Military Amunition on a Public Beach!?

[Frodov]

Greetings all! Long time no post. It's been so long I am wondering if I remember how to make a post here at the TreasureNet at all. <grimace>
Was just on vacation this past week, visiting Myrtle Beach (North Myrtle Beach) SC. Of course I took my detector with me. I may not have a waterproof rig that can go out in the surf to hunt for gold in the water, but I am able to hunt the dry sand. I found a handfull of coins and a couple of pieces of jewelry (earrings, two "singles") One is ugly costume Jewelry at best, the other is a modified Buffalo nickel ! Someone soldered on a post to turn it into an earring. Go figure.
The most interesting find this year was a shell... no... not a sea shell... a spent ammunition shell. Now I'm guessing it is 50 cal but as I'm no expert on military ammunitions I thought I might post pics of it here and see if anyone can help me identify it. I was told that during WWII Naval aviators in training would buzz the beaches where practice targets had been set up on shore and afloat in the surf. That might explain the shell casing being on the beach.
Any information would be welcomed... speculation is accepted too. <smile> Thanks for looking.


As always... Happy Hunting!


Frodov

 

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[Davers]

Is it marked with just the 4 & T. W? Looks like it in the picture's ,def , been around awhile & it's a biggin.

 

[John_Deere]

The thing's definitely been there a while. From the comparison you've got going there with the quarter I'd say it's probably .50 caliber, like y'all said. Congrats on the hunt, looks like you got some good stuff!

 

[pong12211]

I would say you call on the bullet casing being a 50 caliber to be correct.. I looks like a more modern casing and is a centerfire round.. Nice finds congrats.

 

[Bum Luck]

TW = Twin Cities Ordnance Plant - Minneapolis, Minnesota

4 means manufactured in 1944.

How's that for useless information?

 

[Whatacoin]

Just the mystery of how it got there makes it all that more interesting! Thanks for sharing!

 

[kuger]

50's were used on aircraft so it likely fell from above

 

[debrown122]

During WWII there were towers and fortifications set up to protect the coastline from German subs. Here in DE we have several large towers with gun turrets in them. They would practice daily with the 50's. last year they replenished the sand in Bethany Beach and we found the linkage that holds the shells toghether, spent rounds and shells on the beach for weeks.

 

[jewelerguy]

yep. .50 cal., WW2

 

[garbageman]

Welcome back! I always enjoyed reading your posts and seeing you finds. -Garbageman

 

[CASPER-2]

A lot of people dont know that shore batteries used to fire at U boats off shore too
I have found .50 cal heads at different beaches here and there where i was told bombers would target practice at floating targets