Why shoot WWII ammo?

MarkC · 06-14-2006, 08:47 PM

Guys,

I know it sound nuts, why shoot any collectable ammo?

Well, it seems there is some stuff around for $15 to $20 a box of 16 rounds. There was more 9mm ammo available from the German war machine after the war (1950's) that dealers sold here in the USA before 9mm was "acceptable" in semi automatic guns. The USA had lots of .45ACP but the German 9mm was new at the time and I am sure "Shotgun News" sold it by the crate.

So, I am considering shooting some of this stuff through a chronograph in my "built up" P.38 and a "shooter luger" to determine the ballistics of the round and replicate the ballistics of the round for bullet weight and velocity when I reload.

Has anyone shot WWII ammo through their guns? I know it is corrosive but what should I look for? There were rumors that steel jacketed bullets will wipe out the bore in a gun but I can't believe the Germans would sacrifice the barrels on the guns for cheap ammo.

All I need to shoot is about 10 rounds in a controlled indoor environment with my CED Millennium Chronograph with the Infrared (IR) Lighting Option.

I will also weigh the bullet heads to see exactly what they were shooting. The bullet ogive is also important for reloading according to WWII specs and will check it with calipers.

Leon DeSpain (who has a few cases of this ammo) was kind enough to send me an opened box of 12 ... 42 OXO st 2 ... ammo with the black heads with a shipment I got from him that included the unopened boxes of ammo.

I may need two more boxes from Leon to confirm the Chronograph results when I have the "duds" in the box.

Any thoughts? Anyone seen confirmed Chronograph results from WWII ammo? ..... This is for us "reloaders" ..... data from WWII ammo will confirm my reloading data when I work up the load.

Mark

06-14-2006, 08:47 PM	#1
MarkC User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 482 Thanks: 1 Thanked 126 Times in 29 Posts	Why shoot WWII ammo? Guys, I know it sound nuts, why shoot any collectable ammo? Well, it seems there is some stuff around for $15 to $20 a box of 16 rounds. There was more 9mm ammo available from the German war machine after the war (1950's) that dealers sold here in the USA before 9mm was "acceptable" in semi automatic guns. The USA had lots of .45ACP but the German 9mm was new at the time and I am sure "Shotgun News" sold it by the crate. So, I am considering shooting some of this stuff through a chronograph in my "built up" P.38 and a "shooter luger" to determine the ballistics of the round and replicate the ballistics of the round for bullet weight and velocity when I reload. Has anyone shot WWII ammo through their guns? I know it is corrosive but what should I look for? There were rumors that steel jacketed bullets will wipe out the bore in a gun but I can't believe the Germans would sacrifice the barrels on the guns for cheap ammo. All I need to shoot is about 10 rounds in a controlled indoor environment with my CED Millennium Chronograph with the Infrared (IR) Lighting Option. I will also weigh the bullet heads to see exactly what they were shooting. The bullet ogive is also important for reloading according to WWII specs and will check it with calipers. Leon DeSpain (who has a few cases of this ammo) was kind enough to send me an opened box of 12 ... 42 OXO st 2 ... ammo with the black heads with a shipment I got from him that included the unopened boxes of ammo. I may need two more boxes from Leon to confirm the Chronograph results when I have the "duds" in the box. Any thoughts? Anyone seen confirmed Chronograph results from WWII ammo? ..... This is for us "reloaders" ..... data from WWII ammo will confirm my reloading data when I work up the load. Mark