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Featuring a wide range of antique, obsolete, and modern ammunition for collectors  


Picture Page

June 2006


A sniper's cartridge for the 21st Century......

The oversized monster pictured to the right of the three smaller cartridges (.30-06, 7.62 NATO and 5.56 NATO) that became standard sniper fodder during the 20th century is the .338 Lapua Magnum, also known as the 8.6 x 70mm to those who continue tirelessly to embrace the metric system of measurement. This cartridge is unusual, in that it was originally designed for long range sniper use. Developed in 1983 for the U.S. Navy, the first of these cartridges used 250 grain Hornady bullets and cases made by Brass Extrusion Labs (B.E.L.L.). Velocity and accuracy are apparently pretty impressive to those spend time pondering such things. Muzzle velocity is just under 3000 fps; the bullet is still supersonic 1300 yards down range. It is capable of reliable accuracy in excess of 1100 yards, well beyond the range of the other three.  

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A 9 m/m Belgian Nagant cartridge.........

.One of those cartridges that tends to be seen much less often than the firearm it was made for, this is the 9mm Nagant. Originally designed for use in the Model 1878 Belgian Nagant revolver, it was used also in the Model 1883 Nagant, and saw service with the Belgian military until 1900, when it was replaced by the FN Browning 7.65mm automatic pistol. The cartridge continued to be produced by a number of European ammunition makers until just before World War 1. These will be found with paper patched bullets, like this one, as well as plain lead bullets. I have included a picture of a Model 1878 Nagant revolver.

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A box of Peters .45 ACP Rustless Riot Cartridges.....

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Here's a  really nice sealed box of Peters rustless .45 ACP shot cartridges which were made to be used in the Thompson sub-machine gun for riot control, and assuming the information on the box is to believed, they were 'considered particularly effective for that purpose'. According to the instructions on the top label, a special magazine was required when firing these cartridges. In addition, it was recommended that no more than 18 cartridges be loaded in the magazine; otherwise, the shot-filled paper bullets might be crushed. This would  render them incapable of being fed into the chamber of the gun, causing the action to jam; which would certainly not be a good thing when dealing with a rioting crowd, especially after they've already been peppered a few times with birdshot. The patent for this shot cartridge was issued on October 20, 1925, also noted on the top label. Patent # 1,557,696 was issued on this date to Charles Le Roy Holden, who assigned it to Peters. His patent covers a metal cup, loaded into the cartridge case beneath the paper shot container, with its open side towards the powder charge. He was issued another patent (1,557,695) on that same day, which he filed with the patent office about a year earlier than 1,557,696, and which has the metal cup turned in the opposite direction. I assume this orientation of the cup didn't work as well, resulting in the filing of the second patent application. The cup is designed to act as a gas check to provide a seal which prevents the explosive gases produced by the ignited powder charge from damaging or passing by the shot container until it has reached the end of the barrel, thereby allowing the shot to spread in a predictable pattern after leaving the barrel, as well as maintaining uniform pressure to ensure the proper functioning of the firearm. As can be seen in the picture with my rather poorly sectioned cartridge, the metal cup looks very much like the cap that fits onto the open end of a glass Christmas ornament. It even has the hole in the middle through which passes the springy wire thing that the hook attaches to. Being the scrooge that I am, I can't help but think that Mr. Holden got the inspiration for his patent while grudgingly fulfilling the traditional (and usually infuriating) husband/father duties associated with the family Christmas tree. The patent number 1,694,890 on the back label applies to the rustless priming mixture. This patent was issued to Harley T. Peck on December 11, 1928, and also assigned to the Peters Cartridge Company. Based on the progression of the patents, I would have to assume that the very earliest of these Peters riot cartridges will be found in boxes that are not marked "Rustless", and will have the metal cup positioned with the open side towards the shot load rather than the powder.

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