All rifle experts look at this

[khouse]

What is this? Is it a blank? It's been fired but it's rounded in where the projectile would go. I dug two of these today.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Yep, that's a blank!

 

[khouse]

Thanks!

 

[TheOtherLeggoHead]

A high pressure blank at that.

Non crimped.

 

[khouse]

I've been getting some more info. It looks to be a Lake City M16 blank. What I found on some sites is the numbers 8 and 1 stand for the year 1981. Would that be correct?

 

[Terry Soloman]

Seems correct to me. We used them for training and demos back in the day.

 

[khouse]

Was this made in 1981? Or what does the 8 and 1 stand for?

 

[TheOtherLeggoHead]

LC= Lake City Arsenal

81= 1981 headstamp

 

[PennyFinder]

The cartridge is a 7.62 Nato, the extra brass where the bullet should be, is to facilitate reliable feeding in fully automatic weaponry.

HH

PennyFinder

 

[khouse]

It's not a .308?

 

[jeepcj5]

Khouse,
Hate to argue with ya buddy but it is definitely a 7.62 NATO /.308 blank, most likely a belt fed for M-60 considering the year... look at the measurements and the cartridge base diameter buddy... 5.56 or .223 Remington is slightly longer than 2 inches long without bullet. SAAMI specs for COL on .223 Rem/5.56 NATO is 2.200"... COL on the 7.62x51 NATO/.308 Winchester is 2.690"

COL = Cartridge Overall Length a VERY strict standard of measurement you must adhere to when reloading...

 

[khouse]

I don't mind any input. I just want to know? Plus in the hole were some iron bits. One piece was rusted but for sure it held the cartridge. It fits perfect around the bullet. I figured it was some holder attached to a belt or something? I will be adding this and many more items I found to the historical society as I promised the curator. I also need to document each item correctly because the items will be on display. I need to get new batteries for my digital calipers. Then I'll post the exact measurements for verification. Thanks.

 

[jeepcj5]

Awesome Kenny, i would wager a 44 Merc looking at the photos that the "bullet" part of that blank is is just under .308 of an inch... cant wait to see the results... Thanks for the comeback buddy

 

[Terry Soloman]

Very interesting thread! So many good folks on this forum with a HUGE knowledge base!

 

[khouse]

The shell casing measures .460
The length is 2.608
The length of the largest diameter is 1.565

So what's the verdict?

 

[jeepcj5]

lookin like a 7.62/.308 machine gun belted blank buddy, most likely a M-60, i used to train and qualify guys on this and the ma deuce, M2 Browning heavy machine gun, check the links for the 7.62


7.62 is a great deer round as well!!!

belted blanks

more photos

 

[khouse]

Both casings has rust stuck to them. I found part of the steel belting in the hole also. I'll post a picture of whats left of the belting?

 

[jeepcj5]

kewl please do....

 

[khouse]

 

[jeepcj5]

yup thats it buddy mystery solved... kewl find...thanks for all the photos!!! what part of the country did you find this???