Journal IA - International Ammunition Association

flight down the barrel. Powder loads consisted of nitrocellulose
cube (tabular) powder - 5.6 grains. Cartridges were
primed with pressed-in express-type primers with a diameter
of .236", a type previously used in shot cartridges.
Functioning was perfect and remnants of the primers went
up the barrel and out. The form and construction of these
cartridges are best illustrated by the previously shown photo
and the drawings below.
The cartridge had a total weight of 129.9 grains, with
the weight reduced to 123.4 grains. As it passed through and
out of the barrel. The cartridge passed several developmental
stages and later was made with the steel body having two
copper guiding belts (bands). This addition greatly
heightened the working life of the barrel.
Experiments were also made with cartridges of the system
Gerlich, the weapon for which had a conical bore wherein
the bullets were reduced from .354" to .283" during boretravel.
This cartridge had a weight of 83.6 grains and reached
a muzzle velocity of 1663fps. These cartridges and the arms
for them did not reach serial production as development was
not continued.
In Czechoslovakia, just as in other countries, no official
service of the country implemented these arms or their selfcontained
cartridges. These systems are now part of
ammunition history, but in fact, their level of function was
superior to many later developments in the field of selfcontained
(caseless) ammunition.
From Terry Warnock, Australia. An Eley 100-case box from Belgium - note gunmaker on side.
IAA Journal Issue 455, May/Jun ‘07 19