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alloy 5.56mm

smle2009

smle2009

Well-Known Member
Hi all,
picked up this 5.56mm aluminium cased 5.56mm yesterday,looking for info as to if it is military and possibly experimental because of the alloy case,the headstamp is SF 5.56 86(Societe Francaise des Munitions(Gevelot S A))

Cheers to all
Tony
 

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Aluminium case

Hi Tony

The French have used a lot of aluminium cases over the years, but usually for training rounds.

The one most often encountered is an aluminium case with an orange plastic short range bullet. I have also seen them used for blanks.

Yours may well be an original ball round, but I suspect it has had a ball bullet put in a training case.

Anyway, they are definitely French military. Incidently, a few years ago when I was shooting on a French Marine Infantry base, the issue ball and tracer ammo was RG!

Regards
TonyE
 
Many thanks for the info TonyE,
My feelings on this round is to think you are right about it being "reloaded" as ball,also the cap and annulus varnish looks suspect to me as there is some varnish in the headstamp markings,which I only noticed from the photo in the thread.
Last night, I noticed on the BEA site, that RG have just won a three year contract to supply the French armed forces with SAA.
Cheers
Tony
 
Hi Tony,
I can confirm that it was "reloaded" to the spec you bought it in, I thought I recognised the photo !! I can't remember where I got the case so I can't confirm the background but I have not seen them before, I also have a couple of plastic 5.56 cases with brass bases which must also be for training rounds.

To anyone else reading this post, Hi, I'm Dan, first post on here, I have been collecting and selling inert ammo since I was born, I'm on specialist auctions under the username Dansubaru and love helping people out when they are after something a bit unusual, or even just plain old boxed sets of RG etc, hope the link is allowed.

cheers
Dan
 
Hi Dan,
Thanks for the info and a big welcome to BOCN,would like to see a pic of the plastic 5.56mm(I suspect they are the all plastic training round that the plastic bullet seperates when fired) I am also happy to recomend you to other BOCN members for some rather nice items.
All the best
Tony
 
Re-loading

Hmmm! I have to say I do not approve of reloading spurious bullets to cases to make something that did not originally exist. You are currently advertising this round as "incredibly rare" when in fact you have just made it up.

It may well have been done in good faith, but it still ends up as a "wrong 'un".

I firmly believe we are only the custodians of these items for our lifetime and we should do our best to preserve them for history and future generations in as close to their original state as possible.

Regards
TonyE
 
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A pair of pliers will revert it to it's natural resting state, unfortunately I can't get hold of the exact bullets that would have been in there however the description matched the item so I can't be any more fair...it's very likely that the profile of the 62gr bullet that I used matches the one below.

Manufacturer
SFM Dfense
Training Ball R1: Rilsan-bronze cylindro-conoidal bullet; 1.15 g; MV 740 m/s; accuracy to 100 m is comparable to service ball; maximum range 600 m; case may be brass or aluminium
Training Ball R2: Rilsan-bronze ogival bullet; 0.9 g; MV 880 m/s; maximum range 500 m; case may be brass or aluminium
Click to expand...
 
SF

The description matched the item? "incredibly rare"?

Only until you make the next one.

TonyE
 
Hi TonyE,
Would this round have had the same type(profile) bullet as the Canadian one Andy(Andysarmoury) posted on the 3rd of january?
Cheers
Tony
 
Last edited:
TonyE said:
The description matched the item? "incredibly rare"?

Only until you make the next one.

TonyE
Click to expand...

I only have six spent cases and have never seen these before, either in the flesh or advertised online, thats my definition of rare (or uncommon).
 
Hi Tony (smle) If the bullet is the same as the one i posted earlier i have a spare bullet if you need one.
Andy
 
Dan I wouldnt mind getting hold of 1 off them cases what will it cost me, I will just add it to my collection empty.

Richard.
 
Peashooter,I have to assume that you weren't too impressed with the.303 bits that I sent,it would be nice to hear that they had arrived okay,if nothing else!!!!
 
Wow,
This has turned out to be some post! please excuse me, my sides still hurt from laughing so much,I am known for having a strange humor!
Just because I posted this round TonyE and Dan the man have made a new friend each,Peashooter and Christhurston seem to be getting along like a house on fire! I'm off again!!!
Seriously(well I'll try) some good has come out of this, so I would like to thank the following:
TonyE for his expert advice as always.
Dan the man for confirming the above advice and supplying the case(sure I would not have got one anywhere else).
Andysarmoury a big thankyou for supplying a correct projectile
Peashooter & Christhurston well,for being one of the lads!.
And now I have a correct French practice round so can we all be freinds again now?
Not seriously now! how did this post get a five star rating?:laugh: I'm off again!!!
Cheers to all
Tony
 
smle2009 said:
Wow,
This has turned out to be some post! please excuse me, my sides still hurt from laughing so much,I am known for having a strange humor!
Just because I posted this round TonyE and Dan the man have made a new friend each,Peashooter and Christhurston seem to be getting along like a house on fire! I'm off again!!!.......

.......And now I have a correct French practice round so can we all be freinds again now?

Tony
Click to expand...

First, may I say that I bear my pedantry with pride. I never met a curmudgeon yet that I did not like!

Second, mainly as an example of my pedantry, may I point out that you do not have a correct French short range round. The round Andy posted, and which you now have a bullet for, is Canadian, made by Industrie Valcartier so is not right for that case!

Right, having stirred that up again I think I will get back to working on Part 2 of my .303 headstamp book.

Cheers gentlemen,
TonyE
 
Hi TonyE,
Thought you would have me on that one:tinysmile_fatgrin_t! so will amend to correctish as far as I can at the moment! and will catalogue it as such(yes got round to doing it at last!)
And yes you should be cracking on with your book,really looking forward to getting a copy.
All the best
Tony
P.S French Candian?(sorry could not resist that one!)
 
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I thouight I had replied

christhurston said:
Peashooter,I have to assume that you weren't too impressed with the.303 bits that I sent,it would be nice to hear that they had arrived okay,if nothing else!!!!
Click to expand...

I am really sorry I thought I had sent you a message regarding them I am over the moon with them they are spot on, I have been expanding my collection quite a bit just lately so I have envelopes dropping through the door daily but was sure I had let you know but I cant have done so please forgive me and I can assure you I am well chuffed. If there is anything I can look out for please let me know

Richard.
 
Good luck on your.303 quest,Richard,I'm glad to hear that my little contribution did arrive safely after all.

Regards Chris.
 
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