French Carbine Ammo

[painter777]

Pretty sure French made.
But wondering why they needed it?
Were the French using the .30 carbine in SE Asia? (Dated 62)
Came across 120+ rds today
All marked 4-62 @ 12'o clock
Then BD @ 3
7.62 @ 6
VE @ 9
Usual red gunked up primer sealant.

99% sure this is French.
Wondering about the BD and VE markings.
Might BD be who loaded it?
VE maybe where it was made?

Not that important, just curious, so don't hold off on that sammage or miss the ball game over my question

Along with these and all the fake LC I found the other day... I'll pull the bullets, but wish I had a Ruger in .30 to make the job go quicker ;-)

TIA,
Charlie-Painter777

Information

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[jonnyc]

I think VE is the maker and BD would be the metal supplier, although I might have that reversed. Yes, they did use lots of carbines in SEAsia, not to mention Algeria and parts of Africa ans South America. Very corrosive stuff, DO NOT USE it in any carbine.

[Bubba-7]

I had thought the first reproduction M1A1 stocks SARCO sold were from the French. Their Foreign Legion used a lot of carbines. Those first ones were almost as good as ours. After the first shippment the quality went down.

[painter777]

The VE on the headstamp: Loaded by Cartoucherie de Valence, France who produced for the French military.
The case was made by BD: Forges Barriol et Fils, Andrezieux, France.

Also posted there was this Quote from jonnyc : "This stuff is considered excessively corrosive. I wouldn't use it if it was the last rounds on Earth."

All I need to know,
Thx Guys,


CH-P777

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French

[USGI]

The VE on the headstamp: Loaded by Cartoucherie de Valence, France who produced for the French military.
The case was made by BD: Forges Barriol et Fils, Andrezieux, France.

I found this same info in an old Stackpole cartridge guide I bought at a thrift store for a couple bucks. It added that VE closed down in 1962. - Bob

[Bruce McAskill]

There are two different types of French carbine ammo. One is steel cased and the other is brass. Both were loaded with Berdan primers which are corrosive and some of the brass was boxer primed and non corrosive BUT the majority of it is Berdan primed and corrosive. Best just to pass on it unless it's real cheap and you reload so you can pull the bullets and use them and the powder.