What rifle cartridge is this???

golfnutrlv · February 16, 2013, 05:52 PM

Hey everyone. I have a habit of collecting brass cases, and military headstamps that I find here and there, at the range, etc.

I picked up a couple cases last weekend that I thought were military .308, but they are not. After some research, and flipping through my reloading manual, I cannot figure out what this cartridge is.

Details: Longer than .308 case, about 55mm, but shorter than a .30-06.
Cannot really tell what the bullet diameter was, as the neck is dinged as if fired from a semi-auto rifle.

It is rimless, non-belted. SHoulder angle is not far out of line with most standard 308/.30-06 cartridge styles.

The primer pocket is crimped, or pinned, which tells me it is a military cartridge, as well as the headstamp.

The case body is thicker than a .308/.30-06 case, but it is narrower than a WSM style case.

THe headstamp is quite unique. At 9 oclock is a "D", 3 oclock an "A", a numberal "5" at 12 oclock, and a year stamp of "79" at 6 oclock. If read clockwise, it would read D-5-A-79, but could more logically be "DA, 5-79" as in month/year.

The only cartridge I can think of, is 7X57 Mauser, but this is a guess. See pics below...Anyone know?

Between a .308 and .30-06:

Length view:

Close up:

Headstamp"

Rainbow Demon · February 16, 2013, 06:03 PM

6.5X55 Swedish?

The case looks slightly bulged but the Swede case is normally a hair larger at the base than a 30-06 or comparable Mauser case.

Maybe 7.5X54 French?

There more 7.5 French MAS autoloaders out there than the 6.5 Lungman autoloaders, but both rounds have been used with autoloaders.

PS
Theres the 7.5X55 Swiss, and while not commonly available there are Swiss semi auto rifles in that chambering.

golfnutrlv · February 16, 2013, 06:33 PM

Rainbow,

Definitely not a 6.5. Neck is far too large. Of the ones you mentioned, seems to resemble 7.5 swiss the most, but at this point I can't rule out 7.5 MAS

Jim Watson · February 16, 2013, 08:06 PM

7.65x54 Belgian/Turkish/Argentine?
Compare vs other 54-55 mm cases.

James K · February 16, 2013, 10:21 PM

DA could be Dominion Arms of Canada, but that base looks quite a bit larger than .308, so 8x57 and 7x57 are out, and even 7.5 French, 7.5 Swiss, 7.7 Jap and 6.5x55 are not as big as the case looks.

If golfnutrlv doesn't have a micrometer or a caliper maybe he could find a gun shop that has one and get some accurate measurements.

Jim

jimmy lowboy · February 17, 2013, 12:23 AM

The headstamp looks like those on the gp11 surplus swiss that my k31 fires.This ammo is very accurate in my rifle.

golfnutrlv · February 17, 2013, 12:34 AM

Hey all, Thanks for the info.

Here are some measurements:

Overall case length: 2.179 inches
The neck is .336 inches
Case body .479 at the midpoint
The base is .494 inches, below the extractor groove.

If you need other measurements, let me know.

**Mike Irwin** · February 17, 2013, 07:52 AM

7.5 Swiss.

No doubt about it, given the headstamp.

A stands for the Swiss arsenal at Altdorf, D stands for Dornach (apparently the brass supplier), 5 is May, and 79 is 1979.

golfnutrlv · February 17, 2013, 11:57 AM

Thank Mike and everyone else! A new cartridge for my collection!

February 16, 2013, 05:52 PM	#1
golfnutrlv Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,347	What rifle cartridge is this??? Hey everyone. I have a habit of collecting brass cases, and military headstamps that I find here and there, at the range, etc. I picked up a couple cases last weekend that I thought were military .308, but they are not. After some research, and flipping through my reloading manual, I cannot figure out what this cartridge is. Details: Longer than .308 case, about 55mm, but shorter than a .30-06. Cannot really tell what the bullet diameter was, as the neck is dinged as if fired from a semi-auto rifle. It is rimless, non-belted. SHoulder angle is not far out of line with most standard 308/.30-06 cartridge styles. The primer pocket is crimped, or pinned, which tells me it is a military cartridge, as well as the headstamp. The case body is thicker than a .308/.30-06 case, but it is narrower than a WSM style case. THe headstamp is quite unique. At 9 oclock is a "D", 3 oclock an "A", a numberal "5" at 12 oclock, and a year stamp of "79" at 6 oclock. If read clockwise, it would read D-5-A-79, but could more logically be "DA, 5-79" as in month/year. The only cartridge I can think of, is 7X57 Mauser, but this is a guess. See pics below...Anyone know? Between a .308 and .30-06: Length view: Close up: Headstamp" __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ VIGILIA PRETIUM LIBERTATIS "The price of liberty is vigilance" America is at an awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.

February 16, 2013, 06:03 PM	#2
Rainbow Demon Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2012 Posts: 397	6.5X55 Swedish? The case looks slightly bulged but the Swede case is normally a hair larger at the base than a 30-06 or comparable Mauser case. Maybe 7.5X54 French? There more 7.5 French MAS autoloaders out there than the 6.5 Lungman autoloaders, but both rounds have been used with autoloaders. PS Theres the 7.5X55 Swiss, and while not commonly available there are Swiss semi auto rifles in that chambering. Last edited by Rainbow Demon; February 16, 2013 at 06:10 PM.

February 16, 2013, 06:33 PM	#3
golfnutrlv Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,347	Rainbow, Definitely not a 6.5. Neck is far too large. Of the ones you mentioned, seems to resemble 7.5 swiss the most, but at this point I can't rule out 7.5 MAS __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ VIGILIA PRETIUM LIBERTATIS "The price of liberty is vigilance" America is at an awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.

February 17, 2013, 12:34 AM	#7
golfnutrlv Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,347	Hey all, Thanks for the info. Here are some measurements: Overall case length: 2.179 inches The neck is .336 inches Case body .479 at the midpoint The base is .494 inches, below the extractor groove. If you need other measurements, let me know. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ VIGILIA PRETIUM LIBERTATIS "The price of liberty is vigilance" America is at an awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.

February 17, 2013, 07:52 AM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	7.5 Swiss. No doubt about it, given the headstamp. A stands for the Swiss arsenal at Altdorf, D stands for Dornach (apparently the brass supplier), 5 is May, and 79 is 1979. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 16, 2013, 08:06 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	7.65x54 Belgian/Turkish/Argentine? Compare vs other 54-55 mm cases.

February 16, 2013, 10:21 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	DA could be Dominion Arms of Canada, but that base looks quite a bit larger than .308, so 8x57 and 7x57 are out, and even 7.5 French, 7.5 Swiss, 7.7 Jap and 6.5x55 are not as big as the case looks. If golfnutrlv doesn't have a micrometer or a caliper maybe he could find a gun shop that has one and get some accurate measurements. Jim

February 17, 2013, 12:23 AM	#6
jimmy lowboy Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Posts: 19	The headstamp looks like those on the gp11 surplus swiss that my k31 fires.This ammo is very accurate in my rifle.

February 17, 2013, 11:57 AM	#9
golfnutrlv Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,347	Thank Mike and everyone else! A new cartridge for my collection! __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ VIGILIA PRETIUM LIBERTATIS "The price of liberty is vigilance" America is at an awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.