Empty Shell/Casing

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CombatBoots

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Two days ago, at ROTC CLC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadet Leadership Challenge) at Ft. Devens, Mass. I found a shell casing in the woods. I have no clue what kind it is, although I'm pretty sure it's a rifle casing. It measures 9 mm diameter at the bottom, by 47 mm tall. The bottom has "L C 4 0" printed on it, although I am not entirely sure which order those letters go in. I'd really appreciate it if any of you can help me out with this, seeing how I am the most newbie-est of the n00bs. Heh. >_< ???
 

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Here's a pic. Sorry that it's a bit blurry...

picture059.jpg
 

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Oh, by the way, I've been browsing around online and I've found two small leads... one is that the "LC" may actually stand for "Core-Lokt". The other is that the shell casing was manufactured at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, which is run by Remington. Not too sure what's the actual final say in this one >_<
 

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I'd say you're right with Lake City, 1940 manufacture. Looks like a 30-06 blank / training round possibly, or is the case neck just mangled? Can't tell from the photo.
 

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I'm Not sure what you mean by mangled, but the case neck is closed up, as if to form a seven sided triangle of sorts. I'm a bit surprised that this shell could've actually originated from the fourties. Although Ft. Devens was indeed heavily used at the time, the area in which I found this (along with around seven others that I turned over to my commanding officer [unfortunately]) is still heavily used to this day for training, so I am surprised that this could've possibly been left unfound for so long. Nonetheless, I'm going to make a necklace out of it, as an unique momento.
 

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A lot of military rounds like that came from old stockpiles, especially training rounds where expiration date wasn't as weighty a consideration.

If the case mouth was deliberately crimped, then you have a blank or training round.

As long as that crimp is closed, the case is probably still live. If so, don't drill it to make your necklace.
 

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Thanks for the heads up. The shell seems pretty hollow to me, but it's better to be safe then sorry. Thanks for all the help =)
 

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The thing I'm wondering about though is that why would someone leave a handful of rounds in the woods where someone could unknowingly pick them up and bring them home, and hurt themselves with them? Is there a proper way to dispose of a possible live round? If so, how?
 

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look at the end with the lettering, the center circle. If it doesn't have a dimple in it from the firing pin then it's live.
 

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As a matter of fact, it does have a little dimple in it *sigh of relief* Anyhow, the crimped part of it had a slight hole in it, which allowed some water to go into it while i was cleaning it yesterday. Upon further inspection, It did indeed seem to be a used round. From there I took a small wire cutter, and while holding the shell underwater I carefully snipped the crimped part off, allowing more water into the shell. I let it soak for a while, went back and opened the hole some more. The inside of the shell was hollow, with a bit of black residue (gun powder). I cleaned the interior of the shell vigorously and finally I clamped the opening shut. I hope that because 1. The round is dead and 2. because I double-checked by inspecting the interior that this casing is safe for non-ballistics use, if you get my drift.
 

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Before I go ahead with making the casing into a necklace, since I've checked to see if it's live or not (which I am pretty sure it is not live), I am still not very sure about a certain part of the casing that I couldn't reach with the Q-Tip that I was using to clean the interior of the casing with. Here's a diagram I made to more clearly illustrate my dilemma. *refer to attachment*
 

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I think rusted_iron is correct. Probably a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) Blank Round.

Mike
 

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Awesome =) Too bad I didn't keep the crimped part intact, but better safe than sorry. Thanks so much for all of the help :)
 

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chong2mry said:
lake city .223, i have some with purple sealant on tips
Click to expand...

I agree with lake City, but the 40 on it says 1940 manufacture. If so, it's not .223.

Mike
 

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The 30-06 blanks from 1940 or so had a roll crimp with a card wad at the end of the neck. Comparing the size of that blank to the Pepsi can it's obviously a modern blank for the M-16 rifle(5.56mm,.223 Rem.). Lake City arsenal. Take a close look to see if that date is something other than 40.
 

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