Ammo channel

[Andysarmoury]

Thanks Ken, very nice site and useful it seem they could use a combination of rounds. and thanks thekees and a nice belt.
Cheers
Andy

 

[.]

In my experience, the combination of rounds was dependent not only on the pilots preference, but also on the type of mission they were going on. You wouldn't necessarily arm AP-incend if you were going on an escort mission, but would if you were going ground attack. As a general rule, every fifth round would be tracer. What goes between them is a matter of debate and conjecture. Whatever you do, I am sure it would look great.

I attach two pictures of a small grouping I made up of ground dug 50s, married with authentic WW2 links, along with what the 50s looked like before I 'cleaned' them. Each spent cartridge was married to a head and then cleaned, with each example taking about one hour EACH to get back to this shiney condition. Lots of grinding paste, flap wheels and polishing cloths were used ! Makes a nice talking point and was due to me wondering if you could take ground dug relics back to 'new'. This is the only time I've done it as I prefer my relics to be that.......relics.

Cheers

ww2digger

PS The tips were painted by me on standard ball rounds........they are not incendiary or AP so don't fret ! They are also totally inert and were made up of spent bullets and cartridges.

 

[Andysarmoury]

Thanks WW2Digger for that, its what i had thought it must be all down to mission ect, you have some nice rounds there and they have some up well and thanks for showing them.
All the best
Andy

 

[Andysarmoury]

Could someone confirm the bullet tip colour on WW2 issue 50 cal rounds please and dose anybody know if the belt had a starter tab
Cheers
Andy

 

[thekees]

This link gives a lot of .50cal info:

http://www.biggerhammer.net/barrett/faq.html

the cloth belt had a kind of a start tab, the metal links, not that i'm aware of.

 

[Andysarmoury]

Thank you thekees, thats very helpful of you.
Cheers
Andy

 

[.]

Here you go Andy. Nice simple diagram

Cheers

ww2digger

 

[Andysarmoury]

Thank you for your little diagram, i was trying to find out if there was any different colour variations from WW2 to present day

Andy

 

[smle2009]

This also may help you out too Andy,but no mention of the brown tipped tracer like the 2 WW2 ones I have?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.50_BMG


Cheers
Tony

 

[Andysarmoury]

Thanks Tony, just wondering if the paint has faded on your round, i wonder would TonyE know?
Cheers
Andy

 

[ramc181]

I have an ongoing thread on the subject, mainly USAAF load orientated, which covers both tip and crate colour codes HERE.

Hope that helps,
PB

 

[Andysarmoury]

Many thanks ramc181 thats just what i needed and solves the problem
Best regards
Andy

 

[thekees]

RAMC181, a very good thread you have there going. Have a question too. Why are there both cloth belts, and linked belts for the .50cal?