So at work I come across several oddities. Usually objects or munitions that we cannot identify. We appropriately dub them "unicorns".
Well I came across one yesterday that was really intriguing to me. Found a yellow tipped 5.56X45 mm cartridge.I had never seen a yellow tip before So I took it and did some research. Ended up with a rather rare bullet.
I have tentatively identified it as a so called "Duplex" round. An experimental round that utilized TWO different projectiles stacked on one another. The idea being you get two bullets per round. More potential targets hit down range. that made several calibers with the 5.56 having 2 33 grain bullets on to of one another. This round I think was designed to be used on the ACR program that got axed in 1990. It made it to Phase III of testing but then the whole project was scrapped. (figures). Only real problem I have with my current theory is the head stamp. Lake City 01 with NATO markings. Everything I have found so far has indicated that no rounds of this type were made/tested past 1990. One reference even warned against finding any with stamps past 90. Not sure why. It was found on an older range on a federal installation.
Now, the other option is it being a so called "Star-Burst" Round. A kind of sexy spotting round using titanium flakes that flare in a 6-8 ft circle marking a target very nicely indeed. There was also a third option initially of it being a true spotter round. I X'ed that off the list however as it has no visible nose fuse which the 5.56mm had. It is a smooth projectile all around with no breaks anywhere.
Both possibilities can be yellow tipped.
Obviously, simply taking it apart will give me the answer right away but I hesitate to do so. It's a pretty cool round either way and rather rare so I am loathe to disassemble/shoot it.
Has anyone else had experience with such a round in their travels?
[This message has been edited by Eliminatus (edited 11/1/2013 12:07a).]
Well I came across one yesterday that was really intriguing to me. Found a yellow tipped 5.56X45 mm cartridge.I had never seen a yellow tip before So I took it and did some research. Ended up with a rather rare bullet.
I have tentatively identified it as a so called "Duplex" round. An experimental round that utilized TWO different projectiles stacked on one another. The idea being you get two bullets per round. More potential targets hit down range. that made several calibers with the 5.56 having 2 33 grain bullets on to of one another. This round I think was designed to be used on the ACR program that got axed in 1990. It made it to Phase III of testing but then the whole project was scrapped. (figures). Only real problem I have with my current theory is the head stamp. Lake City 01 with NATO markings. Everything I have found so far has indicated that no rounds of this type were made/tested past 1990. One reference even warned against finding any with stamps past 90. Not sure why. It was found on an older range on a federal installation.
Now, the other option is it being a so called "Star-Burst" Round. A kind of sexy spotting round using titanium flakes that flare in a 6-8 ft circle marking a target very nicely indeed. There was also a third option initially of it being a true spotter round. I X'ed that off the list however as it has no visible nose fuse which the 5.56mm had. It is a smooth projectile all around with no breaks anywhere.
Both possibilities can be yellow tipped.
Obviously, simply taking it apart will give me the answer right away but I hesitate to do so. It's a pretty cool round either way and rather rare so I am loathe to disassemble/shoot it.
Has anyone else had experience with such a round in their travels?
[This message has been edited by Eliminatus (edited 11/1/2013 12:07a).]
