identify the links

[emmagee1917]

This practice of crimped primers existed long before the brownings . Any primer falling out of the case during ejection and into the action of any gun can really jam things up.
Chris

[browningautorifle]

As I said in post 28...not specific but general...

[DocAV]

The problem of "Backing out Primers" in Airforce MGs, especially with US-made .303 ammo was first noted by the French, who were using Lewis and Vickers Guns in 1916, to supplement their clumsy Hotchkiss Guns in Aircraft..

The French found that they had to "Crimp" the Uncrimped US ammo ( 1915-16 HS) especially when they used Primed cases to load up special Loads ( Tracer, AP and Incendiary) with imported British Projies. This problem had already been noted by the Brits, with the Mark VII ammo in aircraft guns ( and to a Lesser extent in Ground Guns)...the formerly uncrimped Domed .250" Primers were then made "flat faced" and "Ringed" in ( circular Primer crimp). The French continued "Over-crimping" the US ammo with the Large Rifle Boxer Primer ( both three and four stab crimps.)

Of course, the Germans had already independently noted the problem as far back as the 1890s, with Patrone 88 in both Bolt and MGs...and had added two solutions , the "Mit rille" ( serrated mouth crimp) and the Three stab Primer crimp, for the "S" Patrone, by the time WW I got under way.

The Italians noted the primer back-out problem in the 18900s, with the 6,5mm case, and added the "circular channel" which acted as a self sealing wall around the primer on firing. (The Bolt face was also grooved to give the "Compressive" effect.)
The Japanese also added the "three stab" crimp to the M1905 cartridge ( T38,) by the time WW I started....

Only the US lagged behind...until large quantities of Aircraft TYpe M1906 was furnished by USCCo. in 1917 and 18, which had both the Head Groove AND the four-stab crimp to lock the primer in for this AirForce MG cartridge ( Marlins, Lewises, M1915 Vickers)..the US picked up these improvements from the French, who they relied on for a lot of Wartime Technical Support in France.

After WW I, nearly all nations used some form of special primer crimping for Aircraft ammunition (Ring or Stab) or heavily lacquered in a very tight fitting Primer. Some Nations (USA, Britain, France) Crimped all SAA, irrespective of use.

Doc AV

[CINDERS]

Excellent info throughout this thread by other forumers I appreciate the shared knowledge, I like campfire yarns and my fellow traveller when we go bush is like me "If it goes bang, like Lee Emery might say "Sir, we luv it."
I am not the type that expounds on why the universe is the way it is but go on printed matter and what those with the practical training and experience have on the subject.

But really guys/gals nothing beats the smell of freshly burnt gunpowder or the sound of a Lee Enfield Action stripping a round from the mag, I say this as an enthusiast and I am not trying to offend anyone here who might have had their fair share of the smell and the lead flying all about them.