Military ammo experts needed.

[protoolman]

Picked up this stuff at an estate sale anybody identify any of it? Is it worth anything or just keep it for display?

.308s are black tipped and 5.56s are red. Never seen linked 5.56 before?

 

[Wvfarrier]

Reds are tracers. Black tips are armor piercing (the projectiles alone usually go for $1 a piece).

 

[pyth0n]

Picked up this stuff at an estate sale anybody identify any of it? Is it worth anything or just keep it for display?View attachment 42925
.308s are black tipped and 5.56s are red. Never seen linked 5.56 before?

Linked 5.56 were used in several squad auto weapons. M60 was one of them.

 

[gunzo]

No, the M60 was 7.62, but there is a belt feed 5.56. A loss at the model number at this time.

 

[Fox Mike]

^Maybe this.

Infantry Defense Systems Multimax SAW 5.56 Belt Fed, Closed Bolt, Semi Auto 16" Barrel, Ships In Trunk Case

Infantry Defense Systems Multimax SAW 5.56 Belt Fed, Closed Bolt, Semi Auto 16" Barrel, Ships In Trunk Case. Infantry Defense Systems IDS820.B. The Infantry Defense Systems (IDS) Multimax Closed Bolt SAW is a belt fed, multi caliber self-loading rifle configured in 5.56mm. An improved design ...

www.impactguns.com

 

[GoBow]

Any chance those linked black tips are .30-06? The brass looks a bit long to be 7.62x51. Could be the pic throws the perspective off though...

 

[Jeepnik]

No, the M60 was 7.62, but there is a belt feed 5.56. A loss at the model number at this time.

M249, SAW Squad Automatic Weapon. Both kids were SAW gunners.

 

[the_leper_colony]

Guessing that big round with the belted case might be for a Boys anti-tank rifle, if the projectile is about a half inch in diameter (can't tell from photo):

.55 Boys - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

No idea on value!


Edit: there are a few other big military rounds with belted cases -13x92mm German, 13.5x97mm Hotchkiss, 15x83mm German, etc. Here's a 20mm round with a belt:

20×138mmB - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Bullet diameter & case length would probably tell you a lot!

 

[MaxMan]

There is a forum Gunboards. Dedicated to milsurps. I'm sure some of that will send the members drooling.

 

[protoolman]

Yep the black tip linked is 30-06. Would that be AP then? Wondering what the big long rounds in linked steel cases especially.

 

[the_leper_colony]

...Wondering what the big long rounds in linked steel cases especially.

After looking at the photo again, I would guess 20mm rounds for an aircraft cannon, if the projectiles are 3/4"+ in diameter (just a guess ;^).

Edit: or maybe rounds for a 20mm anti-aircraft gun like the Oerlikon - the US used those during WW2. Here's a 20x72mmRB round, which I think one of the Oerlikon models used:

 

[protoolman]

I'm not at home so I'll do some measuring Monday.

 

[NikA]

Looks like several 20mm cartridges across the top, maybe German 20x82mm cannon linked, one slightly shorter 20mm cartridge, then a 20x105mm or 20x138mm belted cannon round. Cases for 37mm flares and a 40mm grenade, linked .30-06 AP, linked 5.56x45 tracers, possibly a 30mm projectile, linked .50 BMG, and a M8C .50 spotting rifle round.

 

[harley08]

Linked 5.56 were used in several squad auto weapons. M60 was one of them.

M60 is a .308 ---
the new .308 M240 = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M240_machine_gun
FN 249 is a 5.56 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M249_light_machine_gun

 

[MaxMan]

Some of that looks like really old stuff some looks like recent stuff.

 

[protoolman]

Looks like several 20mm cartridges across the top, maybe German 20x82mm cannon linked, one slightly shorter 20mm cartridge, then a 20x105mm or 20x138mm belted cannon round. Cases for 37mm flares and a 40mm grenade, linked .30-06 AP, linked 5.56x45 tracers, possibly a 30mm projectile, linked .50 BMG, and a M8C .50 spotting rifle round.

From what I know so far you pretty much nailed it! I knew an expert would appear. You must have some professional experience? Thanks!

 

[contender]

I can't believe the many Vets we have here haven't identified the 5 linked bigger rounds as .50 BMG! Well, except for NikA.

As noted,, 5.56 linked, 30-06 black tipped linked, and a type of 20mm linked across the top row,, but again, as NikA mentioned,, most likely German.

Looks like someone was collecting military ammo.

 

[oliver507]

M249, SAW Squad Automatic Weapon. Both kids were SAW gunners.

Jeepnik my son carried an M249 during his time in the 505 PIR 82nd Airborne.

 

[NikA]

From what I know so far you pretty much nailed it! I knew an expert would appear. You must have some professional experience? Thanks!

Not a professional but personal interest in collecting obscure ammo. As a note, the linked 20mm is most likely for an aircraft cannon and may be filled with an incendiary or explosive (IIRC 20mm generally isn't a legal problem based on size), you may want to look into deactivation since you probably won't be shooting it.

I don't know the stability of the compounds used in those rounds. I do know that a lot of the WWI stuff is now less than stable and presents storage/handling concerns.

 

[pyth0n]

M60 is a .308 ---
the new .308 M240 = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M240_machine_gun
FN 249 is a 5.56 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M249_light_machine_gun

Thanks. I was thinking of an early M16 i saw. I didn't check myself. I don't know if that M16 ever saw service though.