Can anyone help me identify this 20MM round?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I acquired this many years ago, and am trying to figure out what it is from. The stamping on it reads:

  • 20-MM MK.11-0 A LOT HMC 1-6 *

Here is a photo of it:

2

Is the front part blue? If it ain’t, I’d be careful- that thang could 'splode! [;)]

3

Jon-

It looks to be a blueish grey, has a number up there as well “1211649-A-1”

And yes, I do have to be careful. It’s still live! I can hear the powder shaking around inside of it. [:O]

4

I have one of those, Its a training round though.

David

5

Wow! I have one of those on my stereo cabinet that my Grand-dad gave me many years ago. He was a Navy aircraft mechanic and recalls picking it up and pocketing it before it rolled from the deck of the USS Bonne Homme Richard as they headed home. Corsairs, Hellcats and Bearcats were on-board to his best recollection.

Mine has PMM-1-13 51-20MM on the casing at the neck and I can hear powder shaking around in there. Live, I’m sure! And I’ve been stupid enough to use it to play slide on my guitar when I dropped my bottle.[:I] As an former gunsmith, I should know better, huh?? As the tip is steel, it appears to be Armor Piercing.

6

Well pretty much what it reads on the drivingband is what it is.

20mm projectile

MK.11 I THINK refers to MK.II (2) which in WWII woulld be a hispano mk.II cannons like the ones used on the MK.V spitfires. what It looks like to me except not in a belt.

The last number are just the lot or batch numbers to ID where and when they were made incase they run into a problem.

I not up on hardware after WWII it’s totally possible I’m way off. I’m sure 20mm shells where used eleswhere. Someone eles may have better idea what MK.II is. For all I know all 20mm shell could look alike. I’ve seen spit 20mm and german WWII 20MM shells.

7

I would have to agree with you phoenix. It definetly looks like a 20mm round For a Hispano cannon used on the Spits and Typhoons.

Soulcrusher

8

Thanks for the help, guys! Someone once told me it came from a Spitfire, but I didn’t know if I should believe them or not.

9

Um… If there’s powder in it, I’d get it looked at. 20mm rounds aren’t just bullets, they’re explosives too. Even if you removed the powder, it is still dangerous and could explode. The Blue-gray coloring would indicate a training round (our 30mm training rounds have live shells, but the bullet itself is painted blue and does not explode on impact), but if it is a WWII round, I’m not sure that coloring still applies. Be VERY Careful with it!

Jon

10

Daywalker: As someone who has fired many a 20mm round (A-4’s and A-7’s), I second what that other guy said about being ver-r-r-r-y careful with that ordnance. I’m probably not telling you anything you don’t already know, but even if it has an inert warhead, if the cartridge has powder in it it’s dangerous. If it’s old, it could be unstable. Even if it has sentimental value, I suggest you contact a local guard or reserve unit and see if they will assist in seeing that it’s properly disposed of. Better safe than sorry.

11

Guys-

Thanks for your concern, I really appreciate the fact that people who don’t know me worry about me! I am VERY careful with this piece, keeping it away from everyone in a fireproof lock box that would (hopefully!) contain the explosion were something to happen to it. Thanks again! [^]

12

Preston,

Yours round is inert, there’s no primer on the base end. The powder you hear is probably just inert material for weight and balance while the round is being run through the gun system.

Reddog

13

Daywalker,

If your round looks like Preston’s then yours is inert also, if it has a circle in the middle (a primer) then I am thinking it is a High Pressure Test (HPT) round. The Mk 11 Mod 0 Projectile was used on High Pressure Test Rounds on the old Mk 100 series rounds. Are the markings on the “brass” or on the projectile? Can you post a pic of the base end. Can you hear any powder inside?

Dummy (Inert) rounds are usually chrome all over, this round looks like a HPT Round. If you can hear powder inside and there is a primer I would consider that a live round and static electricity can set if off. Caution is in order. If there is no primer then it is an inert round.

Reddog

14

Here’s another photo of mine, I can hear some kind of powder inside, but don’t see the primer you are referring to. What exactly does the primer look like?

15

Nope, no primer. The primer would be a circle in the center of the cartridge base where the weapon’s firing pin (or firing mechanism) would make contact. Seeing that last pic, I wouldn’t worry about it, it probably has sand inside it.

Jon

16

DW,

Sorry I can’t view the picture right now (at work) but if there is no primer on the base end then the round is an inert round. Like cobra said, it’s a small circle in the center of the base where the firing pin would contact the round. If there is no primer, then there is nothing to make the “powder” inside ignite, therefore they are made with inert “powder”.

Sorry for any alarm, just didn’t want anyone running around with a live 20mm round, they can kill even if the projectile is not explosive.

But from what you and Cobra say, if there’s no primer then you are fine. I will look at the pic tonight at home.

Reddog

17

Thanks guys! Even though we are pretty sure it’s inert, I promise I won’t try to mess with it at all. [:)]

18

DW,

Just to let you know. I did look at the pic and as stated, there is no primer so it appears to be inert, I can’t fathom a live round with out a primer so you should be safe.

Reddog

19

20mm rounds on Phalanx (CWIS) are fired electrically and also have no visible primer. They are live rounds with an orange plastic tip around a SABOT round. Be careful, just because there is no primer doesn’t mean a round isn’t live.

20

I have this 20mm canon shell. I was told its from a Phantom F4. Its inert and does make ppl look strangely when the dog walks around with it in his mouth wagging his tail lol.

…Guy