FM 23-45 Basic Field Manual
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■62. Grade.—AR 775-10 explains the meaning of grading for caliber .30 ammunition.
Ordnance Field Service Bulletin No. 3-5 lists numerically every lot of ammunition with
its correct grade as established by the office of the Chief of Ordnance. Only lots of
proper grade will be fire.
Grade 3 indicates unserviceable ammunition and will not be
fired.
■63. I
DENTIFICATION.—
a. Markings.—
The contents of original boxes are readily identified by the markins on
the box. Similar markings on the carton label identify the contents of each carton.
b. Color bands.
—Color bands painted on the sides and ends of the packing boxes
further identify the various types of ammunition. The following color bands are used:
Cartridge, ball............................................................Red.
Cartridge, ball , and cartridge tracer, Composite band of yellow, red,
In metallic link belts.
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and green stripes (yellow on left,
red in center, green on right).
Cartridge, tracer ........................................................Green on yellow.
Cartridge, armor piercing .........................................Blue on yellow.
Cartridge blank..........................................................Blue
Cartridge, dummy......................................................Green.
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Special packing for Air Corps, not for use in the Browning machine gun, caliber .30, M1919A4
c. Types and models of caliber .30 cartridges.—
When removed from their original
packing containers, the cartridges may be identified, except as to ammunition lot
number and grade, by physical characteristics described below:
(1)
Ball
.—All models of caliber .30 ball ammunition, except the M1906, have
bullets with gilding metal jackets. The jacket of the M1906 bullet is cupronickel which
has a silvery appearance. The gilding metal jacket of the M2 ammunition is tin coated
and hence resembles the M1906 bullet in appearance. The gilding metal jacket of the
M1 bullet is copper colored.
(2)
Tracer.
—Caliber .30 tracer ammunition may be identified by the nose of the
bullet which is painted red for a distance of approximately ¼ inch from the tip.
(3)
Armor Piercing.
—All models of caliber .30 armor piercing ammunition may be
distinguished by the nose of the bullet which is painted black for a distance of
approximately ¼ inch from the tip. The bullets have gilding metal jackets.
(4)
Blank.
—Blank ammunition may be identified by the absence of a bullet in the
cartridge case.
(5)
Dummy.
—The caliber .30 corrugated dummy cartridge may be identified by six
longitudinal corrugations and a hole in the cartridge case.
■64. Care, Handling and Preservation.—
a.
Small arms ammunition as compared with other types is not dangerous to handle.
Care, however, must be observed to keep the boxes from becoming broken or damaged.
All broken boxes must be immediately repaired and careful attention given so that all
markings are transferred to the new parts of the box. The metal liner should be air-
tested and sealed if equipment for this work is available.
b.
Ammunition boxes should not be opened until the ammunition is required for use.
Ammunition removed from the airtight container, particularly in damp climates, is apt
to corrode, thereby causing the ammunition to become unserviceable.
c.
Protect the ammunition carefully from mud, sand, dirt, and water. If it gets wet or
dirty, wipe it off at once. Verdigris or light corrosion, if it forms on cartridges, should be
wiped off. However, cartridges should not be polished to make them look better or
brighter.
d.
The use of oil or grease on cartridges is dangerous and is prohibited.
