What do I have here? Danish wood-tipped 303...

[chartreuse]

I saw these the other week and couldn't resist them. It's 100 rounds of .303 Brit with softwood (thumbnail test) bullets

The label appears to say that they come from a Danish manufacturer and has a 1947 date, plus two rubber stamped dates - 5 Sep 1950 and 11 Sep 1950.

The two dozen or so cartridges that I've examined have a mix of headstamps - RG, U, DAG (or possibly DAC), CP and MO (or poss MJ) and dates from 1940 through 1945 in both 4 and 2 digit format. All the brass I've inspected was wartime production and all had an * stamped (actually over-stamped, it looked like).

There's definitely some kind of propellant inside and, while I haven't pulled a bullet yet, I assume it's cordite as I can hear it rattle.

Google offers a number of possibilities, including training ammo, grenade launcher rounds etc. But I hoped one of the experts here might be able to be a bit more enlightening.

Information

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[Chickenthief]

The translation is as follows:

The army's munitions arsenal
100pcs.
7.7mm blanks model 1947
Reloding date (the date in rubber stamp) Otterup munitions factory ltd.

The top right rubber stamp says: Checked and then the date.


They are normal training blanks and not reloaded with cordite but a small amount of smokeless powder. I do not believe that cordite was ever used in Denmark (but i can check with a good friend)

After the germans left after the second period an almost 100% void of long guns was the result in Denmark. What they didnt nick for guard duty in other occupied countries they destroyed. So basically we had some model 1867 Remington Rolling Blocks and BP cartridges for them.
So any contribution was most welcome. We got: Swedish model 96 mausers, Enfields, P17's and Garands.

Hope this helps.
Henrik

[chartreuse]

Wow, thanks Henrik - that's awesome. I'd been hoping for an informed guess, but a verbatim translation is even better.

[bouletbill]

I think they were intended for automatic weapons fitted with an adaptor fitted to the muzzle and could be very dangerous if fired out of an ordinary rifle . I may be wrong , but if they are loaded for cycling an auto mechanism , then there may be more than a "small amount of smokeless powder.
I think in Britain they would be classified as live rounds because of the wooden bullet .

[Chickenthief]

Wooden projectile training rounds were made for most all weapons in the after war years! I have seen 30-06 (for US donated P17's and Garands), 8x58RD (for the remaning Danish Krags), 303 Brit (for British donated Lee'), 6.5x55 (for donated Swede 96'ers). I think it was a Danish thing because of the limited amount of smokeless powder and cases present after the second game. If you think of it from a poor point of wiew: If a star crimp is put on a case it can be used but once!!! With a wooden plug it can be reused in traning until suficient production of blanks can keep up with demand.

In fact we were so poor in the post war years that: If i had'nt been born a boy child i would'nt have had anything to play with for the first years of my life

In the post war years there was a wast red front scare and severe traning was a consequence, but little/limited/mixed material was present. So the Danish arsenal had to make do

PS. We also have 8x57JS wooden tips for the left over german Mausers!

Will post pics later.

[bouletbill]

How far do those wooden bullets travel , or do they disintegrate on exiting the muzzle ?

Chartreuse , any chance of a test report ?

Chickenthief , a word of advice , don't stop playing ! otherwise you'll also end up firing blanks )

[chartreuse]

I'm up to my neck in a literature review for my Masters at the mo, so no playing at the range for the next few weeks, unfortunately. If I get a chance I'll pull one of the "bullets" and weigh the powder, though.

As I understand it, from reading around, they disintegrate. Though I suppose you could turn some from a very hard wood, for vampires...

[Chickenthief]

Safety distance was 30m~100ft directly in front of the muzzle. They're hollow and blow up as soon as they loose support from the barrel.

[Chickenthief]

Some further research:
British Lee-Endfields and Brenguns was implemented in the danish army as soon as the Gerrys left, all designated M45.
The Garand rifle came in 1950 and is designated M50 and the P17 in 1953 and is designated (you guessed it ;-)) The M53 or 53-17
Along with all that the Nawy used left over 8x57 Mausers for some years.

I have found pics of:
303 Brit
9mm
6,5x55 Swede
8x57 for rifle (long projectiles) and for grenade launching (short plugs white and blue)
30-06
8x58R Danish Krag-Jørgensen M1889
11,7x41 Rimfire and 11,7x51R centerfire Danish Remington Rolling block M1867
38 Swiss revolver
32 German officer revolver

Here's one and the rest is in this album