New on fourm with caliber ID Question

[NoLibs]

Hey there,
Just signed up, glad to be here.
I was up shooting yesterday in the hills here and found a casing I had never seen or heard of before. It was marked 7.9 or 7.91 caliber. It also said 1940 and had a stamp of a cresent moon and star.
It was about the same size as a 7.62 so I thought it was maybe from a gun that preceded the AK-47.
Thanks for any help. I'm hoping I can learn from this site.

 

[Stickjockey]

Just a guess, but maybe 8mm Mauser? 1940 sounds like the manufacture date; star and crescent maybe indicate Persian or Turkish Manufacture? Headstamps aren't my forte'.

Welcome aboard!

 

[Mal H]

First - a big welcome to THR!

Yep, 10 to 1 it was a Mauser round. They were marked 7.9I. The 'I' stands for infantry (in German).

 

[Schuey2002]

Welcome to The High Road, Nolibs.

 

[NoLibs]

Ok thanks. And thanks for the friendly welcome.

 

[sumpnz]

If it was Turk 8x57 ammo the headstamp would have said 7.92mm. Nevermind that 7.92mm=.312", and 8x57JS actually shoots .323" bullets (8.20mm). However, I guess they just retained the designation from the older 8x57J cartridge which did shoot a .312" bullet. Ahhh, caliber designation, about as clear as mud.

Edit: I think that's correct, but suddenly I'm so sure. I'll have to take a look when I get home.

 

[M2HMGHB]

If the caliber is 7.9 and the length is approxametly the same as a 7.62x39 then it would probably be the 7.92x33 Kurz "short" round chambered in firearms such as the Mp44. If the length is longer by a fair amount then the AK47 it would be the 7.92x57 Mauser round. HTH

 

[No4Mk1*]

If I had 7.92x33mm ammo from 1940 I don't think I would shoot it as I didn't think the caliber existed in 1940. Measure the length of the round, it is probably 7.92x57mm as has already been stated.