What Does This Mean?

[Speedo66]

I've got an inert cartridge I bought as a kid in a military surplus store in the 50's. Looks to be a 30-06, with the case sides creased in longitudinally to show it's not live, and an 1/8" hole in the side. The case looks like it's tinned steel. It has a bullet in it, and what looks like a live primer, but I'm sure it's not based on the case.

The head stamp is F A, over 37 NM.

Anyone care to hazard a guess what the markings mean, and the purpose of the cartridge?

[dancingbear41]

My guess is: Frankford Arsenal, 1937, National Match.

If it has longitudinal creases they are usually present in training rounds so as to make them unlike live ammo.

[Artful]

Yep, Dancingbear41 has it - dummy round
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk272/dundas56/30-06dummiesUS_zps4c1bc513.jpeg (http://s282.photobucket.com/user/dundas56/media/30-06dummiesUS_zps4c1bc513.jpeg.html)

[Speedo66]

Looks like the one second from left. I guess they were used for training, just curious what the NM pertained to.

[Artful]

NM would most likely refer to the National Match load
(ie special bullet and OAL sometimes)
Although I wouldn't put it past the older generation to take brass
that wasn't up to spec's and reuse it to make dummy rounds.
We used to be a frugal country like that - waste nothing.

[BigEyeBob]

Its a drill round used for drill where a live round would be unacceptable and also used in training .