In modern times, a large number of different cartridges are used, which are similar in appearance to each other. This has led to the use of markings that distinguish them. What are they? Where are they applied? And what does cartridge marking mean? What can she be? Here is a short list of issues to be addressed.
Introductory information
Now not only weapon cartridges, but also construction ones with turning ones, have gained distribution. Separately, we can recall the single people, who, although they are not used in military affairs, still deserve attention. In this case, the required information can be displayed in different ways. For example, with a stamp, coloring or label. It should be noted that although quite a bit of time has passed since the introduction of cartridge marking, it cannot be confidently said that the same rules apply as they did a century ago. Something appeared and added to the system, other approaches, on the contrary, went out of use. It was the production of a specific type of cartridges, then decided to close it. And there are a great many such situations.
Designations on cartridges originate from the brands of craftsmen who put their marks on various goods (weapons, jewelry and pottery, and so on). Currently, the markers have two main functions: advertising and technical-informational.
What data can be obtained from the labeling?
Mainly:
- Service stamps. As a rule, this is a marking on the bottom of the cartridge. It allows you to find out about the place of manufacture (country, enterprise), type (name) and caliber. The creation time, material, purpose, model and type of weapon for which it is intended can also be placed.
- Coloring elements. It can be applied to bullets, capsules, these parts of the cartridges. Talks about the type of cartridge, some features of its device or purpose.
- Labels. They contain the same data as on the stamps. In addition, there may be certain information about the elements of the cartridges, ballistic characteristics, and more. Often, due to the need for a large area, for the communication of all the necessary information, they are applied to wooden boxes, waterproof bags, cardboard boxes, paper bags, metal boxes.
Marks left are conventional signs, which are presented in the form of numbers, figures and letters extruded on the surface of the cartridges. They can be service or control. The first allows you to get information about the manufacturer, production date, time of creation, certain design features, purpose and some other information that is characteristic for a certain period of time or inherent in any country.
The control terminal indicates that the cartridge meets the established quality requirements, and a responsible person (or commission) was convinced of this. But they are usually placed only on powerful ammunition, such as shells from artillery guns.
Depending on the type and purpose of the labeling, certain information may be contained. For example, military cartridges often only provide technical information. While on hunting and sports advertising is not uncommon. This is done thanks to various pictorial forms (decorative elements, types of fonts, and so on), content (catchy and catchy name, proper names). In such cases, everything is usually done in order to emphasize the quality of the product and their popularity.
Why is this done?
But the main purpose of the brand, coloring of elements and labels is that they together form a system of conventional signs, which contain information necessary to distinguish between the types and purpose of the cartridges. Although there may be additional properties. For example, the coloration of cartridges is used in order to provide a distinctive feature of one type that is easily perceived, or to quickly communicate the purpose of the cartridges. At the same time, it is also a means of protection against corrosion processes.
In the domestic tradition, the coloring of the bullet head (its apex) is used. This decision has been made since the time of the Russian Empire. For example, an armor-piercing incendiary bullet is painted in red and black. For tracer cartridges, green is selected. Conventional cartridges do not have a distinctive color. Similar is observed in a number of foreign armies.
Sometimes you can see the color of the capsule at the junction of the bullets with the sleeve of the sleeve. In this case, it is used not only to obtain a distinguishing feature, but also for tightness. True, such an approach causes certain inconvenience in the creation of cartridges and the visual definition of nomenclature. What information can be gathered from bullets? In short, the basic information is:
- For Soviet (Russian): year of manufacture and designation of the manufacturing plant.
- Australian, Canadian, English: type (brand) and name of the company-creator.
- French: time (quarter and year), designation of the supplier of metal for the sleeve.
- German: indicates the manufacturer, material, batch number, and also when it was produced.
- Italian: for private enterprises, only the year of manufacture and the name of the company that created the product. For government: manufacturer, time of manufacture, initials of the controller.
- Japanese: year of establishment (according to local calendar) and quarter, abbreviated name of the company.
Information is usually applied by indentation. Although sometimes you can find a convex relief.
Specificity of labeling. Marking of empty cartridges
As you can see, time is not always indicated. In such cases, you can navigate in the cartridges by the name of the company (comparing with the date of work) or by the variant of the accepted brand. Also, sometimes the stamps may indicate additional information, such as the material of the sleeve, purpose, design of the capsule, as well as other information such as: made by military order, issued to the customer, patent, and so on. In domestic bullets of the period 1949-1954, a letter designation was used to designate the time period. You can also meet additional icons in the form of two diametrically spaced five-pointed stars. Additional letters and numbers are not uncommon. As an example, an additional Sh was provided for the ShKAS aviation machine gun at the end of the bottom. Armor-piercing incendiary b-32s were designated. For exemplary cartridges, white was used.
