Mystery headstamp marking.......

[3006guns]

I had just finished shooting my #4 rifle today and was packing up for home, when I looked down and saw 5 forlorn cases on the ground. It didn't take me long to identify them as 8 x 57 Mauser, and Boxer primed to boot! When I got home I searched the internet for the headstamp, which is "FCPO" and below that "45".......couldn't find it anywhere. I did find an "FCPQ", but that's not it.

Does anyone know where these cases were made? Corrosive primed? They look perfectly reloadable as is.

[Bwana John]

My guess would be...

Fábrica De Cartuchos e Pólvoras Quimicas, Chelas, Portugal... 1945, corrosive.

http://https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.lLPxI2uY6wzaCZRrRu9SvgHaHR&pid=Api&dpr=1 .33

[la5676]

My guess would be...

Fábrica De Cartuchos e Pólvoras Quimicas, Chelas, Portugal... 1945, corrosive.

Not anymore.

just sayin'

[Bwana John]

Not anymore.

just sayin'

It might have choked Arti, but it ain't gonna choke Styme.

I'd rinse well and dry the cases before I reloaded um.

[3006guns]

Well, you're probably right...........I didn't look at that last letter under a magnifying glass, and it very well could be a "Q".

I'll wash, rinse and reload. Thanks!

[tomme boy]

http://cartridgecollectors.org/?page=headstampcodes

[3006guns]

Well, I placed the first cleaned case under my Lee decapping die and promptly bent the pin. At that point, all five cases got scrunched with pliers and tossed in the scrap brass bucket. The primers were lightly staked, but tremendously tight, so not worth the effort.

[Mike H]

Well, I placed the first cleaned case under my Lee decapping die and promptly bent the pin. At that point, all five cases got scrunched with pliers and tossed in the scrap brass bucket. The primers were lightly staked, but tremendously tight, so not worth the effort.

I think you will find that the cases were berdan primed,all the FCPQ ammunition I have is berdan primed.

[3006guns]

Nope..........definitely Boxer. I checked all of them with a strong flashlight......one flash hole in each.......now that flash hole COULD have been under size which would bend the decapping pin. In either case, they were worthless so out they went.

I already ordered two more pins.....always nice to have a spare or two around!

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Guess it's all water under the bridge now, but I've examined lots of Berdan primed cases that fooled me by having what appeared to be a hole in the middle where a Boxer primer flash hole would be. I think it's made when the Berdan anvil is extruded into the flash hole from the base. A de-primed Berdan case has a raised anvil in the center that the primer crushes on, and the metal has to come from somewhere.

[FLINTNFIRE]

I was loading some 45acp and dillon press came to a stop , pulled buttons pulled brass had a oddball 45acp berdan primed with the smallest of twin holes , drilled a hole now its boxer for the rest of its life , funny thing that brass looked well worn on the head . Mystery where it got into my brass at as most of it has been shot and loaded again and again.

[725]

I have a little fiber optic gizmo attached to the end of my mini-mag. With it, I can insert the probe into cases to be examined and see the innards very well. Beats trying to get the right angle / light to see in there.