Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?

[wsjones]

(also posted on Military Surplus forum)

I just bought a couple hundred rounds of 8mm surplus ammo from my local gun shop and I want to figure out where it was manufactured and when, and if possible, if it's corrosive.

The shop said they believed it to be 1970's vintage and probably either Romanian or Yugoslavian.  The case is steel and the head stamp is 2 numbers, located opposite each other on the case head:  "22" at 12 o'clock and  "74" at 6 o'clock.  I pulled a bullet and it's a nominal 156 gr. BTFMJ.  The powder was a medium size extruded grain type that looked about like 4350 and had a fresh nitrocellulose powder smell (not off smelling or ammonia-y).

Any help with when and where it was manufactured?  I could see the 74 meaning 1974 but the 22's no help.  Thanks.  -WSJ

[wsjones]

Duh.  Guess I just answered my own question in about 30 seconds after posting here.

Romanian Factory 22, 1974 according to http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm

Cool.  Still don't know if it's corrosive and would appreciate any info.  Thanks in advance.  -WSJ

[norman]

I would treat ALL foreign ammo as corrosive especially if it's from the 70's.  This way you wont have a ruined barrel if you don't clean it right away.  A lot of Romanian 7.62x39 was advertised as non-corrosive and so was some yugo ammo.   The Yugo was brass case and left red specks in the mag and chamber area of my AK.  Didn't trust it to be non-corrosive so I poured HOT water over and in it, then oiled.  No problems so far (knock on wood)    Hope this helps some.
Norman