Topic: New Headstamps

[David Wright]

AFTE Members and Friends,

I recently encountered a problem while updating the AFTE Headstamp Gallery.  As a result, the "Letters" portion of the database is not currently available for viewing.  I apologize for any inconvenience and will continue to work on a fix.  In the meantime, I'd like to thank all who have contributed to this resource.

Thank you, 

[Forensic]

SB       Arms Corporation of the Philippines, (formally Squires Bingham Co.) Marikina, Republic of the Philippines
 
SB       Empresa Nacional Santa Barbara de Industrias Militares SA, Toledo, Spain
 
SB       Israeli Military Industries, Tel Aviv, Israel
 
SB       Sellier and Bellot, Schoenbeck/Elbe, Germany

The correct answer would be: Squires Bingham (now Armscor of the Phillipines). The headstamp style is the same, as on the new ones with the hs AP 96  45 ACP (same look, same letterstyle).

Santa Barbara hasn´t made .45ACP in that time period (if ever)

and Sellier & Bellot from Schönebeck isn´t possible at all, as they are since WW2 not longer in the business of manufacturing pistol rounds (except under different names .22lr and some blank and teargas cartridges, which are made FOR THEM, by other firms from abroad), so, they never can have made a .45ACP in 1985.

The S&B Vlasim (CSR) style hs is totally different from this one...and in 1985 they still used their "bombs" as an indicator for the year code -different angles of the bombs or absence of one of the 2-.
Usually they do not use a year code at all, except on military contracts whereas the buyer usually request this.

All my best

Forensic

Forensic Service Wellen
54441 Wellen/Germany

[50M2HB]

7.62x51 M-80 Ball (147 gr). GGG (Giraites Ginkluotes Gamykla) Made in Lithuania.  Brass cased, Nickel, Percussion, Boxer primed (reloadable) non-corrosive, Copper Jacket, Lead Core, Knurled Crimp Cannelure, Brass Case, Red Primer Sealant, Ring Primer Crimp.  Made in 2003.  20 rounds in a tan cardboard box with black ink printing "20 7.62x51 M80 440-GGG-03". 10 boxes in an Olive Drab plastic battle pack.

[50M2HB]

7.62x39 Chinese military issue ball, packaged on 10-round steel stripper clips.  Copper-washed steel jacket, steel core, copper-washed steel case, brass percussion primer, most probably corrosive, red primer sealant, red case mouth sealant.  Projectile is probably FMJBT, 123 gr.  Headstamp "351 73"

[Aaron Brudenell]

GGG (Giraites Ginkluotes Gamykla) Made in Lithuania. 

Whew!     For a second there I thought those "GGG" was "666"!

[50M2HB]

7.62 NATO caliber Blanks from Hirtenberg Patronen of Austria.  L31A1 blank, brass, full-length case, rose crimp case mouth, green mouth sealant, brass, percussion primer, red primer sealant, no primer crimp, headstamp "HP 92 L31A1"  Packaged 20 rounds to a tan cardboard box with white over label & black printing, purple lot number.  For commercial US market, circa:  2007

[50M2HB]

Typical military style, .50 BMG caliber (12.7x99) Ball round from the former Yugoslavia, Igman of Konjic (Bosnia).  Listed on the packaging as 699 grains, a Full-Metal-Jacketed design, probably boat-tail, with copper jacket, mild steel core and knurled crimp cannelure.  Typical brass case, brass percussion primer, reportedly boxer and non-corrosive, red primer sealant, 3-stab primer crimp, & segmented case mouth crimp.  Headstamp "IK 06 .50"  10 rounds/cardboard box with red, white, black & grey markings.  Small, white, paper labels with black Igman logo and "01 06" sealing each end flap.  For commercial US market, circa:  2007

[Dalibor]

...found this in my collection

[Dalibor]

Found this one on 30-06 with black bullet tip. Remington Arms?

[Dalibor]

Unknown 303 British headstamps.
Probably US or Canadian made.

[Dalibor]

Known 303British.

[Forensic]

Unknown 303 British headstamps.
Probably US or Canadian made.

Short identification of your ammo, Nr.1 to Nr. 8 (top to bottom)

Nr 1 = Ball, Mk VII, Dominion Arsenal Quebec, Canada 1943
Nr.2 = Ball, MK VII,Defence Industries,Canada,Z=Nitrocellulose
Nr.3 = Ball, Mk VII, Kynoch, GB, 1934,
Nr.4 = Ball, Mk VII, Kynoch, GB, 1933, 
Nr.5 = Ball, Mk VII, Kirkee Arsenal, or Kirkee Factory, India,1936
Nr.6 = Ball, Mk VII, Small Arms Amm.Factory Nr.6 at Rocklea,Australia
Nr.7 = Ball, MK VII, Royal Laboratory at Woolwich, GB, 1929
Nr.8 = Tracer, L = Luminoso, by SMI Italy, Societa Metallurgica Italiana 1936

Remark: This are only headstamps identifications; please obeye, that during wartime many cases where reloaded, no matter what headstamp was originally given to a certain bullet type. So, it could be possible, that some cases bear an other type of bullet, as indicated in the hs. Allways caution your first opinion :-), better make an x-ray before you do something wrong with a unkown "Bullet", your fingers will maybe thankfull...

Forensic Service, Wellen, Germany
Forensic

[50M2HB]

7.62x54R caliber Czech manufacture, light ball, steel core, silver tip, dark lacquered steel case, blackened primer, two-element headstamp "bxn 89."  From green cardboard 20-round box, unmarked, except for a silver stripe to indicate projectile load.

[50M2HB]

5.56 NATO Caliber Tracer from Royal Ordnance-Radway Green.  Brass case, gilding metal-clad steel projectile, knurled crimp cannelure, red tip, brass primer, red primer sealant, ring primer crimp.  Headstamp NATO symbol (circle/cross) RORG 92.  Packed on 10-round stripper clips, 380 rounds (38 strippers) per plain cardboard box without markings.  Circa 2007, US commercial market.

[50M2HB]

7.62x54R Ball from Poland, red case mouth sealant, copper-washed steel case, brass primer, red primer sealant, headstamp (reversed) 21 83.  Packed in 20-round paper bundles, unmarked, with twine binding.  Note that the cartridge case has to be turned to properly read the headstamp numbers, unlike headstamps from Hungary & Romania, also carrying 21 as a headstamp plant code, which can be read without turning the case around.