WW2 German 8x57mm ammunition

CanadianAR

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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The Reich
I started slowly collecting this with a few lonely boxes a couple years ago. It was only the last year or 18 months, Ive actively searched for it. Ive now got enough to show it off and do a small write up.

Colours are very important on german ammunition. As are the box labels. Without the box, lots of info is lost.
Primer sealant is the main indicator of what the ammo is.
Green- Ss-Ball
Red-SmK-Armor Peircing
Black- B-Pat-PmK-B-Pat or Armor Peircing Incendiary
Blue- SmE -which is an iron core ball round meant to save lead.

There are also tips and bands.
Long black tip is tracer
Short Black tip is short tracer or dim night tracer
Green band is improved velocity
Sealant matching the primer seal colour at the case mouth is tropical issue, also issued to ships and subs.

FurMG only denotes brass cased. After 41 they figured out steel cases in machine guns and this usually stopped.

There is an endless possibilities in labels, makers, and loading combinations, which is why I enjoy it.

I am currently looking for any boxes i dont have. Specifically but not limited to 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1945. There are hundreds each year, so odds are i dont have the box you have regardless of year. Contact me if you have any of this stuff!

These are the loose boxes I have collected. Also with examples to show the primer colours, bands, and primers

IN NO ORDER

Tropical Ball. 40 dated. Green primer seal and green case mouth seal.




43 dated iron core St+ case allows MG use.



44 dated Orange AP tracer.



39 dated AP yellow tracer



41 dated AP orange tracer



43 dated ball



42 dated AP orange tracer



41 dated AP timed white tracer. Intended for aircraft or AA. Tracer ignites at 100 meters, and dies at 600 meters. Note the red primer seal.





44 dated AP orange tracer, note the black tip





40 dated ball, in stripper clips for k98k, designated by the iL.





40 dated ball, among the first steel cases, it is noted that the cases were lacquered, not suitable for machine guns.



42 dated AP timed white tracer, improved velocity. Note the green band and red primer seal.




41 dated AP yellow tracer. Looks mint, but prime example of why you cant trust old ammo. Rusting from the inside out.





37 dated AP green-red tracer. Starts green changed to red.



38 dated AP yellow tracer



44 dated iron core.




44 dated iron core. Note the blue primer seal.




40 dated iron core, fur gewehr indicates its on stripper clips.




39 dated Armor piercing.

 
I shot some APT a couple of years ago. It still lit up and punched holes through my mild steel gongs at 300m. I used to pick it up regularly at gun shows in the GTA.
 
There are a few books on the 8mm Mauser, including a 2nd ed by Kent, stuff by Labbett and Conjay, and some newer ones like Die Patrone 7,9 der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1930 - 1945 (Windisch), and Von der Patrone 88 zur Patrone S (another Windisch book). Windisch is the European authority on the 8mm mauser, he also did Die Militärpatronen Kaliber 7,9mm back in the 80s. If you want the North American guru on the subject, John Moss over at the IAA website used to have a few thousand individual rounds in his collection.
 
I just sold this to a collector in NB.
IMG_0343.jpg
 
Very nice collection, where do you get most of it? CGN or gunshows or just word of mouth? I am just wondering as there is certainly some types of surplus ammo I would like to get a charger or two of for collecting sake.
 
Very nice collection, where do you get most of it? CGN or gunshows or just word of mouth? I am just wondering as there is certainly some types of surplus ammo I would like to get a charger or two of for collecting sake.

It's come from gunshows, cgn, trading with other guys who had some and once a store had some.
 
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