I found this single rimfire cartridge among my father-in-law's things, with no other idea where it came from. He certainly didn't own anything that fired this. Can any of you experts identify this cartridge?





I measured the following dimensions with a dial caliper:

COAL 1.18
Rim diameter:0.415"
Case diameter right above rim: 0.336"
Bullet diameter at case mouth: 0.298" (affected by crimp)
Maximum bullet diameter, measured about 0.1"above case mouth : 0.304"

Case length: ~0.75"

There is no headstamp that I can see.

Based on a limited amount of research (Googling) I find a .32 rimfire which has a larger diameter bullet, but shorter overall length. Also some .30 rimfires but according to one forum post, had a bullet diameter of 0.288" and were shorter.

My father-in-laws parents emigrated from Czechslovakia after WWI; my mother-in-laws family were farmers near Kingman, Kansas. I suppose the cartridge could have come from either side of the family, or maybe my father-in-law picked it up somewhere.

Any thoughts?

Does it have a headstamp at all?

I suspect its European rather than American , going on the case measurements.

quote:

Does it have a headstamp at all?

It's a bit tarnished, so hard to be absolutely sure, but using a bright light and a magnifying glass, I still can't find anything but a few scratches. So, as best I can tell, no.

not a sporting round , by the projectile style.

Sorry , its got me beat at this point

Thanks for looking at it. It may remain a mystery for now.

What you have there is a cartridge for a toy gun. I have several of them as I collect them too.
Zac

quote:

What you have there is a cartridge for a toy gun. I have several of them as I collect them too.

Well, that is certainly possible! The thought had crossed my mind. It was a different world when my father-in-law (born in 1932) was growing up. Hard to imagine any toy guns today with brass cartridges and lead bullets.

Thanks,
Jeff

I think ZW has cracked it . I have a selection of cap gun "cartridges" too and it does look like one of them.