What is this round?

[Tom_C]

I found this old round at a customers home this past week. Husband was a reloader but I don't think this is a hunting round. Any ideas? Look at end of round . has 42 stamped on it.

Definitely NOT a round of ammunition:

• The case appears to be a fired .50BMG
• The "bullet" is not a bullet.
• A real .50 cal bullet would fit into the casing (just like any other bullet fits into the casing of whatever round it is) and no .50 cal bullet from 1942 would have been made of steel (AP had a steel core, but had a copper alloy jacket to engage the rifling.
• Not a military dummy round because those didn't have a fired primer.

As others have suggested, the "bullet" appears likely to be a cap that is meant to be pulled off or screwed off to reveal something... perhaps a pen, perhaps a lighter, maybe just a space to stash something.

 

[PatriotHenry]

I found this old round at a customers home this past week. Husband was a reloader but I don't think this is a hunting round. Any ideas? Look at end of round . has 42 stamped on it.

Lake City 1942. 50BMG?

 

[Ol' Red]

I just realized this was a six month old post. We may never know the answer.

 

[Critter Picker]

I might be way off base,but it looks like a military 12 GA. OO bk round.

 

[Ol' Red]

So the 1942 Lake City steel case was a decoy the whole time.

 

[RckyMtnRutt]

Lol i thought he was talking about the pen not the 50bmg 3" buck shot

 

[Critter Picker]

Sorry, I didn't notice the corroded one next to the 00 bk.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

All the OP had to do was to put a micrometer on the bullet, neck, and measures the case.
Could have had an answer in under 5 posts! Go to any Gun Show and there will be dozens of made up cartridges.

 

[Calvin45]

It does look like a military 50 BMG round.

In every way except the neck. That neck is way shorter!

 

[Calvin45]

It does look like a military 50 BMG round.

Disregard my first reply, that "bullet" is some kind of cap No doubt covering the neck to some degree.

 

[Heterotroph]

I found this old round at a customers home this past week. Husband was a reloader but I don't think this is a hunting round. Any ideas? Look at end of round . has 42 stamped on it.

Reassembled cartridge with a cap on the bullet. Caps were red and were probably used to identify the connecting end of an ammo belt.

 

[Handymike]

Definitely NOT a round of ammunition:

• The case appears to be a fired .50BMG
• The "bullet" is not a bullet.
• A real .50 cal bullet would fit into the casing (just like any other bullet fits into the casing of whatever round it is) and no .50 cal bullet from 1942 would have been made of steel (AP had a steel core, but had a copper alloy jacket to engage the rifling.
• Not a military dummy round because those didn't have a fired primer.

As others have suggested, the "bullet" appears likely to be a cap that is meant to be pulled off or screwed off to reveal something... perhaps a pen, perhaps a lighter, maybe just a space to stash something.

Thank you all for replying to my above post. this morning I disassembled it and found the following.
1) projectile portion is steel ( magnetic ) and fits over neck of shell
2) it is a fired round that has been made into a lighter as several members have stated.

3) mic'ed it out for the several members who wanted the specs
20.28mm at head, tapered case to 18.64mm just before neck, 14.3mm at neck, 99.56mm
length ( head to neck )
couple more pictures are attached for you guys
Again Thanks
Mike

 

[WildRose]

Disregard my first reply, that "bullet" is some kind of cap No doubt covering the neck to some degree.

I was thinking a 50BMG with a larger slug placed over the neck as a gag but you guys may be right.