Is this a Bofors drill round?

[Darkman]

This early WW2 Bofors round was purchased yesterday on the basis that it may be a legitimate drill round.

Handbooks indicate that the MKI drill was introduced in 1942, but what was used prior to then?

This round has a plain wooden projectile which at first inspection is home-made but it has a perfectly aligned date of 5/40 stamped together with a broad arrow and a "P". The overall weight and lack of pinning or securing of the projectile seems to indicate that the wood extends down to the bottom of the case.

I have seen similar Swedish drill rounds but not British/Commonwealth. Were these semi-official drill rounds made by armourers prior to introduction of the official MKI or is this just a home-made mock up?

Any ideas or thoughts please.

 

[auto151mg]

Nice find either way. Never seen a case dated that early. At least on this side of the pond. Larry.

 

[Darkman]

1939 MK I cases are reasonably common here in Australia - I have a few in my collection by Birtley (RLB) and Royal Arsenal (RL), plus quite a number of 1940 dated MK I and MK I* cases by RL, RLB and ECC (Curran).

What is interesting to note is that the primer was filled at Chorley in 1-41 so the cartridge was fired at least about 8 months after the wooden projectile was manufactured. So the projectile was manufactured long before it was mated up to the case - perhaps indicating that a batch of these were made for later completion as drill rounds. Further lending weight to the argument that these were semi-official drill rounds?

 

[kahu1]

Possibly semi-official LP (Local Pattern) drill round?

 

[ozziammo]

Is it possible to remove the primer to see what it looks like inside the round?
Interesting that a fired case may have been used as a DRILL round as the case would have expanded to chamber size of the gun that it was fired in, unless it has been full length resized it may not fit any other chambers, therefore causing a jam up or miss feed.
Can you try it in a chamber for fit?
I have tried to seat & crimp 40mm BOFORS projs in a crimping & seating tool I have but fired cases are too tight in it. Only unfired cases will fit!
Regards Ozzi.

 

[Darkman]

Very good point about the fire forming and slightly different chamber sizes Ozzi. I do have several guns that I could try and chamber it in, but I think this would be inconclusive (if it didn't fit) due to surface rust, grease and grime coatings. I wonder then if it had some other sort of instructional use besides gun drill?

 

[oktato]

Hi,
If it helps, I have just sold one of these 40mm Drill BOFORS rounds on eBay.
Is this the MK I Drill Round introduced in 1942?
Cheers,
Gary

 

[Darkman]

Yes, that's your standard MK I Bofors Drill. Interesting to note that the donor RLB case has an actual Bofors primer fitted.