....is it Russian or Bulgarian ammo???.....someone will correct me if I'm wrong but from what I recall earlier in the 70's they were painted with a silver tip-supposedly a higher quality better ammo(?)light ball...but later on they gave up the practice cause it just wasnt worth the time and paint...
....or something along similar lines....also found this...:
This ammo was maunfactured in the early 70's through the 80's in either Bulgaria and Russia.
The Silver bar you see on the wooden case and on the can indicates Silver Tip.
The Silver Tipped 149 grain Boat Tail bullet in this ammunition is unique in that it has a steel shank in the center of the projectile beneath an exterior coating of lead that is bonded to the bullet jacket. This allows the projectile to stabilize in flight and provides the accuracy and penetration of a steel core round while not being harsh on the barrel or bore as is the case with a full hardened steel core. It is the absolute best of both worlds.
Also, the Boat Tail Bullet is more aerodynamic and allows for a flatter trajectory and greater accuracy over a long distance.
This ammo has a copper washed steel case and is berdan primed. The case neck and the primer are sealed for moisture protection. It comes packed in 20rd. military packs, 440rds. per sealed spam can. As with most surplus 54r ammo this ammunition does have some mildly corrosive components so remember to clean your weapon after firing.