.50 cal, detector finds

[Millsman]

I was recently out metal detecting to the South West of Ashford, Kent with a friend and we found a number of .50 Cal bullets in the ground. The temporary WW2 US airfield at
Chilmington Green was nearby (P47 base) but these were scattered all over a 10 acre field. Our best guess was that these were air fired at V1 flying bombs and just fell into the field. In the same field there are items from Anglo Saxon, Medieval and Tudor eras. Amazing what's still out there.

 

[BMG50]

Looks like they still have the paint on them.

 

[AMMOTECHXT]

Looks like you have AP, tracer and incendiary there. The incendiary is still likely to be viable. I suggest you don't use a disc cutter on it!

 

[Millsman]

Looks like you have AP, tracer and incendiary there. The incendiary is still likely to be viable. I suggest you don't use a disc cutter on it!

I think the tracers are all burnt out.

 

[Eggburt1969]

I can see rifling marks on quite a few, so they were fired. Most seem to be undamaged, and as mentioned, some still have paint on them. As such, and at a guess, they were fired at quite high elevation, and hence had low terminal velocity when they impacted with the ground.

 

[Millsman]

I can see rifling marks on quite a few, so they were fired. Most seem to be undamaged, and as mentioned, some still have paint on them. As such, and at a guess, they were fired at quite high elevation, and hence had low terminal velocity when they impacted with the ground.

I agree. I remember digging some .50 cals out of the sand in the butts at an old RAF airfield many years ago and many were distorted and damaged. These are all straight with clean tips.

 

[Eggburt1969]

I agree. I remember digging some .50 cals out of the sand in the butts at an old RAF airfield many years ago and many were distorted and damaged. These are all straight with clean tips.

I did a double check by putting the 50-cal M33 FMJ bullet into an external ballistics program (QuickTARGET) and setting the muzzle velocity to 3,050 ft/s. The details are pasted in below.


Maximum vertical range details.


Maximum horizontal range details.