Topic: Question about ammo type?

[steveinboise]

Hey, everyone,

Believe it or not, I found a dozen rounds of ammo in the back of an 88 Ranger at Jalopy Jungle while searching for parts for my son's rebuilt Ranger.  I thought they were cool to collect, so I did.  They match my 8 x 57 mm Mauser specs in all dimensions, but the case marking on the head is stamped at top with 12 and at bottom with 72, and no indication as to Mauser or anything else.  Additionally, they have a red line at the bullet seat and primer seat, so I'm thinking that this is almost like a wax seal, but very, very thin.

I wouldn't even think of firing them in my Mauser, but I'm curious to ask if anyone can help me indentify these?

[ballardw]

The red is likely to be lacquer used as a sealant on lots of military brass, which the headstamp indicates. I would guess that 72 was the year the ammo was made. The 12 is likely a factory code but with 8x57 might indicate the bullet diameter as that has had several different "standard" diameters.

I've got some oddball stuff that has no markings at all.