A coworker of mine brought in a round of ammunition that he says his grandfather used in the war (European theater). It is a 45-70 case with the headstamp reading WCC 45-70 MK1 1943. The bullet is a cast lead SWC type miking out at .408 instead of the regular .458 of the 45-70. Does anyone know if this round was used anywhere? and what gun was used?

thanks

Please excuse my ignorance on Ordanence--but it sounds like a German round, is it?

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Do you mean that the case was necked down to .408 calibre? I've never heard of that!

Tony Williams
Military gun and ammunition website: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk
Discussion forum at: http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/messages/

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Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website

WCC on the headstamp stands for Western Cartridge Company, so it's an American cartridge.

From your description, it sounds as though a standard 45-70 round has been necked down.

Apart from that, I can find no reference to such a caliber being used in the war.

Possibly, it is a commercial round, altered to give a higher muzzle velocity.

Some snipers experimented with commercially available rifles, rather than standard military issue, trying different cartridge sizes, to effect a better hitting range.

If you can find out any more info, even when and where, the weapon was used, we might be able to find out more about it.

Hope this helps a little.