What Caliber is this round?

[11Charlie]

So a coworker brought me this old round today. Not sure what it is. It looks like a .50 cal but the stamp on the bottom says 52. Is that the caliber of it or just a marking?

Thought I would pick the brain of those that have way more experience than I do.

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[2506]

It's Canadian. Manufactured in 1952, or 52. Most likely, anyway.

 

[JRuby]

Do you have a micrometer if so take some measurements the first being the diameter of the bullet and secondly the length of the case and diameter of the base of the case. This woud go a long ways towards identifying what you have.

 

[11Charlie]

I don't have a micrometer. eventually I need to probably get one.

 

[bbbass]

I don't have a micrometer. eventually I need to probably get one.

Maybe a photo with a ruler there for scale?

 

[11Charlie]

Best I could do with this tape. I hate junk tools!!

 

[DirectDrive]

Federal Cartridge 1952
Crimped primer, so it's military

Hard to get a handle on the scale of it from the pics.
A guess without dimensions would be 50 BMG

Edit:
I see you put dimensions up
I'll stick with my guess.

Dood....come closer......go to Harbor Fright and get a digital caliper!
They are cheap now and accurate enough for handloading, etc.
I swear they are all made at the same Chinese factory and badged Lyman, RCBS, Pittsburg, etc
I even got a free one from VXB bearings and it's nicer than the bought ones.

 

[11Charlie]

Federal Cartridge 1952
Crimped primer, so it's military

Hard to get a handle on the scale of it from the pics.
A guess without dimensions would be 50 BMG

Thats what I was thinking but the 52 stamped in it through me for a loop.

 

[Boboclown]

It's Canadian. Manufactured in 1952, or 52. Most likely, anyway.

1952 is right. Canada, no. Looks like it has an L on there. If it was just C, it wouldn't be Canada anyways. It would have been from Germany, Italy, or Ohio.

Thats what I was thinking but the 52 stamped in it through me for a loop.

On military ammo the number stamped is the year. Civilian ammo has the round stamped on there.

LC 52=Lake City 1952..

 

[B3dlam]

Thats what I was thinking but the 52 stamped in it through me for a loop.

LC is Lake City.
52 would be the year of manufacture as was stated.
If you just google 50 BMG headstamp you'll see plenty similar to this under images.

 

[11Charlie]

Thanks Guys!! I knew someone would have the answer's. One of the many reason's I love this site.

 

[deadeye]

Here are some pics. of some 50bmg but like others have stated a caliper and Wikipedia specs would tell you for sure.

 

[DirectDrive]

1952 is right. Canada, no. Looks like it has an L on there. If it was just C, it wouldn't be Canada anyways. It would have been from Germany, Italy, or Ohio.

On military ammo the number stamped is the year. Civilian ammo has the round stamped on there.

LC 52=Lake City 1952..

It's an "F" IMO.
Therefore "Federal Cartridge" as I posted previously.
So it would have come from the Federal plant at Anoka, MN and not Lake City.
It could also be foreign with that headstamp.

 

[Boboclown]

It's an "F" IMO.
Therefore "Federal Cartridge" as I posted previously.
So it would have come from the Federal plant at Anoka, MN and not Lake City.
It could also be foreign with that headstamp.

Looks like an L when I look at it closely.

 

[11Charlie]

I'll help clear this up Just looked at it and it is definetly a L

sorry guys the picture wasn't that clear.

 

[DirectDrive]

I'll help clear this up Just looked at it and it is definetly a L

sorry guys the picture wasn't that clear.

OK, Lake City then.
That plant would have been busy in 1952.

 

[Member 5605]

Only @deadeye would be the first to whip out a tape on the table...

;-)

 

[11Charlie]

I think its funny how normal in size they look in a picture until you put a tape to it or look at in person. Then your going holly bubblegum I would hate to get hit by that!!

 

[Mikej]

Hey, Who all is in for ponying up to get a micrometer for @SKrueger from Harbor Freight?

I'll toss in the first $Buck!

 

[Member 5605]

Hey, Who all is in for ponying up to get a micrometer for @SKrueger from Harbor Freight?

I'll toss in the first $Buck!

If I add $1, you only need one more.