China started development of the 5.8×42mm / DBP87 in 1979 and finished in 1987. The 5.8×42mm / DBP87 was designed to replace the Soviet 7.62×39mm cartridge used by the People's Liberation Army. The Type 95 / QBZ-95 (Chinese: 轻武器,步枪,自动, 1995; Pinyin: Qing wuqì,...

The FN 5.7×28mm is a small-caliber, high-velocity cartridge designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium. It is a bottlenecked centerfire cartridge that is somewhat similar to the .22 Hornet or .22 K-Hornet. The 5.7×28mm was developed in conjunction with the FN...

Designed by Melvin M. Johnson of Johnson Guns Inc. for their conversion of the M1 carbine and was introduced in 1963. It was based on the .30 carbine necked-down to .22 (5.7mm) and also known as the 22 Spitfire. The cartridge below matches the specs on the diagram, so...

The 5.6mm SPIW Tround cartridges were developed by Harrington & Richardson, Inc and invented by David A. Dardick. Original loading was 3 10gr. flechettes. This specimen is in all probability a dummy load with three solid copper round nose bullets that replaced the...

Not much is known about this cartridge at the moment. You will see a variety of shoulder variations on these and additional info will be added later                     ...

Swedish experimental cartridge. Resembles the 220 Russian.      

Swedish experimental cartridge based on the 7x33 Sako case. Developed during the mid 1960's   

German experimental cartridge from the early 1960. It utilised a 2-piece case.   

Another French experimental high velocity development during the early to mid-1970’s that was based on the 7,5x54 French MAS case necked down.   

The Steyr 5.56 mm ACR is a gas operated/ rising chamber modular weapon system firing semiautomatic or high cyclic 3 round burst of flechette projectiles from a 24 double round magazine. This system combines the ultimate feature in weapon optics, and ammunition design....

The story of the flechette (little arrows) goes back to the First World War when it was first utilised by the French. There is a very good piece that was done on the whole flechette program on THE GUN ZONE. It is by Daniel Watters and is a summary of the history of...

      The following is an excerpt from the ICC newsletter #289-290 (Jan-Feb 1980) SQUAD AUTOMATIC WEAPON (SAW) CARTRIDGE DEVELOPMENT AT FRANKFORD ARSENAL (1971-1972) COMPILED BY WOODIN LABORATORY "During July 1971 a computerized parametric design...

US caseless experimental during the early 80'sby GRAND TECHNOLOGIES GROUP INC, Jenkintown PA              Bullet shown at 200% scale Inert commemorative set by GTG. The XM-2 type is identified by the BLACK cases comprising of...

This was another Folded Case experimental by the US during the mid 70's The following from Buttweiler (RTB.VII.2.306) Produced as a promotional item, this is the 4 piece bicentennial set. It was produced to commemorate the American Bicentennial and the set includes 4...

Folded Ammunition is a unique concept in ammunition design that relocates the propellant charge from the conventional position behind and coaxial with the projectile to one beside the projectile. For a given energy output, conventional axially symmetric cartridges do...

   During the mid-1970’s the Russians developed a unique smoothbore underwater assault rifle, the APS (Автомат Подводный Специальный). These cartridges were manufactured in 3 types, namely MPS, Morskoy Patron Spetsialnyy; “special marine cartridge” (МПС;...

Designed by Frankford Arsenal during 1972 - 1973. A large number of projectiles were designed with a high L/D (length to diameter) ratio but low mass during this program (1971-1973). All of the projectile designs are of a composite core nature with a wide variety of...

The Small Arms System Agency at Aberdeen Proving Ground sponsored a research project in December 1969 for the development of a 5.56mm expendable or expellable case design. Most of this development was done by Remington and the project was aimed at solving the...

McDonnell-Douglas Helicopter Company, formerly Hughes Helicopters developed their AIWS (Advanced Individual Weapon System) with the proto-type funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency. The design made use of a sideways-loading chamber, with a "sliding sleeve...

