Identifying Misfires!!

[hicky1300]

Not sure where to post this thread - so apologies to pedants/site police!!

Anyone come across ways of identifyng misfires??

Reason for asking was I recently was involved in a tidy up/clearout of some `surplus` eod/range ordnance.
a couple of largish caliber rounds that I was told were `drill/training` rounds & totally ok set off an alarm in my head!

The cases were unfired & projectiles fully crimped in & they had struck primers. Upon shaking them though it was obvious something was in the case (propellant or sand!!??). The heads though had been painted white. No one knew that this signified anything & told me I was being over cautious. None of these rounds were HE.

I took it upon myself, once clearing it with the boss to check the rounds. Without drilling the cases I confirmed all of them had live propellant & emptied them.

Anyone help on this. I do not know the origin of the rounds but the white paint on the head might mean something?
cheers

 

[EOD]

Any images?

 

[US-Subs]

If you are unsure, ask EOD to check them. This is not the sort of subject that you want to use advice from the internet for.

 

[hicky1300]

I think you are missing the point US-subs.
If you read the post I am/was with EOD Team!!
The question is has anyone come across ways of identifying misfires so that they can then be dealt with?
In the UK we just used to hand them back in at the end of the days firing on the ranges. In theatre they were usually just ditched.
These items were obviously returned & I wondered if the white paint was meant to be a means of id`ing them as misfires?
I must admit the amount of misfires I have come across is very few so this has not been an issue before for me personally, which makes how these items `slipped through` even more interesting.
Obviously everyone involved with this learnt a lesson.

 

[US-Subs]

In times past in the US we commonly used personnel to supplement EOD teams, especially on range clearances. They would get some basic identification training and then were placed on the line, typically at a ratio of 5:1 with EOD qualified personnel behind them. It never failed that sometime later we would encounter some of the same personnel trying to pass this off as "EOD" time, stating that they were "with" EOD back in 2005 etc, rather than I "was" EOD. If confronted they would state that it was a mistake, you misunderstood, I never said that I was EOD, etc.

I apologize if I misunderstood your initial posting, not my intent.

Typically we established a working relationship/point of contact with range using units, the local ammo supply points etc, that were familiar with the history of the range areas and the ordnance used, procedures, etc. It was never perfect, but might be a good place to start.

Your unit procedures allow for pulling of cartridge cases/emptying of propellant from range recovered munitions with unidentified markings?

 

[hicky1300]

Hi US-subs - no problem.
In the UK only armoury/EOD personnel were used on range clearance - although the unit personnel on range would be accountable for returning unfired, spent cases & misfired rounds etc at the end of their session.
Without going into too much detail this units procedure is to normally asses, disopose of on site or if safe & practicable to remove & dispose at a designated area.
We do though have available a large selection of assorted specialist tools & included amongst this was a kit of primer sockets.
As it was a propellant issue they were deemed ok to deal with.
The lesson the team learn`t was not to take items on face value or heresay - how many times have some of us been there!?
These items had been `kicking` around for a few years & some had apparently been used as training/ID aids!

As ever the rule is - if you do not know or are not sure that an item of ordnance is not inert then leave it alone & get it dealt with by those that know how to deal with it.

 

[2pounder]

I have a fuze No. 255 for 40mm L60 that has been painted white and over stenciled in black 'INERT' I dont know the origins of it. But I dont think it has been done by a collector or dealer. Perhaps the white has been used to indicate inert.