Just scored a handful of these rounds. They need a bit of cleaning up but appear to be the real deal by the markings.
They appear to have been stripped out of some sort of link in the reasonably recent past. All I know is that this round was primarily used by the IJN on ships and aircraft, and to some extent by their "Marine" ground forces.
Interesting twist to my normal .303 scrounging.
In the same "bundle" was one FN-50 .303 with red primer sealant and a couple of 7.7 Jap rifle rounds that look like they have been in a VERY wet place, but might clean up OK.
Could be onto some Italian WW2 7.7 Rimmed ammo as well, just to make it "interesting".
This could be the start of yet another fascinating side-track!
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The IJA as far as I know based on a few years reading is they had a similar feed for their 7.7 HMG like the Hotchkiss which may explain the marks on them Bruce as I am looking at a Hotchkiss tray I have did they change the feed system to link for the IJN or stayed with the trays......?.
Also allot of the Japanese ammo bears no H/S and can have a 3 crimp pattern on the primer thats what my 6.5 Arisaka rounds have.
Thus, it came to pass, that the Japanese went into a real shooting war with THREE, different, incompatible "7.7mm" small-arms rounds. On top of two, differently loaded, but identically-sized 6.5mm rounds.
I guess Bruce the song for them must have gone "Praise Shinto and pass the ammunition" to which the reply would be 'Which one!" by that time they were over run and cactus................?
Not really just a bit of fun the IJN soldier proved to be a stubborn opponent and not scared of dying in droves, bit like the Russians in Leningrad/Stalingrad did not matter which way you went front or backwards you were shot both ways!
I can only imagine the logistical nightmare the Japanese had for ammo. As mentioned 3 different 7.7 rounds, 2 different 6.5 rounds, 3 main different pistol cartridges (not even counting other odd ones such as 7mm Nambu) 9mm Japanese Revolver, 8mm Nambu, .32 ACP, etc.
WW2 7.7 Rimmed ammo as well, just to make it "interesting".
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