Help ID Cartridge

aldo35

November 22, 2011 15:59

Hi,

A friend has a small quantity (22) of cartridges that have steel or iron bullets. These are shiny and will pick up a magnet. The head stamp is 1944 9M38F . They appear to be 9mm Luger. Te shell are brass and the primers look standard.

I would think an iron or steel bullets would ruin the rifling, were iron/steels bullets used by WWII armies?

Thanks.

Aldo35

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  Hawk Carse

  November 22, 2011 16:13

  Yup.
  There are all manner of bullets with iron or steel in them, designed so as to not damage the rifling.
  I know of
  steel jacket - lead core
  copper jacket - steel core
  I think there are some steel jacket - steel core bullets out there, with mild steel jackets that won't wear out a military barrel too fast.
  
  Also, the Germans were running short of lead in WW II and loaded sintered iron - powder metal metallurgy - bullets which may be what you have. Maybe somebody who recognizes the headstamp.

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  rufe-snow

  November 22, 2011 16:47

  With the "38" marking, they might be Italian? The Italians had to distinctly mark the ammo for their Model 1938 submachine guns. It was way to hot for use in their 9mm Glisenti, Brixia, and Beretta pistols. That were chambered for a cartridge with similar dimensions to the 9mm Luger, but with a reduced power charge/muzzle velocity.

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