My wife gave me a new Smith & Wession M&P 15 rifle, and a case of ammo. Caliber is 5,45x39mm. Retailer told her that SW makes the ammo, but the packaging indicates otherwise. I'll call the seller next week, but would like to be more knowledgeable before we talk. Ammo is in 1080 count sealed metal OD case (needs a can-opener to view the shells). Case markings are: 5,45NCrc, 674-82-270 C ^ 033 ^n, 441/82. The obvious clue that it's European made is the 5,45 vice 5.45; so, I don't trust it. I had to use a caret symbol "^" for an a symbol that I couldn't reproduce; it looks like opposing batarangs (Batman's version of the boomarang).
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Other research points out that current manufacture European exports are non-corrosive, but I don't trust words that aren't measurable over time as accurate.
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Can anyone point me to a web destination that might be able to decypher the case markings? If not, does anyone have any first-hand experience in sorting this out?
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Even if the indications come back as non-corrosive, because of the European markings, I still will not feel right until I know for sure, and thus do a home test, but I sure don't want to do that with each batch of ammo. Because of the caliber, I'd almost certainly not have bought it, but it's mine now, so I've got to know, because it's way too much work to do special cleaning after every firing.
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Greatly appreciate any insights that others may have with this specific caliber.
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