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...
5.2 X 68 MONDRAGON
Modern reproduction by Megret (France) The 1907 Mondragon was one of the first semiautomatic rifles formally adopted by a national military. It was...
5 X 52R AUSTRIAN
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...
5MM ARES
4.9 X 45 DAG
4.85 X 49 BRITISH
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...
4.85 X 44 BRITISH TRANSITIONAL XPL
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...
4.73 X 33 CASELESS XPL TELESCOPED (G11)
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...
4.7 X 45 DAG HK EXPERIMENTAL
German experimental cartridge from the 60's Black neck seal Break down experimental
4.7 X 21 DAG CASELESS (1ST MODEL)
This was a DAG (Dynamit Nobel AG) development from around 1974 - 1978 The TRACER and AP round shown at 200% scale.
4.6 X 54 FRENCH HIGH VELOCITY XPL
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.
4.6 X 36 SPOONTIP
Dummy with normal GM bullet. The 4,6x36mm cartridge derives from the 'spoon-tipped' CETME CIP-613...
4.6 X 30 HECKLER & KOCH
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,...
4.5 X 45.6 FN XPL
This was a high velocity French experimental cartridge from the early to mid 70's and was based on the 5.56x45 NATO case.
4.4 X 14 CASELESS EXPERIMENTAL
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
4.3 X 45 DAG
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...
4.2 X 45 FRANKFORD ARSENAL XPL (.16 FA)
Probably a Frankford Arsenal project from the 1970’s, but very little other info available.
4.2 X 12.2 CASELESS
Shown at 200% size
4.15 X 44.6 GERMAN EXPERIMENTAL
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...
4 X 45 DAG XPL
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.
4 X 37 IWK EXPERIMENTAL
Experimental cartridge dating from 1972 by IWK (Industrie Werke Karlsruhe). Based on a shortened 5.56 NATO case.
3.5 X 51 FN EXPERIMENTAL
Experimental cartridge dating from the early 1970's when the search was on to find an improved assault rifle. One school of thought was smaller diameter, lighter and faster bullets. This 3.5mm version was an intermediate design by FN in...
9 X 33 TRAINER FOR 112mm APILAS ROCKET
Training cartridge for the 112mm APILAS (Armor-Piercing Infantry Light Arm System) that was developed by GIAT during the late 1970’s as a response to a request for proposals from the French armed forces for a new recoilless infantry anti-tank weapon. The 112mm APILAS...
9 X 26 FRENCH XPL
There is currently not much known about this cartridge other that it was based on a shortened 7.5 × 54 MAS Mle 1929 case and was developed in the period right after WW2. The design was by the French Service Technique de l'Armement from a design sketch dated October...
7.62 X 40 WILSON TACTICAL
Developed by Wilson Combat, the idea was to develop a .30cal cartridge on the standard AR platform that still has low recoil and maintaining high accuracy.
9 X 24.5 REGAŇA SUBCALIBER
This cartridge is a spotting cartridge/trainer for the Instalaza C90-CR (M3) 90mm shoulder mounted rocket-propelled grenade launcher and was developed during the 1980’s. It is produced by Instalaza SA, Spain. Apart from the Spanish Army, Marines, Air Force and Guardia...
9mm KALTMANN
Designed during the 1970’s by HJ Kaltmann as an expellable cartridge. The addition of the brass case was used during testing for proper functioning of the case and initially used 5,56 NATO cases that were cut down and later versions using 9mm Parabellum cases,...
9 X 21 M-65 DANISH
It can be argued that this cartridge is nothing more than a longer case length 9mm Parabellum training blank used with a specially constricted barrel and deeper chamber preventing accidentaly firing live rounds as a live round would settle too far forward in the...
9mm CZECH OSTRYCH NABOJU
This is called the Czechoslovakian “9 mm cylindrical cartridge” or 9 mm ostrych naboju - valcovych made for the experimental ZB 47 SMG made by Zbrojovka Brno. The ZB-47, also known as the Samopal 47, was designed by Václav Holek in two variations. Ten guns were...
9mm COLT MARS XPL
The original MARS (Mini Assault Rifle System) was based on a 5,56x30 round. The project started in 1997 when Colt was approached by Michael Harris of Special Analytical Services (SAS) with a concept of a mini-assault rifle that would have the purpose of being a...
9mm AUPO
This was a Fiocchi development during the 1980’s and was used in the Benelli CB M2 semi auto carbine. It is not a caseless cartridge, but a self-contained round as the powder is loaded inside the case with the “primer” located in a chamber the entire circumference of...
8 X 50R AUSTRIAN MANNLICHER
This is also a relatively large project, new specimens will be added soon - During the late 1870’s and into the 1880’s there were giant technological strides made in the development of small arms ammunition. It was without a doubt that one of the front-runners in this...
8mm RIBEYROLLES
The French began experimenting with semi-automatic rifles as far back as the 1890’s with the testing of the Meunier rifle and by 1900 they were considering the replacement of their bolt action rifles with semi-automatic rifles, but budget constraints and bureaucracy...
8mm BRIXIA MORTAR IGNITER
The Brixia Modello 35 was a light infantry mortar to provide indirect fire support against enemy positions at platoon level and was based on a 45mm light fragmentation projectile weighing 16.4 ounces (465 grams) and able to reach target areas out to about 580 yards...
3mm BALL EXPERIMENTAL
This was a continuation of the 3mm microballistic development at Frankford Arsenal during 1962 – 1963 and used the 222 Remington Magnum case necked to 3mm. bullet was a solid copper alloy with a 10 caliber ogive and case has the rippled shoulder. It is not clear if...