F a 4

[smle2009]

Hi to all,
is anyone aware of another reason for the F A 4 headstamps commonly found on .50bmg rounds other than the accepted theory that the damaged/worn/removed bunter of the last year diget?....as can be seen in the first photo the 4 is off centre to the six o'clock position which supports this theory,however in the second photo the 4 is central to the six o'clock position and the headstamp is 'fresh' and deep suggesting it was a new bunter set up omiting the last year diget....interestingly both of these M2 Dummy rounds came from the same unopened box(Lot No F.A. S-70)

Tony

 

[TonyE]

Once the old 1944 bunters were used up they made new ones with just the "4" centralised in the headstamp. It was just to be consistent and of course it made them easier and cheaper to make.

They did the same thing in 1955 with old "54" bunters.

Regards
TonyE

 

[raymeketa]

And the same thing with the '65 bunters in 1966.

Before computer controlled machinery, bunters were hand made by skilled tool and die makers. They were a very time consuming and expensive step in the manufacture of SAA. Using old bunters that were still servicable saved the Arsenals and Ordnance Plants a lot of money. Also, by simply ommiting one number or letter from a new bunter, a little $$ could be saved.

OTOH, some bunters were made with as many characters as the size of the case head would permit. Hitting an unfinished case with a bunter like that, work-hardened the brass resulting in a stroger case.

Go figure. Nobody never said the military thought things out before jumping in.

Ray

 

[Bullet Mick]

Just had a look at the belt of 52 drill rounds i have and they are the same. Its a fairly even mix in the two different ways they are stamped. Never noticed this before. Cheers Mick.