[kumma]

i found 3 odd cartridges while cleaning up the workshop, they were in my step dads boxes he was in the canadien military.

1. marked RA 61 45 M32 Straight wall slight taper large rim about 2" long

2. marked 1942 IIA DA with a clam shell? huge primer tapered wall blank round

3. marked 78 IAI NATO CROSS necked case looks like 308 blank round

any ideas?

[Mike Irwin]

If I had to hazzard a guess, I'd say your Father was maybe in an artillery unit.

The first two pieces you describe are almost certainly ignition primers for separate loading artillery guns.

1. RA is most likely Remington Arms. M32 is the primer type, the other numbers are probably lot and year identifiers. This one is, I believe, for a 155mm gun.

2. DA is usually the mark of Dominion Arsenal (or Arms, never can remember) of Canada, with 1942 being the year of manufacture. The IIA probably means Mark IIA. This one is probably for one of the larger artillery pieces based on the British pattern, 25 pounder or 4.8" howitzer, something along those lines.

3. IAI usually means Isralie Armaments Industries, or something like that.

[SDC]

You're sure the headstamp on the blank 7.62 isn't "IVI"? That's the headstamp for most Canadian military ammo ("Valcartier Industries").

[kumma]

actually he was in the naval forces.

it could be IVI. it would just be upside down from the other lettering.

i also found a couple 30-30 rounds marked dominion, and a few 303 shells. he mentioned an enfield and some sort of FN rifle he had but never said anything about the 30-30. id be askin him but he passed away 2 years ago from cancer so thanks for the info.

[Mike Irwin]

OK, it's also very possible that these primers were used for naval guns, as well.