Did any WW2 Japanese rifles have left-hand rifling?
- Thread starter Luckyorwhat
- Start date
"Guys,
Recently while exploring a hill in Hong Kong that was fought over in 1941, we found a large number of expended round nose bullets. Calibre seems about 8mm, length 31mm. The numbers implied a machine gun, and the location implied they were fired by the Japanese. Any idea what they could be?
Scan attached.
Thanks
Tony"
"The rifling is to the left, though the position these bullets (around 50 of them) were found on is a hillside in the centre of Hong Kong island. As mentioned, this hill was fought over in 1941, and there was never any butts or rifle range in the area. The Japanese captured the hill, and the location of the bullets suggests that they were fired during the Japanese attack. However, Canadians launched a counter-attack on the same positions next day.
But the only .303 I've seen like this was from around 1900. I doubt any of those were still being used in action in 1941, and as said the density was surprising.
Anyway, my wife has 'volunteered' to take this bullet to a jewellers to be weighed tomorrow.
Many thanks for all the input so far.
Tony"
"weighs 11.756 grams."
Recently while exploring a hill in Hong Kong that was fought over in 1941, we found a large number of expended round nose bullets. Calibre seems about 8mm, length 31mm. The numbers implied a machine gun, and the location implied they were fired by the Japanese. Any idea what they could be?
Scan attached.
Thanks
Tony"
"The rifling is to the left, though the position these bullets (around 50 of them) were found on is a hillside in the centre of Hong Kong island. As mentioned, this hill was fought over in 1941, and there was never any butts or rifle range in the area. The Japanese captured the hill, and the location of the bullets suggests that they were fired during the Japanese attack. However, Canadians launched a counter-attack on the same positions next day.
But the only .303 I've seen like this was from around 1900. I doubt any of those were still being used in action in 1941, and as said the density was surprising.
Anyway, my wife has 'volunteered' to take this bullet to a jewellers to be weighed tomorrow.
Many thanks for all the input so far.
Tony"
"weighs 11.756 grams."
Alright, looking at my trusty "Infantry Weapons of WWII" book...
Arikasa's are right hand twist,
Taisho 6.5mm LMG, and Type 92 (7.7mm), 96 (6.5mm), and 99 (7.7mm) are all right hand twist.
The Japanese "Meiji 26" revolver in 9mm is left hand twist. It says that during WWII, they were carried primarily by reserve and home defence units, although many also made it into the hands of infantry units in the South Pacific. But, judgeing on the above description, this would be next to impossible.
From what I understand, the Japanese pressed captured arms into service (as did the Germans), so there are many other possibilities.
Arikasa's are right hand twist,
Taisho 6.5mm LMG, and Type 92 (7.7mm), 96 (6.5mm), and 99 (7.7mm) are all right hand twist.
The Japanese "Meiji 26" revolver in 9mm is left hand twist. It says that during WWII, they were carried primarily by reserve and home defence units, although many also made it into the hands of infantry units in the South Pacific. But, judgeing on the above description, this would be next to impossible.
From what I understand, the Japanese pressed captured arms into service (as did the Germans), so there are many other possibilities.
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The strange thing is the rifling, and the bullet style. By the 1940's the Brits were using spitzer bullets, so would this mean that during Hong Kong some Canadian units were armed with ammo from WW1? Regina Rifles, right?
To be clear, this is a picture of the bullet, you just have to press 'skip' a few times.: http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/do...BE-A66A-42A5-8213-21235D0913E4&webtag=autogun
I missed a post, saying it's not likely from an exercise:
To be clear, this is a picture of the bullet, you just have to press 'skip' a few times.: http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/do...BE-A66A-42A5-8213-21235D0913E4&webtag=autogun
I missed a post, saying it's not likely from an exercise:
