Of the stuff I’ve tried, 1970’s Yugoslavian is the best. Portuguese is supposed to be very good. Romanian from the 70’s is very good but I sometimes get gas blowing by the primer.
I’ve also had good results from Czech and Belgian.
Turk has always been surefire for me but I only use it in sound bolt guns as it’s fairly hot.
50’s Yugo is fairly good but has harder primers.
I think Egyptian and Ethiopian are problematic.

Not an extensive or ranked list but I think it’s easier to categorize generally than to give a true “best to worst” list.

 

#1. Portuguese.

That's all I got.

 

Absolute best is the Canadian 1950s ammo with the MM 40-45 headstamps. Reliable, accurate, non-corrosive, and reloadable.

 

My list is primarily focused on reliability since some of the older stuff is quite accurate but is getting some hangfires now from my experience. I think you could probably move up anything in my list one spot if it’s 1950s dated or older

1. 90s Yugo m75
2. 70s Yugo, 70s Portuguese, Hirtenberger 80s, MM Canadian Headstamped
3. 70-80s Romanian Steel case
4. 1950s/40s Czech, 1950s Yugo, 1950s Romanian, 1940s Greek, German WW2 brass surplus, Turk Surplus 40s/50s, 50s Bulgarian
5. Egyptian, Ecuadorian, Belgian (starting to get hangfires)
6. Components only ammo: Persian, Ethiopian (but I’ve heard some people get lucky and have lots that fire ok)

 

My list is primarily focused on reliability since some of the older stuff is quite accurate but is getting some hangfires now from my experience. I think you could probably move up anything in my list one spot if it’s 1950s dated or older

1. 90s Yugo m75
2. 70s Yugo, 70s Portuguese, Hirtenberger 80s, MM Canadian Headstamped
3. 70-80s Romanian Steel case
4. 1950s/40s Czech, 1950s Yugo, 1950s Romanian, 1940s Greek, German WW2 brass surplus, Turk Surplus 40s/50s, 50s Bulgarian
5. Egyptian, Ecuadorian, Belgian (starting to get hangfires)
6. Components only ammo: Persian, Ethiopian (but I’ve heard some people get lucky and have lots that fire ok)

of those options, are any of them corrosive?

 

I have had very good results shoot Portuguese surplus, it's also the only surplus I have shot though

 

The OG 8mm can still be pretty good.

Prewar German, if in brass cases, good condition with primers that go bang. Their bullets and uniformity within the lot were quite good.

 

I would point out that the merit of the types of ammunition depends on what you are using it in.

Bolt action and Maxim, doesn't matter.

I do not know on either the MG42 or the MG34.

If you are shooting it in a self loading WWII rifle (G43), the only ammo I know for sure uses German powder type was the pre 1973 Portuguese.

The Canadian and US WW 154 grain loads had a much higher port pressure than the German SS, SME, SMK ammunition. So that is likely not the best choice, though I gather the shooters kits can resolve the issue.

 

I would point out that the merit of the types of ammunition depends on what you are using it in.

Bolt action and Maxim, doesn't matter.

I do not know on either the MG42 or the MG34.

If you are shooting it in a self loading WWII rifle (G43), the only ammo I know for sure uses German powder type was the pre 1973 Portuguese.

The Canadian and US WW 154 grain loads had a much higher port pressure than the German SS, SME, SMK ammunition. So that is likely not the best choice, though I gather the shooters kits can resolve the issue.

Yes those are all good points. I would be hesitant to shoot surplus 8mm in any semi auto other than 70s Romanian, 70s/90s Yugo, and Portuguese 70s ammo. All of the others have various pressure concerns or known weak cases that fail more than average.

 

I had very good luck with the Portuguese also. Very accurate in my rifle

 

I have some 1940 'Royal Yugo' 8mm. Haven't shot any yet, what are the reports about this type ammo? It isn't listed among the favorite or least desirable either, so....

 

back when I started shooting in the early 2010s there was a little of this around still. From what I remember, people said it was better than 50s Yugo because it didn’t have the reputation for split cases and hard primers. It was also all sure-fire. However, it’s been another decade and the ammo is 80 years old now compared to when it was more popular/available so who knows at this point. I’ve not seen or heard anyone use this stuff for a long time.

From my experience well stored corrosive ammo seems to have an almost unlimited self life. Even semi poorly stored corrosive ammo seems to last a good amount of time. I’ve shot plenty of European 40s dated ammo from sealed cans over the past decade with no issues. I really only run into problems when buying 60+ year old stuff that’s lose or if it comes from or was stored in a “hot” country for many years. Heat seems to do the most damage to primers. Even then though the powder and bullets are almost always fine.