Need help identifying this unusual blank cartridge.

[u72823]

I found this unusual blank cartridge on the ground at a former US Army training area and I can't quite figure out what it is. In the first picture, I've put it along side 7.62x51 and 5.56x45 for scale. The headstamp reads OFN, 7.62, 73. From the little bit I've been able to figure out OFN is a Nigerian ammunition manufacturer and I think it's safe to say that 73 is probably the production year. It bears a striking resemblance to 7.92x33 Kurz the round fired by the STG-44 rifle except that the headstamp most definitely says 7.62. I could see the wisdom in somebody trying to wildcat the 7.92x33 Kurz to take a .308 caliber bullet except that this must have been a production rifle cartridge seeing as that the case I have is a blank.

I would love it if anyone could shed some light on this mystery that's been plaguing my mind for over a year now. Thanks!

[klausg]

7.62x39 ?

[u72823]

It definitely isn't a 7.62x39. That's actually what I thought when I first saw it. If you measure the length of the case it's approximately 7.62x35 (hard to tell for sure because of the blank crimp.) 7.62x35 would imply the .300 AAC Blackout except that it's definitely wider than the Blackout.

[Taylor]

AK blank-7.62x39

[runfiverun]

I'm pretty sure it's a 7.92 blank and nothing else.
stamps aren't alway's dates or case/bullet diameters.
I have some old brass marked 7/mm and nothing else.

[tomme boy]

Yep, it is the 7.92

I had a bunch of so called 7.62x51 from Yugo. It was all pull down 7.92x57 brass formed into 7.62x51. It shot like doo doo. It was every type of brass case 8mm I have ever seen. I ended up pulling all of it and kept the powder and sold everything else.

[u72823]

Yep, it is the 7.92

I had a bunch of so called 7.62x51 from Yugo. It was all pull down 7.92x57 brass formed into 7.62x51.

So you're saying that it's a 7.92x33 Kurz blank formed from different brass? I'd buy that. Very interesting! Whether or not 73 is the year, who's been using that cartridge since WWII?

[Hardcast416taylor]

There were reports of finding STG-44 rifles in Iraq when we swept the floors. All were in firing shape and ammo was with them. Eastern Europe Bloc countries used these rifles after WW 2 until Russia supplied their weapons to them.Robert

[Artful]

Russians? or someone had enough stockpiled to send to Syrian's for their home games.
http://www.armoryblog.com/firearms/rifles/free-syrian-army-captures-5000-stg44s/


If you’re a WWII history buff like I am this will absolutely blow your mind. The video below shows members of the Free Syrian Army who are fighting against the forces of Syrian “President” Bashar al-Assad that have stumbled upon a contrainer full of rifles. The rebel member who posted the video mistakenly claimed that they had found 5,000 AK-47s. Nope, turns out they stumbed upon 5,000 German WWII STG-44 rifles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EsCle4ooM0
The Sturmgewehr 44 was the first assault rifle developed by Nazi Germany, how did so many end up in the Syrian desert? Who knows, maybe the Nazis imported them during the second world war. Maybe they found their way there via the black market. But if someone found a way to sell them to collectors the Free Syrian Army would be able to fund their efforts for quite some time!
Chances are these will be either used by the Syrian Rebels, or destroyed.

[nvbirdman]

Since it is Nigerian, I think if you contact the Nigerian king and tell him you found that he will adopt you as his son and you will inherit a 500million dollar fortune. Please send me $7500 for the king's address.