30-06 Military Blanks

[TomADC]

I was cleaning out my loading room and came across some old military 30-06 blanks.
I have head stamps which I think are rare (at least to me) DEN 43, SL 55 & FN 55.
I know DEN is Denver & SL is ST. Louis but can't find FN anyplace. I don't think this would be the Belgium fire arm company but ???
Any idea how rare these might be?
Thanks Tom

 

[Steven Mace]

Tom, FN has been making .30-06 ammunition for many years. I doubt it would be considered rare but I believe the primers used during that time were corrosive. Hope this helps!

Steve Mace

 

[Jim K]

In that era, the Belgian Army used a .30-'06 caliber rifle, the Model 50 Mauser. It is unique in being the only Mauser 98 to use Springfield clips since that is the way the US supplied ammo.

Besides, FN made ammo for the world military markets and could and did make whatever the customer wanted.

Jim

 

[TomADC]

Thanks never to old to learn, all these years first time I've come across FN ammo.
But then never saw DEN or SL before.

 

[fguffey]

The Belgium 30/06 case has a Berdan primer, if you reload and fire the FN ammo keep it separated from Boxer primed cases.

F. Guffey

 

[TomADC]

I wonder if these type of blanks were used to launch rifle grenades?

 

[Jim K]

Do they have a red-laquered piece of cardboard in the neck, or is the neck crimped? In that period, U.S. blank ammo just had the cardboard wad; grenade launcher ammo was crimped. Grenade launcher ammo can be used as blanks (though they don't make a lot of noise), but the reverse should NOT be done. Blank adapters are carefully designed; other obstructions to blank cartridges can raise pressures astronomically with possible damage to the rifle and/or the shooter.

Jim

 

[TomADC]

Jim, these have red disc not crimped, only crimped I have are some .223, I do have one with a wooden bullet in place.

 

[fguffey]

http://cartridgecollectors.org/glossary.htm

http://cartridgecollectors.org/30-06intro/

F. Guffey