First daylight low tides of the year

[DickH]

I've been waiting for the first daylight low tides to put on the waders and detect the normally submerged beaches. Went out yesterday for a 1.4' low tide along the beach of Old Tacoma along Ruston Way. Nothing of value, lots of rusted iron; but I did find something very unusual [at least for me]. An unfired rifle cartridge. Looks to be a copper jacketed slug; so maybe a military round? I'm guessing that it was submerged since the hey day of Old Tacoma in the 20's-30's. Don't know if this is of any interest to anyone but me; but it made me feel I hadn't wasted a couple hours of wading in cold water.

 

[davest]

looks good to me, have you been able to determine caliber or manufacturer? Looks a lot like a 30.06 round.

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Cool.

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[Newt]

I'll say .308
Newt

 

[ringfinder]

Neat find, looks like a 7.62 to me, I used them in a M-14 rifle during Vietnam. Just a guess.

HH, Ringfinder

 

[Twin Digger]

nice job. HH

 

[kdismuke1]

I AGREE WITH RINGFINGER, 7.62

 

[Ammo Dog]

Check the head stamp should have the last two digets of the year it was made.

 

[Johnnysan]

At 3 and 3/8" it's too long to be 30.06. My first guess was 308, but I'm no expert.

 

[kuger]

As said you should be able to see the digits on the headstamp.It appears to definitely be military,probably armor piercing and it looks 30.06 to me but not sure??

 

[49er]

Another vote for .30-06 and great dig.

 

[Monty]

Contrarily johnnysan the 30.06 is quite a bit longer thant the 7.62 NATO, not to be confused with the .308 Winchester that is very similar to the NATO round, but not quite the same. Would appear to be a 30.06 to me due to the length. That is assuming it is a military cartridge of .30 caliber. Let's see the head stamp please. Monty

 

[DickH]

Thanks for looking guys. Took me awhile to get the scanner running to get the image below. All I can see is an "L" "3" & "5". Just a rough measure shows the slug to be just a smidge less than 5/16" ~ .31" the casing about 7/16" ~ .43" A long time ago I had a 25.06 varmit rifle seems about the same size; but that was long ago. How about that "L" do you suppose that might have been for Lee-Enfield? WAG?
Thanks for helping me identify it. Dick {Zig was a character I played in the play "Bleacher Bums" so I used it because Dick was already taken}

 

[DickH]

I've been googling trying to learn more about this cartridge. I read something about armor piecing bullets reacting to a magnet since apparently they have an iron core - found out that a magnet sticks to this bullet. The headstamp "L" apparently applies to several sources in Germany and one in Finland - if I read that article correctly. Dick

 

[willie d]

I see L C 5 3 or 3 5--lake city arsenal in Independence Missouri

 

[Nullers]

EEK... uxo, uxo... run forest, run LOL

 

[Monty]

I agree Lake City Arsenal. Whether 53 or 35, the 7 .62 NATO wasn't in production then. Correct bullet diameter is .308". I am more sure now that it is a 30.06. More sure....isn't that an oxymoron? M nty