The MARS (Mini Assault Rifle System) was an experimental, scaled-down variant of the M16 rifle tested by Colt as a personal defense weapon (PDW) in the 1990s. It was chambered for the experimental 5.56x30mm MARS cartridge. The 5.56x30mm cartridge fired a 55 grain...

US caseless experimental                 Shown at 200% scale                 Shown at 200% scale

   Caseless experimental by French GIAT INDUSTRIES and FN BELGIUM during the period 1980-1986. Shown at 200% scale

This is one of a small number of cartridges developed from a March 1891 patent by the Austrian firm of Georg Roth whereby a belt is added to the extractor groove in order to facilitate headspace in the new chambers. This was a radical design for its era as this was...

These small cartridges were used in training rifles by the “Young Fascists” in Italy and also known as the Moschetto Ballila. It was a blank firing cadet rifle, the weapon being commissioned by the central presidency of the Opera Nazionale Balilla, which operated from...

The 5.45×39mm cartridge was a Russian development in the early 1970s, and is an example of an international tendency towards relatively small sized, light weight, high velocity military service cartridges. Cartridges like the 5.45×39mm, 5.56×45mm NATO and Chinese...

                     Modern reproduction by Megret (France)   The 1907 Mondragon was one of the first semiautomatic rifles formally adopted by a national military. It was...

This was one of the Austrian caliber reduction experiments during the early 1890’s. The Austro-Hungarians, in line with other European powers began their research and development of a military 6.5mm cartridge during 1891. It was based on developments by Italy with...

During the 1960s, the United Kingdom experimented with creating a lightweight but effective replacement for the 7.62×51mm NATO round. Their original experiments focused on a .280 British round necked downed to 6.3mm. However, in the 1960s, a West German study proposed...

During the 1960s, the United Kingdom experimented with creating a lightweight but effective replacement for the 7.62×51mm NATO round. Their original experiments focused on a .280 British round necked downed to 6.3mm. However, in the 1960s, a West German study proposed...

Heckler & Koch development from around 1984 for the G11 assault rifle. The following is an extract from an article The Advanced Combat Rifle Programme (ACR) by J. Lenaerts (B), Military Technology, Vol.XIII, Issue 10.1989. The projectile is embedded in the solid...

German experimental cartridge from the 60's    Black neck seal Break down experimental  

This was a DAG (Dynamit Nobel AG) development from around 1974 - 1978          The TRACER and AP round shown at 200% scale.     

French high velocity experimental dating from the early to mid-1970’s and was based on the 7,5x54 French MAS case. Also used the spoon tip bullet similar to the ones used in the 4.6x36.         

                                Dummy with normal GM bullet.   The 4,6x36mm cartridge derives from the 'spoon-tipped' CETME CIP-613...

The concept of a personal defense weapon is not a new one, starting in the early 80’s with FN’s P90. These are weapons that are intended for non-first-line troops. The first line troops being infantry etc. which are issued with full power rifles such as AR15’s,...

   This was a high velocity French experimental cartridge from the early to mid 70's and was based on the 5.56x45 NATO case.

  Caseless experimental cartridge, but I have no other info on the country or manufacturer. This is a dummy version as can be seen below. There is is red plastic insert where the primer should be. BELOW SHOWN AT 200% SCALE FOR CARTRIDGE AND 400% SCALE FOR BASE

The 4,3x45 and the 4,6x36 cartridges were steps in the development of the G11 rifle and the caseless ammunition of Heckler & Koch. Early trials used the 4,9mm caliber. By February 1973 a decision was made in favour of the 4,3mm caliber because of its better...

   Probably a Frankford Arsenal project from the 1970’s, but very little other info available.

       Shown at 200% size  

   This was a GERMAN experimental cartridge from the 60's, although DUTCH 5.56 cases were used. The Germans were experimenting with caseless cartridges at the time and these 4.15mm steel bullets were developed. For testing purposes, they were loaded in...

   Small caliber experimental by DAG in Germany, probably late 70's to early 80's. Base has a red marking, so this might have been some proof load.