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Post by one50 on Nov 6, 2009 11:16:53 GMT 8
I had a theory that the Japanese force on Corregidor at the time of the 503rd assault used only 6.5 ammo (the Type 38 rifle, Type 44 carbine, Type 38 carbine, etc). With every theory you have to prove it. I have a Type 38 rifle taken from the Corregidor, from a vet in the 462nd. Thus my theory was born. I present to you this photo and it's captions. Notice the GI on the right holding a gun with a bayonet. That gun is definitely a Japanese Type 99 (7.7 ammo). My theory is fading fast.. which is cool. What I need to know from you guys who have been to the Island a few hundred times is this. Have any of you found 6.5 and or 7.7 ammo or spent casings? If so I would love to see photos of them and the head stamp. The Japanese actually didn't mark their ammo so the head stamp should be blank. Also, maybe this picture is not actually Corregidor. Can anyone confirm or deny this? Thank you Dan
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Post by fots2 on Nov 6, 2009 15:46:03 GMT 8
Hi one50, Sorry I cannot help you with the location of the photo. I am only a collector of photos but I did find a bullet in very good shape in the Quartermaster area of Malinta Tunnel one day. I could not find the shell casing for it. I put the bullet in my pocket and forgot about it until I noticed it after getting home. I don’t know if this helps you but I’ll try to find it if you need any other view or to make a measurement. For size comparison there is a small Swiss Army knife beside it. There are no marks on it except for the stamped ring you can see. Is this what you are looking for? Is it Japanese or American?
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Post by one50 on Nov 8, 2009 11:15:05 GMT 8
Fots2 thanks for sharing your find. It's definitely not a 6.5. It could be a 7.7 or a 30-06. It looks very much like a 7.7 can't be 100% sure without using a set of calipers to measure it's width. I'm leaning towards it coming from a 7.7mm semi rimed cartridge. Semi rimed cartridges were for Japanese machine guns. The non rimmed 7.7 were used for rifles. Your bullet looks exactly like the 7.7 semi rimmed bullets I have.
Should be .311 or .312 diameter (inches) in that range. A 30-06 should be about .308 diameter (inches) range.
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Post by fots2 on Nov 8, 2009 23:07:34 GMT 8
Thanks for your comments. I do not have calipers to confirm it 100% but that info is close enough for me.
Good luck with your search.
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Post by batteryboy on Nov 18, 2009 18:07:07 GMT 8
I cant recall any banzai or Japanese infiltrations on the shore lines of Corregidor, most especially at the South beach. Notice that the grounds looks more of mud than sand. This may have been taken somewhere else.
However, I can be wrong.
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Post by mgk1951 on Nov 20, 2009 17:12:56 GMT 8
Hi There were other significant differences when comparing US .30-06 cal and 7.7mm Japanese Arisaka projectiles. Firstly, the US .30-06 projectile was 150 grains, while the 7.7mm Arisaka was 174 grains. Not an easy field observation to confirm without finding both projectiles. However, the easiest way to identify which is which is by sight. The US .30-06 is a short projectile with the Cannelure proportionally closer to the base of the projectile. The 7.7mm Arisaka was a copy of the .303 British cartridge, except it was rimless. Other than that, the 7.7mm cartridge and projectile were the same as the .303 British cartridge and projectile. The 7.7mm Arisaka projectile has the Cannelure further away from the projectile's base. The projectile being considerably longer than the US .30-06 projectile. The only reason I have mentioned the .303 British cartridge is because I cannot find a photograph of the 7.7mm Arisaka projectile separated from it's cartridge case. Below is a composite image of all three cartridges and the US and British projectile separate. The profile of the British and Arasaka rounds can be compared and compared to the US round. The projectiles separate from their cartridge cases illustrate the difference in the projectile profiles. So, what is the calibre of the projectile found by fots2? Now every visitor to Corregidor will be head done looking for projectiles. Regards mgk
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Post by one50 on Nov 26, 2009 10:49:54 GMT 8
Thanks MGK for sharing.
I have original 7.7, but not the heart to break one open. I probably should though. I'll ask a few buddies that have Japanese ammo collections, maybe I can get a good photo from them.
...and yes, please keep you eyes peeled for any small arms ammo lying around. If your lucky, you might find some 8mm Japanese pistol ammo. That would be a treat to find.
Thanks Dan
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Post by mgk1951 on Dec 16, 2009 13:07:04 GMT 8
Hi US Army drawing of sectionalised Type 99 7.7mm Japanese Rifle Calibre Ammunition. Regards mgk
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Post by micahwcollins on Jan 1, 2010 22:35:22 GMT 8
Here is some of the ammo that I've found on corregidor over several trips out there. Left to right: a couple 50s and above them are the separated heads-two types, then a clip of 5 US bullets (FA 35, 40 or DEN 43), below that are two 3" heads I'm guessing, im not really sure what those are. Then 6 unique looking bullets that I assume are japanese bullets. They have a long slender silver looking head. To the right of them are 3 more japanese bullets. I'm guessing they are both japanese due to their lack of stamping on the back so these might be the 6.5 and 7.7 ammo you're asking about, I don't know. Above those are 5 different heads that I've come across. The left one goes to the 6 below it and the middle three heads I am unsure what casing they go to but the far right one goes to the other three japanese bullets. Then below all those I have 3 .45s and a wierd looking bullet stamped LC 4 or maybe LO 4 or maybe no 4 at all, its hard to tell. Then 4 US military bullets stamped DEN 43, FA 35, FA 40. Then I have the big who knows what on the right, a mortar head or something. It has threads on it that are meant to screw into something... So that's it, hope it helps! Attachments:
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