1944 20mm m21a1

[Drew in OC]

I guess my only question is how do you tell which projectiles are dangerous if the color is all gone? The top one looks like it has some residual black paint, so that's safe.

20mm Round headstamped "GMS 1944 20MM M21A1" was made by the Globe Machine and Stamping Co., Cleveland, Ohio

 

[Icky The Great]

It seems the bottom two were fired, judging from the rifling mark toward the bottom of the projectile. I think you should be all right. I do not believe 20mm ammo was designed at this time to have other than normal bullet functions. These probally came from a cannon mounted to aircraft. Most of everything bigger than these could be dangerous. Good finds.

 

[Voriax]

Actually 1944 ordnace manual lists only 3 types of 20mm ammo: practise, armour piercing and high explosive incendiary. doesn't looks like those are fuzed bullets so they are probably safe.

Voriax

 

[Drew in OC]

Actually 1944 ordnace manual lists only 3 types of 20mm ammo: practise, armour piercing and high explosive incendiary. doesn't looks like those are fuzed bullets so they are probably safe.

Voriax

Thanks, I knew they came from aircraft mounted cannons, so they have already been through more stress than I would put them through by dropping them, but I found them in sand which would have cushioned the impact and also there is no way of knowing if the projectiles match the same age as the brass. The area I was hiking in was thick with brass and projectiles and I could have easily filled my backpack with them.