Ammo Recognition

[Charles Z]

Hi All,

I'm reentering the shooting sports after 20 yrs and I am running into a problem.
Looking through boxes of ammo all mixed together I am having a difficult time distinguishing between certain cartridges I was reloading.
I was into the 30.06

.308 winchester

8mm mauser

6.5 jap

Any recommendations on where I can find references to these rounds so I don't make a tragic mistake?

Thanks,
Charles

 

[EddieNFL]

Try SAMMI. You can find specs for all your calibers.

http://www.saami.org/

 

[buck460XVR]

I am having a difficult time distinguishing between certain cartridges I was reloading.

no headstamps?

 

[ranger335v]

Those three are distincly different in appearance. The head stamp is the first clue. Most reloading manuals include cartridge drawings and dimensions. A micrometer will give you the diameter of the bullet/caliber.

 

[coloradokevin]

I agree with buck... Aren't your cartridges headstamped for the calibers you were loading? Or, were you doing such things as making 8mm brass from .30-06 brass back in the day (never tried that myself, but I've heard of people doing it)?

 

[243winxb]

Drawing are here, with measurements if the headstamp is confusing. http://www.stevespages.com/page8d.htm For reloading data go here http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp Google can be your best friend.

 

[WatongaJim]

No offense Charles Z, but you are scaring me.

 

[Charles Z]

It is a little scary but I err on the side of caution.

C'mon now. It's been 20 + years since i even shot these rounds. Cut me some slack, you've got 2 .30 calibers (7.62) an 8 mm and a 6.5 mm. Add that to the fact that the mauser is 57mm long, the 30.06 63mm, the Japanese round 50mm and the .308 51mm. Handling them now their differences are becoming apparent, but it could be said,"they all look alike."

 

[WatongaJim]

Just giving you a little jab. I too would be cautious.

I have rifles for 3 of these cartridges (don't have the 6.5) and they are very similar. Actually, I started a cartridge collection years ago with the help of friends and family and I now have a box of cartridges that I can't identify because many don't have the information on the head stamp. I should have attached labels while I knew what they were. I do have some reference books such as Cartridges of the World and a couple of others but I'm sure some will never be identified. Oh well.

Good luck.

 

[rcmodel]

Any recommendations on where I can find references to these rounds so I don't make a tragic mistake?

Any good reloading manual will have cartridge drawings in it.

If you are planning on reloading again after 20 years, you simply must buy an up-to-date manual anyway.

rc