Today's finds in my yard..

[MNCoinhunter]

I decided today that anything that gives off a tone gets dug up. And here were the results. Found the live round about 2 feet from my propane tank. Pretty sure I wrecked it when I shoveled into the ground. It says BRITISH SUPERSPEED 303 on the end, and it still has dry powder in it. The other spent round found elsewhere in the yard has a U, 4 and a 3 on the end. Not very informed about shells so any input would be great.

Also..I found the two items on the right at an old CCC camp north of here. It's on state land but screw em'...gotta take chances occasionally.

 

[garthbfan]

Looks like some good stuff McDave

 

[MNCoinhunter]

Thanks..I went back out in the yard after dinner and hunted in All Metal mode. Picked up a wheatie and my first button..its quite ornate with an anchor in the center. Will get a picture up when I get them cleaned up a little. The CCC finds..I think one is a broken part of some sort of gaff for grabbing logs, and the other a broken axe head...pretty neat.

 

[GimmieThe Loot]

Is it dangerous to dig up live rounds? I just found a bullet today but just the lead part.

 

[MNCoinhunter]

I'd say there is a certain amount of risk involved. If I had hit that round with my shovel in just the right way it might have gone off. But I've never heard of anyone being injured in such a way. If you are just finding the lead then there is zero risk.

 

[RickIowa2009]

Glad you got out, it is interesting when you dig everything!

 

[Uncle Willy]

The one shell is for a British 303 Enfield. Don't know what the other one is.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Usually not as long as you handle them well and don't hit the denonator with something metal. I've dug up a bunch.

Bill

 

[oldranger]

Neat finds Mcdave...WTG....

thats what really makes it fun... it can read coin and
be?????????? in MY case ...

Gonna do a woods hunt soon and see what i can find..
go Little GTI!!!!! i wonder if theres a SONG there

LIL GTI your really tecting fine
found a quater and a nickle and
a shiny new dime ... Beats the fishers and the minlabs
Yeah it really shines ... come on and TURN IT ON
SWING IT OUT DIG IT UP GTI!!!!!!
YEAH YEAH Lil GTI
(with apologies to the Ripcords for Lil GTO)

Sometimes i scare me!!!!!!
Have FUN right????

Ron

Rangers ... when only the VERY BEST is good enough

 

[dahut]

The .303 cartridge remnant is as Bill says - a .303 British, the standard military small arms round of Britain until adoption of the NATO standard in the 1950's. It was originally found in the classic Enfield SMLE rifle, Lewis machine gun and other Commonwealth small arms. It has been in use for over a century.

The prominent rim and long bullet are hallmarks of the cartridge, while the "Superspeed" name is a Winchester commercial trademark.

After the wars, the .303 British was a common caliber in both manufactured sporting and convered military rifles, worldwide. Most of the major ammo makers made both guns and ammo for it up into the 60's. It is said that more African game has fallen to the .303 British than to any other round. Much the same can be said of Canada and to some degree, the USA. It has fallen from favor today, except in collectible milsurp SMLE rifles. It is roughly the ballistic equivalent of the .30-06.

The other cartridge case is a US issue .30-06, made in the Utah Arsenal, 1943.

As for where you find your "relics," well... discretion is said to be the better part of valor.

 

[MNCoinhunter]

Thanks for the info...it makes them 1000 times more interesting when you have a little history.

 

[dahut]

Is it dangerous to dig up live rounds? I just found a bullet today but just the lead part.

I'd say it is remotely dangerous. I have found live rounds lying right on top of the ground or buried just a few inches in the sand. Ditto with live, but eroded rounds, long in the ground. In all cases, over many years of detecting, none of them have presented the slightest danger except that which I can imagine in my own mind. They did nothing when I recovered them and they have lain in my junk box down through the years - doing nothing.

I have been a shooter and reloader most of my life, but I realize not everyone is so familiar with these things as I am. So, a small reminder here is in order:

One of the keystone elements of all modern cartridges is the fact that they are inherently safe until fired in a weapon.

Dropping them, stepping on them, throwing them against a tree, knocking them about and, yes, even poking them with a hand trowel will have little effect on them. The one exception to that is the rimfire round, which, as the name implies, has the detonating primer in the base rim of the cartridge. But even then, it takes a direct and distinct pin-point blow - in just the right place - to make it detonate.

Of course, we are grubbing after these things with metal tools and digging instruments. As I say that, I am reminded of the occasional Civil War artillery shell that is recovered and can be made to detonate - with determined effort. So, naturally, it is wise to handle all ordnance and ammunition as if it might go off.

However, any round that has been buried for years, or decades, will be subject to moisture intrusion and degredation of the components. The odds are so long that an old dug cartridge will detonate, that you probably stand a better chance of winning the lottery.

I worry more about live rounds in the weapons of criminals, those who would rob or molest me while I'm out detecting. Those seem more dangerous than any oldies I might find in the ground.

 

[GimmieThe Loot]

Thanks for your thoughts dahut. I'm always concious of the thugs in my city also! Thats why I never put my headphones over my ears in certain parks.