Need help identifying 20mm round

[Goldsmack]

Hey guys, I was wondering if some of you more knowledgeable people could help me in identifying a 20mm round I got from a friend. I don't know where it came from or what country manufactured it. There are no identifying marks except a blue and red ring around the primer and it has made narrowing it down difficult. It's hard to see in the picture but the actual projectile has a green tint to it, and I am not sure if its patina or color marking. The steel tip leads me to believe is AP. Anyways if anyone has info it would be very appreciated :thumbup:. I put a .50 bmg next to it for scale.

 

 

 

 

The closet I could find: http://collectibleammunition.com/product.php?s=20mm-target-practice-tracer

 

Edit: yeah I am beginning to think 20mm Vulcan training round, the green color must be form blue paint? But I wonder about the red/blue around the primer...sealant of some sort?

Edited October 1, 2016 by Goldsmack

[Livers]

I've got a similar round on the shelf here, no primer, the cartridge has been drilled, and the tip of the bullet is black vs silver. However, the band near the bottom of the bullet is engraved with :

 

*LC-2-17*57*20MM*M55A2*

 

Maybe that will help with your search.

[Emu]

These sources may help you.

 

http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/tankammo1.html

 

http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/

[Emu]

To me the cartridge neck doesn't look right for a Vulcan but the projectile matches reasonably well. But also making me think it isn't a Vulcan is how old it looks.

 

 

It's definitely a 20x10Xmm given the cartridge length however.

 

I think it probably is a Vulcan on retrospect though. That bullet looks very specific.

 

If you weigh the projectile, it should weigh circa 102g if it's Vulcan but that may vary with round type.

Edited October 1, 2016 by Emu

[Goldsmack]

Thanks for the reply so far guys. I have been looking around more and found a match for the red/blue stuff around the primer and it also identify it as a 20mm m55a2 . I don't have a good scale on hand but I can borrow one latter to check the weight.

 

source: http://www.cartrology.com/browse-ammunition.php?mode=item&ID=13

 

http://images.delcampe.com/img_large/auction/000/190/401/285_002.jpg

 

but as you said...the projectile looks like a perfect match but the neck of the cartridge is not crimped like most the other photos but matches a few. I called my friend and he for the life of him can't remember where he got it but it was about 8 years ago and says the condition is basically how it was, maybe it was in bad storage and the paint rubbed off, there a few nicks here and there and a decent gash on the metal tip that's not in the photo. I'll post on that forum Emu suggested and double check but after some more photos I fell pretty confident its a 20MM M55A2.

 

On a side note I was able to talk him out of his M31 Inert Grenade Rifle to add to the collection :D. Next is a 8.8 cm High-explosive shell from a German Flak I have been trying to pry away from him for months. It's even got a little eagle and swastika marking. I'll post some pics if I do.

Edited October 1, 2016 by Goldsmack

[Livers]

Thanks for the reply so far guys. I have been looking around more and found a match for the red/blue stuff around the primer and it also identify it as a 20mm m55a2 . I don't have a good scale on hand but I can borrow one latter to check the weight.

 

source: http://www.cartrology.com/browse-ammunition.php?mode=item&ID=13

 

That photo is exactly like my round, other than the blue paint. Mine is black. The crimp is identical also.

[Goldsmack]

That photo is exactly like my round, other than the blue paint. Mine is black. The crimp is identical also.

 

That's what I wonder about, why mine is not...maybe just a different way of securing the projectile? That crimp looks like a good secure way to do it. Also 2 questions if you don't mind.

 

1. When you said "the band near the bottom of the bullet is engraved with :

*LC-2-17*57*20MM*M55A2*" Is it on the extractor grove or the rim?

 

and

 

2. Dose yours have the blue/red around the primer?

[Livers]

That's what I wonder about, why mine is not...maybe just a different way of securing the projectile? That crimp looks like a good secure way to do it. Also 2 questions if you don't mind.

 

1. When you said "the band near the bottom of the bullet is engraved with :

*LC-2-17*57*20MM*M55A2*" Is it on the extractor grove or the rim?

 

and

 

2. Dose yours have the blue/red around the primer?

 

1. It is on the driving band of the bullet, no other markings at all. In your second photo of the OP, it is the copper looking thing near the base of the bullet, just above where the crimp would be.

 

2. No paint or residue at all on the primer end, and no primer installed. It may have never been a live round, just a display piece.

Edited October 1, 2016 by Livers
More info.

[Goldsmack]

excellent thanks for the response just wanted to check If mine had makings and guess what.....I held it under a very bright light and there is faint white letters, the only ones I can make out are...M55 A2 and a few other random numbers 9 2 M..something something, and its defiantly faded blue paint. Mystery solved :D. Thanks for all the info and help guys Im satisfied this is a 20mm Vulcan Target Practice round. Thanks again guys.