By the way, what does the marking of blank cartridges look like? There is no single solution. But, for example, in machine-gun cartridges of caliber 14.5 and 12.7 around the circumference of the junction of the sleeve with the cap and capsule, a sealant was used, additionally tinted in green. But the lack of a unified approach creates certain problems. Now the most common products with red and green. But nevertheless, in order to avoid negative consequences, it is necessary to find out about this when acquiring weapons.
Suddenly a cartridge was suddenly found
Most people get ammunition in their hands is not an easy task. And those who still have access to them usually also have professional training: policemen, athletes, hunters, huntsmen, military men. Therefore, the occurrence of a situation where there is stock, but it is impossible to classify, is unlikely for them. After all, they mostly give out what is already well known.
But on our territory there were numerous military conflicts. From many you can only find rusty iron and no more. But the Great Patriotic War left its mark to this day. And to find the bullets of that period is now no problem. Of course, according to the current legislation, it is necessary to inform the police and hand over the sappers in time. But it’s interesting - what was found?
If we talk about the marking of cartridges of the Second World War used by the Soviet Union, then here it is first of all necessary to note 7.62x54. The model of 1891 was blunt, while in 1908 it was pointed. That is, they can be distinguished in shape. In addition, you can also find a cartridge for TT 7.62x25. This sample was also used in such legendary weapons as PPSh, PPD, PPS. Tracer bullets are separately marked in green.
But not only domestic representatives come across. Marking of German cartridges from the time of the Second World War may also be relevant. For example, 7.92x57. Their liners are distinguished by brass, bimetallic or steel varnishing. Moreover, both blunt-pointed and spiky ones are found.
Other bullets can be found on the territory of the Soviet Union, although problematic. Basically, these are arrivals and supporting parts. But if you transfer to other fronts, then there are other rounds of World War II. The marking of the French 8x50R bullets is distinguished by an annular groove at the bottom. Importantly, it is the first French smokeless rifle cartridge developed in 1886. But the most relevant is still the marking of the German cartridges of the Second World War, as well as of the Soviet models. Especially a lot of them can be found in places of major battles.
What other antiquities can be mentioned?
In our conditions it is impossible to ignore the cartridges of the Mauser. Markings for standard samples 6.5x55 are not much different from those used at that time. Namely - an unsegmented arrangement of brands. Usually four elements were used, although there are bullets with two. If we talk about the Soviet Union, then heredity is very well visible from the time of the Russian Empire. So, the marking of cartridges almost did not change. Unless heavy bullets and ammunition with a steel core ceased to be noted. This is not surprising, because when they were just starting to be introduced, they were a valuable rarity with a number of outstanding properties. Separately, it is worth mentioning 7.62, the model of 1943, which replaced the cartridge of 1908. And this is not surprising, because for three and a half decades, science and processing methods have been able to move forward, opening up opportunities for creating new products.
Marking of cartridges of the Second World War (and after) of this type was carried out mainly for incendiary, tracer, delayed and armor-piercing ammunition. By the way, since there were a large number of them, and there were no major conflicts, they can often be found in warehouses. In general, they are so good that they were updated and changed unless their individual modifications, manufactured in relatively small batches.
Is there something more modern?
For such a request there is a marking of cartridges 5.45. Speaking about them (and more specifically, about the 1974 model), they single out bullets with a steel core, increased penetration, tracer, with a reduced flight speed, armor-piercing and idle. The first two types have no specific color. Although those that have increased penetration, it should be noted that they are not stopped by 16 millimeters of third steel. Reduced speed bullets are used in weapons equipped with a silent firing device. Armor-piercing can penetrate 5 millimeters of quality protection. The difference between the idle is that they have a plastic tip that collapses in the barrel of the weapon. In addition, you can also consider the work of pistol bullets. For example, among the 9-millimeter should be allocated a bullet with a steel core. But she has no color differences. The same can be said about the 5.45 cartridge used in PSM pistols.
And what can we say by looking at the packaging?
