I'm thinking this is the steel core stuff that Clinton stopped the import of back in 1994.I think you are right. The Type 56 was confusingly the name for their AK and SKS variants and 550 rounds seems to be normal for the Chinese military spam packs for 7.62x39 on the stripper clips for the SKS.
Thanks for the info.It's Chinese 7.62x39 with mild steel core projectile. It is indeed the stuff banned from import by Clinton. Beowulf has it right, the “56” indicates that it is ammunition for the Type 56 rifles, thus 7.62x39. 550 rounds per can, it will be on stripper clips, copper washed steel case, and corrosive primer. It was made in 1973. 341 is the factory code, a pretty common one, but generally considered unknown exactly which plant. The Chinese like to obfuscate that aspect of their ammunition production - some plants have multiple codes.
Yes, it penetrates better than lead core, but it isn't true AP either. It is only legally defined as AP at the Federal level, which is where the import problem is.Thanks for the info.
I suspected it's the Chinese, banned, mild steel core stuff, but didn't know for sure.
I bought it back before the 1994 ban when this stuff was common.
Though I have no personal experience to know either way, I've read where though it's not technically "armor piercing", the mild steel core does give it some additional punch through capability.
This according to some tests I read online from other people's experience.