Dane,
"EVERYTHING that was designed to shoot-blow up-explode-ingnite-illuminate-burn-mame/kill,
is extremely dangerous in it's original intended form. Once expended..."some things" become
inert...or pose no further threat. Some things fail and can wait indefinately to harm someone later."
As others have already stated "yours" is definitely an "M2 Armor Piercing Round". It has a tapered waist and the M17 Tracer has a straight waist below the double canalure. IT IS UN-DANGEROUS.
As far as your question about danger of the individual projectiles, I'll try and explain, starting from left....to right.
#1. The Spotter Round Cartridges are actually made up by us and never existed in factory produced
ammunition. The projectiles were pulled from the M48 Spotter Cartridge used to assist in
targeting of the larger 106MM & 105MM Recoilless and Howitzer Artillery weapons. This
projectile Traces-Smokes-and Explodes on impact creating a large flash, then it lays there and
burns. This is the most dangerous projectile of the eight examples shown here as it has encased
in its nose a sensitive primer. This cartridge can be detonated by simply dropping it on a hard
surface like concrete. The odds of finding one of these laying around would be very slim, but
possible. I will include a cut-away picture of this projectile at the bottom of this post.
#2. The M1 Incendiary was primarily used on thin skinned flammable targets and was mostly fired
from aircraft and during training exercises to help gunners see where they were hitting. The
hollow nose of this projectile has ample amount of a proprietary compound the Government
refers to as "IM11". It requires a velocity in excess of that which you could achieve by just
dropping it on a hard surface. When it does detonate it creates a large flash, and does not have
a hardened steel penetrator.
#3. The M17 Tracer projectile becomes visable (RED) approximately 100yds from the fired weapon
and traces red for in excess of 1800 yrds. It is hollow with lead in the nose and the tracing
compound in the rear, and has no steel penetrator. These were normally linked up 1 to 4 with
the M33 Ball and M2 AP cartridges for the Ground Weapons. This one poses no danger to being
dropped.
#4. The M20 projectile were used in a lot of the Aircraft during WWII. It Traces, flashes on impact,
and has a hardened steel penetrator that will defeat light/medium armor. This round like the
Blue & Silver Tip would need velocity much greater than achieved by dropping for detonation.
#5. The M8 Silver Tip is Armor Piercing Incendiary it flashes on impact and has a hardened steel
penetrator that will defeat medium armor. More IM11 compound in the nose that "shouldn't"
detonate if dropped.
#6. The M2 Armor piercing round has no reactive compounds, just a hardened steel penetrator, no
risk at all dropping on hard surface. Punches through medium armor with ease.
"THIS IS WHAT YOU FOUND."
#7. The M33 Ball round is just Full Metal Jacket, lead core, no reactive compounds, no penetrator.
No drop risk.
#8. The MK11 mod 0 is the latest and greatest round developed for the browning M2 and
M82A1 Rifle. It has an explosive impact that assists in driving a hardened steel penetrator. I have
not performed any drop tests with this round, but I have read that it takes the usual velocity
like the M1-M20-M8 type projectiles. These round are fairly new and rare, as well as expensive.
EVERYTHING I have stated has been based on dropping the cartridge/projectile on its tip/nose.
Every loaded cartridge is dangerous and has a sensitive primer on its base that can easily be
detonated if dropped. Every cartridge from a 17/22cal on up can be lethal including blanks.
I hope I maybe answered your question. Your found example poses no danger, enjoy it. Due to the
patina and surface corrosion....I would agree and say its probably from World War II.
Adios
TiredIron
"NOW THIS EXAMPLE IS A BADBOY".....this one you don't drop, don't ask me how I know.
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