I have three cartridges discovered in a batch of mixed ammo. For the life of me, I can't identify them. I thought that maybe someone out there could help with an ID or perhaps just a good guess.

The cartride cases are made from old GI cases; one says FA 28, the other two say FA34. These are loaded rounds; a pulled bullet, pointed soft-point type, weighed 150 grains, and is .308". The powder is a short-grained IMR type, 45 grains. Primers are silver in color, and while not being the rounded, old style, seem to have a more pronounced crown than do modern primers.

Pertinent dimensions are:

OAL: 3.1"
Case length: 2.56"
Neck length: .312"
Length to shoulder: 1.93"
Shoulder dia.: .455
Head dia." .473
Shoulder angle is around 22-25 degrees

These rounds are longer than the 8x57 Mauser, shorter than .30-06. Over-all design looks very modern, with a small body taper and relatively sharp shoulder. Perusal of the Cartidges of the World book and my loading manuals ruled out any recent military types, such as the 7.5 Swiss. First glance I thought they were .276 Pederson, but the bullet diameter ruled that out. I sent a disassembled cartidge to Stan at RCBS, but so far, no reply. Any thoughts on these mystery cartidges would be appreciated.

Sounds like some one wildcatted 30-06 cases the FA is Frankford arsenal the numbers is the year. Maybe some one was making 03 cases they were a bit shorter then the 06 case.

The 30-06 can be fired in the 30-03 as the chamber is the same except for the neck length,the 30-03 is .070 longer in the neck than the 30-06.The 30-03 can not be fired in the 30-06.

WC

The body of the mystery case is shorter than the standard '06, so it is not the .30-03.

If the o/a length of the case is 2.56", it is LONGER than the '06, which is 2.494". With the larger diameter shoulder and the slight setback of the shoulder, it is obviously someone's idea of an "impoved" '06. Pre-WWII cases means it is a pretty early development.