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Need ammo help

tccox
I recently went to an estate auction and bought a box of assorted ammo. He is the lable on one. Can any of you translate it for me?
15 Batronen S.m.E.
ak 6. L.42
Nz.Gew. Bl.P(2.2.).45):rtl 1941/5
Pathr.:S(Stahl)+lack. ak 2.L. 42
Gesch.: ak i3. L. 42 - Kern: l-P
Zdh, 88 :DWM 890l.40

And on top of that in red letters is

fur MG

I have a couple more but will stop with one for now. Any help appreciated. Tom

PS: the headstamps are 7.92
A A
1955
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • 11b6r
    Sounds like you have German 8mm Mauser machinegun ammo, from May 1941.
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  • jonk
    You know at one point I knew what all those abreviations meant but here is what I can tell you right now.

    15 Patronen- not Batronen- means 15 cartridges.
    SmE- Spitzgeschoss (pointed bullet) mit Eisenkernen (with iron cores)
    L Nz.Gew.Bl.P. Ladung Nitrozellulose Gewehr Bl?ttchenpulver Loading nitrocellulose rifle powder (flaked)
    Pathr.:S(Stahl)+lack.- Patronenhuesel Stahl+lackierte- Cartridge case steel + lacquered
    ZDh,88- Zuendhuetchen- Primer pocket, 88 (compound?)

    fuer MG- fuer Machingewehren- for machine guns

    I forget what the other letters and numbers stand for.

    Gotta leave it to those germans to mark everything. Nothing like it. Compare that to a non-descript disintegrating box from Romania or Egypt or whatever that doesn't even have the caliber designation on it.
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  • tccox
    Thanks Jonk & 11b6r
    I thought this was from ww11 also but with the headstamp dated 1955 I guess someone repacked the box with later shells. The boxes are as new, unworn and unblemished.

    PS: can they be safely fired in a rifle??
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  • Tailgunner1954
    TC
    This may give you some insite as to the box markings
    http://cartridgecollectors.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6206

    IIRC some of the lettering indicates the case year/lot#, powder year/lot, bullet year/lot.
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  • team roper ozzy
    sounds like you got original ww2 german issued packaging with surplus ammo..the head stamps should correlate with the packaging id markings on the label... with 1955...not a good sign...should be fine to shoot ..i have yugo surplus that shoots fine from the same time period
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  • jonk
    1955 doesn't necessarily mean 1955; could be a manufacturer code.
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  • tccox
    Jonk, that sounds good to me. Bullets seem right for the box. I really thought they were wwii issue. Tom
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