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Just came home from the gun range, or what passes for it, and found some non fired shells on the ground and I think they are marked U 1943 on the shell rim, and looks like a rimless Russian shell, with the bullet 175 grains, FMJ, .311 in diameter, and when I pulled the bullets, the powder wasn't powder, but stick type, is this chordite?? It burned slowly, and was separated from the bullet by a piece of paper. Is this typical for Russian type shells? Very different that modern stuff. Duggaboy
"...is this cordite??..." Likely. Cordite looks a lot like whole wheat spaghetti. Used by the Brits well into W.W. II.
A 'U' on the headstamp was used by several ammo makers. Three American, one German and a South African plant.
How long is the case? You're sure about the bullet diameter? Doubt it's Russian. They used rimmed 7.62 x 54 in 1943. Might be a 7.65 Argentine/Mauser or 7.7 Japanese(not likely though).
Most likely its .Quote:
Originally Posted by duggaboy
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ite_sticks.jpg
It still washes up on some beaches in Europe. Rotten old war ships and shells deteriorate but cordite doesn't care.. Floats up and ends up on shore.
That sure sounds like it's British .303 packed with cordite and the cardboard between the powder and the bullet and the correct bullet weight but it is a rimmed round and not rimless.