What is this odd case?

[WayneConrad]

I found this cartridge case at the range today. What is it?

The inside diameter at the case mouth is .450", which is a long way from the 7mm claimed by the headstamp. The case length is 0.819".

It had normal looking "been fired" grunge on it; I polished it up for these pictures. It has a spiral mark near the mouth. The case mouth is square cut, very smooth and has been slightly chamfered.

In one of these pictures, the mouth looks flared out on one side. It isn't. That's just the shadow playing a trick.

 

[Parke1]

Well, I'm far from an expert, but I'd guess that someone took some sort of 7mm belted magnum rifle round and chopped the majority of it off for some reason.

There are some strange people out there...

Perhaps it's a home-brew powder scoop. An old timer at my range uses cut off cartridges for powder dippers when he's handloading.

That's my guess.
-Parke1

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

it's too short for a pistol round, unless they're shooting it out of a revolver with moon clips, that's gonna be a long jump though...

the lines do suggest that it's some kinda measure... maybe BP measure...

 

[4v50 Gary]

A TC wildcatter?

 

[BEARMAN]

Someone cut off a 7mm mag with small pipe or tubing cutter. If you don't have it tight enough when you start the cutter can walks ]up the cartridge , that is why there is a spiral mark on the case. Why someone cut off a case is anyones guess.

 

[Jim K]

My WAG would be that it is a powder measure/scoop for loading a .44 percussion revolver with black powder or a bulk equivalent. The size would be about right, though I would think using a .45 ACP case would do as well and without the work.

Jim

 

[mfree]

Is the case mouth sharp? Maybe it's a felt cutter...

 

[WayneConrad]

Is the case mouth sharp? Maybe it's a felt cutter...

It's got the perfect square, smooth edge of a case that's been trimmed and deburred, with a slight bevel on the inside like you'd want if you were going to seat a bullet in it.

I think you could cut jello with it, though

 

[SDC]

It looks to me like the sort of case separation you get after you fire one too many hot loads out of the same case; the odds are, the front half of that case was left in in the chamber, and there was much to be heard on the range.