[Burlroad]

While cleaning out an old family house, I came across a small quantity of live rounds in 5-round stripper clips. They may be tracer rounds (red band where projectile meets case mouth), have no head-stamp, and appears to be berdan primed with large primers in a standard rimless case. The OAL= 83mm and the caliber is slightly larger than a standard 7.62NATO round. Would anyone like to guess what this might be? My real interest lies with the fact that I've found a firearm requiring each type of round I've come across in the house (M-1 carbine, .45ACP, Mauser HSC, .38SP, etc), but this looks like it may be a machine gun round.

 

[Tnhunter]

While cleaning out an old family house, I came across a small quantity of live rounds in 5-round stripper clips. They may be tracer rounds (red band where projectile meets case mouth), have no head-stamp, and appears to be berdan primed with large primers in a standard rimless case. The OAL= 83mm and the caliber is slightly larger than a standard 7.62NATO round. Would anyone like to guess what this might be? My real interest lies with the fact that I've found a firearm requiring each type of round I've come across in the house (M-1 carbine, .45ACP, Mauser HSC, .38SP, etc), but this looks like it may be a machine gun round.

Simply a guess, mind you, but being as how they are slightly larger (diameter?) than a .308 and about 83mm long OAL plus being in 5 round stripper clips, my guess is 8x57.

 

[MikeG]

I'll go with that guess as well. See if you can get some more precise measurements, especially the bullet diameter just ahead of the case mouth.

 

[trad_a_non]

The red band where the "projectile meets the case" is probably a type of varnish used as a sealant.

Best,

Trad A. Non

 

[MMichaelAK]

sounds like red lacquered combloc 8mm Mauser possibly. Post a pic of the head stamp or print what's on it?

 

[Combat Diver]

Could also be 7.5x55, 7.5 French. 83mm OAL would be 3.267". Concur if the red is just around the case neck than a sealant. If the whole tip is red than could be tracer. Is the ammo round nose or pointed? Is the case rimmed or semi rimmed? Only machine gun rounds that I remember coming packed on 5 round stripper clips where of the Hotchkiss designs by France or Japan. Normally the are designed for rifle use.

CD

 

[bigjershooter]

With the O A L of 3.267in.(83mm) I would agree that you probably have a 8mm mauser round.I believe that the 7.7jap and the 7.65 argentine were loaded to a length of 3.150in max for the 7.7jap,and 2,970max for the 7.65 argentine