12.7x99mm/.50 BMG Polymer/Brass Case, MK 323

[bdgreen]

.50 BMG Polymer Case MK323, marketed by Engel Ballistic Research. The brass cartridge base is headstamped " B Y S 1 3 " which stands for Bay St Louis.

MAC, LLC of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.A is the maker of the cartridge case. It not known for certain if this cartridge is loaded by MAC, LLC (MAC is the name of the company, LLC = limited liability company) or if MAC just provides empty cases to Engel Ballistic Research to load.

MAC, LLC is also the supplier to the U.S. Navy of the .50 BMG MK 323 MOD 0 Polymer/Brass lighter weight cartridge case ammunition, which looks the same as or very similar to the MK323 from Engel Ballistics Research.

Also see: http://iaaforum.org/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=18213 & http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2012armaments/Wednesday13983stoll.pdf

Brian

 

[Tony Williams]

I know that the USMC spent a long time testing the MK323 in a variety of different guns, apparently successfully.

Brian, do you know if the MK323 is actually in service yet?

 

[bdgreen]

Brian, do you know if the MK323 is actually in service yet?

No information to prove that as of now.

Interesting side note, on the web page link ( http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2012armaments/Wednesday13983stoll.pdf ), go to page 7 and there is a picture of a belt of the polymer case cartridges. Look close and you will see these are dummy rounds as the cases are loaded with what appears to be rice.

In addition look at the picture on page 14 and you can see polymer case cartridges with metal cartridge case bases that are NOT made of brass (the primers are brass). Aluminum?


Brian

 

[Tony Williams]

MAC have been making some cases of polymer and aluminium but the only ones I know of to date are in .338 Norma Magnum for the GD LWMMG.