Looking for 7.62 Nagant ammunition - How's Palmetto State Armory?

[SomeGuyNamedMatt]

Just recently bought myself an Izhevsk 1944 Nagant Revolver in real nice condition.  Along with that revolver came the accepted lack of ammunition, and even though I knew this all along, I went ahead and took it anyway.  I'm sure you can all see where this is going...

No regrets whatsoever about my purchase; It's still a really unique sidearm with some historic character.  I'm just patiently watching the web for ammunition to come in stock, or a gunshow to come in town or a local shop to get some in stock for whatever reason.  I just noticed that Palmetto State Armory has Partisan commercial 7.62 Nagant ammo in stock, and for $22/50 rounds - really, a good deal right now.  The thing is that I've never heard much about them or ordered anything from them - I know there are some less than honest companies out there, and although I very highly doubt that PSA is one of them, I'd still like to get some opinions on them before I go ahead and give them my money over the internet.  Would be nice for future reference, too.  Has anyone worked with PSA before?  Any good/bad experiences you can share?

I also saw that RGuns has quite a bit of surplus in stock, and I'd really prefer shooting it over the pitifully downloaded commercial ammo.  I can understand Partisan/Fiocci thinking of liability when some guy blows the top strap off shooting full loads through his museum relic that was used to drive tent stakes with; there shouldn't be any problems with something that's done nothing but be stored for sixty years, though. Back on topic, I've heard too many bad things about RGuns, and I really don't want to support someone like that if it's true.  Can anyone share some insight on this?

Much appreciated!
-Matt

[rdmallory]

I have purchased from them in the past with no issues.

Doug

[SomeGuyNamedMatt]

Sounds good.  I got a couple other good opinions of them, and put in an order for a couple boxes later on the 22nd, yesterday.

I just got a shipping confirmation from UPS earlier today stating that it's been scanned down by their location and is ready to be sent out; very excellent service, in my opinion.  I look forward to doing more business with them in the future.

-Matt

[rio grande]

Believe me, A Nagant revolver w/ good ammo is much, much more than a tent stake hammer!
Mine shoots accurately and strong w/ reloaded Partisan cases utilizing the gas seal feature.
Mine is slow to reload after firing full power loads. That doesn't bother me. 
With the Rguns Russian surplus stuff I would expect over 1100 fps.
Keep us informed.

BTW, if you buy any of that Partisan target ammo, I'd buy the empties from you at market price. That would cut your costs roughly in half.

[Airsporter]

Nothing but good to say about my dealings with Palmetto State Armory.  If the have it, its usually a great deal and service has been great.   
 
I have had some issues with the Hotshot ammo in my Nagant (I think the casings may be a little bit too long for my revolver), but have not tried Pvri - assuming its not all the same stuff.  I believe Pvri makes all the "Wolf Gold" and Winchester "Metric" ammo.

[coyotejoe]

I'd like to try out some of the Russian mil-spec ammo just to see what it would do but 8 bucks plus shipping seems kinda costly for Berdan primed ammo. Quite a few places have the PRVI brand for around 25 bucks for 50 rounds so you're getting a good price there. I've chronographed a few loads from my Nagant and the slowest was some Russian match ammo at 568 fps, PRVI was next slowest at 641 fps and Fiocchi only a bit faster at 672 fps. But the Russian match was also the most accurate, giving me inch and a half groups at 25 yards. I handload the Prvi and Fiocchi brass but I don't try for magnum loads since I feel the Nagant is a small game gun at best. Most of my loads have been around 800-900 fps, the fastest being the Hornady 90 grain HBWC with 3.5 grains of Trail Boss going 954 fps and a 25 yard group of 2.6". The Hornady 90 grain SWC over the same load of Trail Boss was more accurate, with a 25 yard group of 1.7".
 For anyone thinking of reloading the Nagant brass I advise not using the Lee 7.62 die set as it really is intended for .32/20 brass. Only the size die is 7.62 Nagant and that actually over works the brass. I get better results with a .30 carbine size die and a seating stem modified to seat the bullet below the case mouth. You'll also need an RCBS shell holder and a Lyman "M" die in .30 caliber to expand the mouth after sizing. Too bad no one makes a die set for the actual Nagant cartridge but so far the .30 carbine set plus a proper shell holder and M die is the best combo.

[threepdr]

New Russian surplus is now being sold by SOG, Graf and j&G.  It is selling for about $5 per box of 14 - cheaper by the 1092 round can.  This is late 70s stuff and will shoot about 1100 - 1200 ft per second.  108 grain bullet.  This is potent stuff, unlike the new production civilian stuff being sold. 

[Airsporter]

I see Wideners has it too.

[Hodr]

I am local to J&G here in Az.  I picked up a 1092 rd tin of Russian milsurp 1895 Nagant ammo for around .30 per round.  fired some two days ago and it is an accurate round for this gun. 
 
Hodr

[tcencore3006]

PSA is great!  You can deal confidently with them.