US 106mm Recoilesss Rifle Training Round

[Aragorn243]

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.

Information

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[CINDERS]

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!

[browningautorifle]

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.

Probably paid too much

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

[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. 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.

[browningautorifle]

the tracer rounds were hazardous to store.

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.

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 don't think he was ever in 106 platoon.

They were firing it with a 20 foot string

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.

[muffett.2008]

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 round

[Aragorn243]

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?

[browningautorifle]

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

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.

[Aragorn243]

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

[browningautorifle]

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.