ANM .50 cal ID

[Chris 42 RQ]

I was recently asked to identify the round pictured below-it is a standard Ball loading .50" Cal Browning round with a headstamp I cannot identify for sure as I have either a French producer or an Americam producer ? any input to clarify the maker would be appreciated Gents (oh, and not forgetting the Ladies of course!)

The real puzzle of this round (so I am told) is that when it was rendered inert (by authorised EOD expert) the Ball projectile had been subjected to so much heat that the lead core had partially melted and run out of the base of the bullet, also the case looked like it had been heated well at some time yet the round had not detonated ?
Any suggestions on that ?
see picture

 

[Falcon]

Chris, this is not actually a .50 BMG, but a 13.2mm Hotchkiss. The case dimensions are identical apart from the projectile diamter, which there is only 0.5mm difference. There is currently a thread about this calibre on the IAA forum, I'll post the photo there for you. I am pretty sure this round was made in France, but could be wrong.

 

[TonyE]

13.2

Sometimes when rounds are subjected to heat in a fire, there is enough heat to start the lead core melting but not enough to detonate the propellant. It looks like this has happened here.

With respect to the headstamp, if it is 1 D 36(?) AMN, D is Societe electro-mecanique de Dives (a private company) who made the case and AMN is Atelier de Chargement de Monlucon who loaded it in the first quarter of 1936(?).

Regards
TonyE

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

Many thanks

Hi Tony E and Falcon, many thanks for your replies regarding this round.

The owner of this round has measured it and tells me that it is exactly the same as a .50 Bmg round ?
However I am very definately siding with your identification of it as a 13.2 Hotchkiss mainly due to its age and appearance.

It is very interesting to note that some rounds will withstand high heat without "Cooking off" as it is not something I have ever seen before, I have seen many hundredweights of "Cooked off" ammo but until recently never saw one that had melted and survived.
Thanks for the valuable input-I will pass it on to the owner !