at some factories, the indication of the type of ammunition differed from the accepted symbol, which was expressed in the form of applying after the caliber the type of cartridge case (GS - steel cartridge case) and, only then, the type of bullet. Most likely, an error was made in the stencil used to apply paint to the steel box.

On the steel boxes that were packed with cartridges with special bullets (T, US, armor-piercing), the type of bullet used and the corresponding marking in the form of a distinctive stripe on the lid were indicated. Cartridges with tracer bullets were marked with a standard green stripe. As a result of long-term storage of such ammunition, decay products of the tracer composition are released in the form of gases, which gradually accumulate in the free space of the box. For the free release of gases, a hole is made in the upper right corner, closed with a rubber seal (plug). When opening such steel boxes, they first pull out the plug, releasing the gases, and then use a knife to open the box with cartridges.

Stamp-rolled boxes for 5.45x39 cartridges produced since 1975. different cartridge factories.

1,2,3 - Plant No. 3 (Ulyanovsk Cartridge Plant), 1975 - 1977. 4 - Plant No. 60 (named after Frunze), 1979. 5 - Plant No. 17 (Barnaul cartridge), 1980. 6 - Plant No. 3 (Ulyanovsk Cartridge Plant), 1984. 7 - Plant No. 60 (named after Frunze), 1989. 8 - Plant No. 270 (Lugansk cartridge plant), 1977.

Waterproof bags

For machine gun cartridges of caliber 7.62x39 mm and 5.45x39 mm with varnished steel sleeves, along with metal boxes, there is an alternative packaging method - in special moisture-proof bags, 120 pieces each. Moreover, until 1988, cartridges with cartridges with igniter primers with only a protective (oxidized) coating on the caps were packaged in these bags (except for blank cartridges in which the primer caps were not oxidized.
These bags are made of waterproof paper coated on the outside made of polyethylene terephthalate (lavsan) film, and on the inside, facing the cartridges, coated with a paraffin-polyisobutylene mixture. Inside the moisture-proof bag, cartridge packs are placed in one or two rows, laid around the perimeter of the bag with a wrapping paper gasket. The water-proof bag is sealed by welding the seams and bending valves.

In this case, as in the case of cartridge zinc, a wooden box is used as a transport and storage container, the internal surfaces of which are lined with waterproof paper coated on both sides or one side with a paraffin-polyisobutylene mixture.

On the side wall of the box containing moisture-proof bags with cartridges, the inscription “MOISTURE-PROOF PACKAGES” is additionally written in two lines.