US 106mm Recoilesss Rifle Training Round

Picked this up Saturday at an auction. Probably paid too much but I had the other two, had to get this one.

It's actually 105mm but they designated it 106mm to differentiate it from the previous round which it replaced. Apparently these need to be pretty precisely manufactured or they will ruin everyone around the guns day.

Pictured with it are the 57mm round and a 75mm casing.

Seems a rather complex weapons system but it was popular while in use. They knew where you were as soon as you fired so you had to move, they are relatively short ranged, and you have to hand fit the shell into the rifling.

Aiming was difficult so these had a short 50 cal cartridge rifle that sat on top and was ballistically identical that was fired first. I think I have one somewhere.

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The 106mm 50 cal spotter round next to a normal 50 ball round.
I've a deloused complete HEAT Fin stabilised round I did it up after getting it in a bulk buy from a member here a long time ago.
It comes apart and still has the copper shaping cone in the nose I seem to have lost the pics of the case and projectile together may get new pics tomorrow.

Also the Ontos with 6 x 106mm RCL's not nice to receive a beehive rounds from that thing!

I was mortar platoon and supported lots of 106RR platoon shoots...then I ended up in 106 Pl before TOW came into the system. They worked out to 1000+ yds without problem and the spotter only helped to confirm shots to save the cost of the heat rounds. The sight was fine, no problems there. Some guys would waste several spotters before firing the major and still not hit. Others would fire a spotter and as soon as it was away fire the major. As for hand fitting...if you mean hand loaded? They just rammed them in and closed the breech...nothing special. They were an excellent weapon and much mourned when they left the infantry battalions.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Probably paid too much

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No, they're hard to get and now you have all three.

I watched a video with Ian McCollum and he said they had to be turned so the rifling lined up with the rifling on the band. I couldn't see how as the thing left no room for your hand to turn anything but that's what he said. They were firing it with a 20 foot string which I thought was amusing as it if blew up, they were in the kill zone so what's the point.

I found my spotter but it's just a case, no bullet. Have to find one with a bullet now. I thought I had a full one somewhere but if I do, it's not easily seen. The case I bought years ago. I think I bought it that way because they were saying the tracer rounds were hazardous to store. Some issues with them. But I thought i picked up a full one at a flea market last summer. Could be rolling around on the floor of the car all that time for all I know. So much for worrying about hazards.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

the tracer rounds were hazardous to store.

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They aren't tracer, they're spotter. They are explosive like incendiary and if struck hard enough could go off. I don't have a live one, just a ball bullet in a short case. You could paint the tip correctly. I wouldn't want a live projectile. When they strike a hard target they erupt with a bright white flash and a loud report. The tracer element of course shows you flight trajectory.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I watched a video with Ian McCollum and he said they had to be turned so the rifling lined up with the rifling on the band

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I don't think he was ever in 106 platoon.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

They were firing it with a 20 foot string

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The funniest part of that is being that far away gives you all the blast, right on top of the weapon is a bit better, the blast at least goes out back. Regardless, you don't want to be just a few feet away, it's abusive. Yes, if it detonated they'd have gone too.

Yep, you had to align the drive band when loading, not much fun when a new loader jams the round in the middle of a rapid practice......red hot barrel and the stink of the rayon bag melting.
Normal practice in this situation is to cut and run, cookoffs with the case hanging out aren't much fun.

How do I know? wrapped a couple of toggle ropes around the base and dragged the shell out.....all the time being screamed at by the safety officer.....better to get a kick up the arse for a breach of safety then to be responsible for a blown gun.

Spotting roundAttachment 130323

The possibility of it going off if dropped is why I didn't get the live one. You reminded me of that with your posts. I should get a bullet and insert it, painting the tip would work well. Just have to find one. I seem to recall seeing boxes of them at gun shows for $1 each or something like that.

This shell has two "rivets" in it. Are these to assist in lining up the drive band? Seems they would hit the rifling and then follow it as the shell is inserted. Maybe a later addition to the shells?

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I should get a bullet and insert it, painting the tip would work well

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I just haven't got round to painting, I just have a fired projectile in. The one Cinders shows is just a standard tracer and I never saw those. The one Muffet shows is the one I saw. Two color like the UK issue observing ammo issued for .50 cal. We shot lots of those in the M2s for night shoots. I don't know how much of a smash it would take to set off on in your basement but I wouldn't want to find out either.

I've seen both the tracers and the impact rounds. The same site sold both versions but is now out of stock of them.

You searched for 50 cal spotter - CDVS

Well, at least you have one. A close friend of mine on the far coast of Canada has a 106 he pieced together, he was my roomate and was in 106pl for a few years during the transition to TOW. I had the chance to get both 57mm and 75mm cases and one of them had a projectile. If I could get them complete I would but getting a case or projectile is less interesting. Then you may or may not EVER see the other half. You've got one. Nice.

Found the pic after I'd painted it I did not try and straighten the fins just left them as is but for the completed round I'll have to get it outside a bit later on.
Due my old injury to my back has decided to rip into me again so no bikes for a while I'm just managing to hobble here and there only!

So you need a casing...

Look what just showed up on local sale forum...speaking of...

Is that $15 a box or $15 per cartridge. Seems high for cartridge, low for box.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

$15 per cartridge.

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Per cartridge PLUS an absolutely staggering price for shipping. Since it's live ammo it's subject to the explosives act and only certain carriers here will now carry. They have a monopoly so this simple cartridge could easily cost you $100CDN delivered. I just talked turkey with a guy over a 105mm Leopard case and projectile and he quoted me shipping from two overland couriers of $375CDN and $425CDN on top of $300CDN cost. Canada Post would cost about $60CDN but he was too lazy to check that out and quit the deal on me. He thought $700/800CDN should be acceptable to a seasoned trader. Live ammo can't go postage, I think you guys are the same. If you read this guy's ad he speaks of "Pulling the bullets to load in .50"...which could be the end of him. We can't own .50 guns anyway.

I'll find one at a gun show. I don't think they are all that rare. Or I'll just pick up a bullet and insert it instead.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I'll just pick up a bullet and insert it instead.

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That's all I did, then you paint it.

I've got 2 x 106mm cases Jim one containing the HEAT round I'm a tad better (Not much but have to move!) so will endeavour to do a few pics of the complete round and disassemble nose showing the copper shaped cup for the round. Be back later......

Later Pics:
#1 - Complete round with projie in the case with MkVII 303 round for scale. (Bottom Left)
#2 - HEAT split showing copper cone.
#3 - Markings on the projectile.

I can't believe he mentions pulling a bullet like that when just by doing so could set it off.

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Originally Posted by jond41403

just by doing so could set it off.

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Well, most have no idea. For sure he doesn't know what the far end looks like when they hit. To be fair, I can't say it WOULD happen but there ARE explosive bullets with extra fun involved.

I found an actual round minus primer and powder at the gun show so I just got that. $3.

I had walked through most of the gun show without finding anyone selling just the bullets which I thought odd but I came across this guy that had four of them with the original tips in. I asked if these were the ones that could explode and he said yes, don't let your kids play with them. They won't go off easily, in fact they look designed to prevent it from happening. The tip is a little cone with the solid dip down inside this protective cone. Probably so they can be handled safely but obviously impact upon firing would set it off.

Here's the shell, I took a photo of the tip, maybe a firing pin type deal that had to be driven into the spotting explosive. Seller said not to hit it with a hammer.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

a firing pin type deal

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No they hit at velocity and detonated with a report and brilliant flash. They left a huge cloud of white smoke from the Magnesium powder. It would be ignited by the tracer element I expect.