Rusty 20mm Round

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MotorpoolMac

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HI, I'm looking for information on a 20mm projectile I picked up in an abandoned house on a western South Dakota ranch.

It appears to be a solid steel casting from one end to the other with about a quarter inch hole in the base filled with something relatively soft. it is very rusty, as I would expect steel or iron to be after 50-60 years. There are small remnants of black paint around the lower half. I managed to make out the numbers "LOT 09 4520MM 95" on the bronze/copper ring at the base.

Would anyone here be able to tell me if this might be dangerous? I'd love to know the back story on this. Do the markings indicate a date? is there any way to know if it has been fired? Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
 
If the paint isn't light blue, it is not an inert training round!

If it has been fired, there will be rifling marks from a barrel on the copper rotating band.

A hole in the base would indicate to me it is a tracer, or incendary tracer, or even a high-explosive incendary tracer from an aircraft or anti-aircraft cannon.

"soft stuff" in the hole would indicate some sort of trace element filler

I would find a deep lake, and see how far you can throw it!!

rc
 
MotorpoolMac said:
HI, I'm looking for information on a 20mm projectile I picked up in an abandoned house on a western South Dakota ranch.
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Its quite dangerous to pick up unknown munitions anywhere. 20mm ammunition was produced in solid, HE, and incindiary versions.

You would be surprised at how many forests, farmers fields, and suburban subdivision were military bombing/target/testing ranges 50+ years ago. Likewise, exactly how much unexploded (yet!) munitions still exist on these ranges. This stuff can still explode and people have been hurt and even killed by "found" munitions.

Try googling "UXO" and "the 3 R's" for some info on the dangers. My advise is to leave any suspect rounds where you find them and report it to the appropriate authorities.

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UM, you should call your local bomb squad, ask nicely and they may give you the case back, if it's black, then it's AP, ok BUT WHAT TYPE, API HEAP etc.
it would be smarter to say leave such alone, as it quite possible has enough explosive to do more than just take your hand off.
 
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