As mentioned above, information can be obtained not only by looking at the ammunition. Sometimes it’s enough to glance at the packaging alone. In this case, the interest is colored distinctive stripes, signs and inscriptions in black. Much depends on what capacity you have to work with. So, wooden boxes are marked on the lid and on one of the side walls. On moisture-proof bags, information is located on the longitudinal sides. If there is a metal box, then information can be found on the lid. For marking, stencil painting, stamping by typographic method or using a special machine are used. If the conversation is about the box, then the mass should be indicated on the lid (gross, in kg). In addition, there is also a transport sign that indicates the discharge of cargo. But this is only on Soviet products.
Since 1990, it was decided to indicate a conditional hazard number with a warning sign instead. As an alternative, a classification code is used in accordance with GOST 19433-88. At the same time, the marking of live cartridges has its own distinctive features. So, on the wall you can find the legend of this type: "SCREW", "GUN", "SNIPER", "Sample. 43. " In addition, the batch number, the last two digits of the year of manufacture, the manufacturer’s conditional number are applied, the powder is marked, the number of cartridges and seals, as well as a distinctive sign, strip or inscription, which allow to characterize the type of cartridge.
If the box contains moisture-proof bags with ammunition, then an informative inscription on the wall must be applied about this. To indicate the caliber, a numerical value in millimeters is used. But without dimension. In addition, a symbol of the type of ammunition and sleeve is also applied (indicates the material from which it is made). For exemplary cartridges, the group cipher is replaced by the abbreviation "OB". If we are talking about a batch of gunpowder, then indicate its brand, number and year of manufacture along with the designation of the manufacturer. This is very convenient, because the marking on cartridge cases and substances is difficult to access: you need to open the box, unpack and watch. Whereas the score can go for seconds.
Observed changes
If you take a sample of ammunition manufactured in the Soviet Union, and a modern cartridge, you can see that they differ even in cases where the manufacturer is one. This is due to the fact that the accepted internal designation is not always clear to buyers abroad, for example, to Americans. Often, changes make it difficult to classify ammunition. For example, marking hunting cartridges of caliber 5.6 in the same Latin letter V (stands for "East") is quite problematic. But it is used for training, also in sports. Due to its low price, it has become quite widespread. And here additional elements come to the rescue. So, if there are belts, then the more of them, the better the ammunition. And it is more suitable for use in small game hunting. If they are not, then its main purpose is sports shooting and training. Although the changes are not always visible. So, if there is an inscription in English, then this is probably an export batch. Although it is not difficult to find "fresh" ammunition with a designation in Cyrillic.
About mounting cartridges
At the very beginning of the article, it was also said that they are not only weapons. There are also mounting (they are also building) cartridges. And, as you might guess, marking is also developed for them. Why? The fact is that powder construction guns are designed for a certain energy of detonation. It provides impact driving of dowels into metal or concrete surfaces. But if the wrong product is selected, this can lead to damage to the device and even personal injury. To avoid this, it was decided that marking of building cartridges was needed. What is it like?
In short, they are classified by color, height and diameter, number and method of packaging. How does this affect the product? The charge power in joules depends on color. In this case, marking is carried out on the conical tip of the cartridge. Short and long cartridges with different diameters are also distinguished. For example, there is a caliber of 5.6x16, 6.8x11, 6.8x18. The cartridge number indicates the mass of the powder charge. And the packaging method tells what pistols they are intended for. For example, multiply charged and automatic can only work with cartridges in the tape. Describing their device, it should be noted that they have a standard design. That is, all cartridges consist of such parts: steel sleeve, capsule, wad, pressure testing.
We will analyze this in more detail. In a steel sleeve is a charge of smokeless powder. If series K, then the whole space is filled. The letter D indicates that it is only in the bottom part. Wad is pressed powder that keeps the drum train in the sleeve. And pressure testing is carried out from above. In this case, color marking of cartridges is carried out.
About turning chucks
They are special devices that are used to fasten tools or parts on the spindle axis. Commonly used as part of a lathe headstock to clamp workpieces. But it can also be installed in dividing heads and rotary tables. Distinguish self-centering cartridges, as well as products with independent cams.
If we talk about the marking of turning cartridges, then with the products of the times of the Soviet Union, everything is quite simple. After all, then there was a single system. Each cartridge had a code consisting of eight numbers and a letter that indicated the accuracy class of the product. Using a special table, thanks to the marking, it was possible to find out the number of cams, cartridge diameter, accuracy class and some other parameters. Now, this is not so simple. A large number of different manufacturers and various manufacturing countries have created a situation where trying to give universal labeling to modern designs is unsuccessful. If you are interested in what and how, then you need to look for it with the specific manufacturer who created the device.
