on sale by 2013 (one load introduced in 2017)
- made in
– Russia in Russia by Vympel
– Ukraine.
– Bosnia and Herzegovina.
– Romania.
– Hungary.
Red Army Standard
About Red Army Standard
Red Army Standard is an affordable ammunition brand imported and sold by Century International Arms, the Florida-based importer of military surplus and Eastern European firearms. The line is built around the cartridges used in Soviet-pattern rifles and pistols, making it a popular choice for owners of AK-pattern rifles, SKS carbines, Mosin-Nagant rifles, Makarov pistols and Tokarev pistols. Calibers have included 7.62x39mm, 5.45x39mm, 7.62x54mmR, 7.62x25mm Tokarev and 9x18mm Makarov, mostly with steel cases and full metal jacket bullets.
Red Army Standard is not made at a single factory. Over the years, production has been sourced from plants in Russia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania and other countries, and headstamps vary by maker, such as LU for the Lugansk Cartridge Works in Ukraine and IK for IGMAN in Bosnia. The brand was on the market by 2013. In mid-2017, Century introduced a Russian-made 124-grain FMJ boattail 7.62x39mm load with lacquered steel cases, non-corrosive primers and sealed primers and case mouths, and brought it back in April 2018 because of strong demand. Shooters should check the box and lot information, since some Romanian 7.62x54mmR lots reported in 2013 contained corrosive components.
Key Facts
- 2013: Red Army Standard ammunition on the U.S. market through Century Arms
- Mid-2017: Russian-made 124-grain FMJBT 7.62x39mm load introduced
- April 2018: Century announces the return of the 7.62x39mm FMJBT load after strong demand
- 2018: 5.45x39mm FMJ and .223 Remington FMJBT loads announced for the line
Sources
- Wikipedia: Red Army Standard Ammunition
- Shooting Illustrated: First Look: Red Army Standard 7.62×39 Ammo
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