What is this "Cartridge"

[centershot]

I found this at Fort Mc Coy in Wisconsin during an outing with the Boy Scouts. I thought it was an igniter for a tank gun but was told it was not by a tank commander in Viet Nam.
I put a .30/06 and a 20 gauge shot shell for comparison. Also a head stamp photo.
Any ideas?

 

[shoobe01]

Tank ammo in the US is "fixed" meaning like a very big rifle cartridge hence your tanker didn't recognize it.

It is, as it says in part, an M82 igniter, for separate loaded systems, like artillery.

Primer, Percussion, M82

Description This primer is used to initiate burning of propellant charges in separate loading weapon systems. The primer consists of a cylindrical brass case with an extract

www.bulletpicker.com

Filled with 22 gr of black powder, they come like 20 to a cardboard box and during preparation for firing things like the 155 mm M109 series you stick this in the base of the charge.

Lots going on inside it:

And that's why it doesn't have a dented primer. The primer is way inside, that thing at the base is a plunger that pushes the primer for... I have no idea. Not an artillery guy so big gaps in my system-level understanding.

 

[DirtySteve]

The self contained plunger/firing pin is needed due to the high pressures involved..

 

[Fuj]

Cannoneer primers for bag charges, artillery.

 

[Ggmac]

Cool , now how can I use that design in old single shot low pressure firearms? ....

 

[dcali]

Is that just an optical illusion or is the primer significantly off center?

 

[centershot]

So this is separate from the artillery round? Loaded before or after the breech is closed?

 

[centershot]

Is that just an optical illusion or is the primer significantly off center?

The primer is centered. The "firing pin"strike is off center.

 

[std7mag]

Cannoneer primers for bag charges, artillery.

Oooohhhhhhhh......

I want one of those!!!

Does it meet the "common use" clause???

 

[msalm]

No tarnish, used recently so either a M119 105mm Howitzer or a M777 155mm Howitzer, both of which get fired often on Ft McCoy.