What is this live ammo doing in my apartment?
December 27, 2015 8:59 PM Subscribe
Help me figure out if this explanation makes sense.
I have a new-ish roommate. She's been living with me for almost 3 months. I met her through a not-close friend of mine; they share a recurring social activity, but are otherwise not close.
While she was out of town, I noticed this lying on the floor in her bedroom. I thought it was sort of odd, but was more curious than worried. A friend told me it was live ammo, which I didn't really realize because I haven't spent much time around guns and ammunition.
I asked her about it, and she said her mom is a ticket agent at the airport and sometimes people come through the gate wit items that need to be confiscated. She mentioned that she was holding onto it to use as part of a Halloween costume or something.
Does this make sense? Would a ticket agent be able to take home confiscated items? If I misheard her and she said TSA agent instead of ticket agent, would that make more sense?
I have a new-ish roommate. She's been living with me for almost 3 months. I met her through a not-close friend of mine; they share a recurring social activity, but are otherwise not close.
While she was out of town, I noticed this lying on the floor in her bedroom. I thought it was sort of odd, but was more curious than worried. A friend told me it was live ammo, which I didn't really realize because I haven't spent much time around guns and ammunition.
I asked her about it, and she said her mom is a ticket agent at the airport and sometimes people come through the gate wit items that need to be confiscated. She mentioned that she was holding onto it to use as part of a Halloween costume or something.
Does this make sense? Would a ticket agent be able to take home confiscated items? If I misheard her and she said TSA agent instead of ticket agent, would that make more sense?
Is it perhaps a fashion belt made out of dud ammunition?
posted by Dip Flash at 9:12 PM on December 27, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by Dip Flash at 9:12 PM on December 27, 2015 [7 favorites]
What makes you think this is live ammunition?
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:23 PM on December 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:23 PM on December 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I guess I don't know if it's live. How can you tell?
posted by sucre at 9:26 PM on December 27, 2015
posted by sucre at 9:26 PM on December 27, 2015
Pick it up to feel for weight. Active or ex-military/gun experienced people here can confirm this for you, but it should feel heavy if it's live/real. If it has no heft, it's fake/dummy ammo. I have limited gun experience, but a single live round will be weighty, like a lead fishing sinker - let alone a full belt.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:28 PM on December 27, 2015
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:28 PM on December 27, 2015
The weight is from the round's tip, not the charge in the cartridge. They're likely not live. Even if so...unless your roommate has something capable of firing 7.62 NATO rounds (which these look like), I wouldn't worry too much.
Over to you, Metafilter gun peeps!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:44 PM on December 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
Over to you, Metafilter gun peeps!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:44 PM on December 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
Heft isn't necessarily an indicator of whether or not the rounds are live; even without powder charges, there is a lot of metal in the bullets, casing, and belt. Can you supply a picture of the back of the cartridges and/or check to see if there are any holes drilled into the casing? Holes or lack of primers would indicate that the ammo is not live. I'm not very familiar with belt-fed ammo, but the crimp at the neck of the casings in your picture looks weird for real ammo; it looks more like something somebody would have done to keep the bullets in casing if they were going to use them for decorative purposes.
Echoing what mandolin conspiracy said, even if the ammo is live, it's not particularly dangerous in the absence of a rifle capable of firing the rounds.
posted by strangecargo at 9:48 PM on December 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
Echoing what mandolin conspiracy said, even if the ammo is live, it's not particularly dangerous in the absence of a rifle capable of firing the rounds.
posted by strangecargo at 9:48 PM on December 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
It looks like a real, live, belt of 7.62 ammunition to me. That's the ammo that an M-60 machine gun uses. If you look at the back end of the bullets, the end opposite the pointy end, there is a small circle right in the center. That's the primer, if it's intact and rounded outward, not dented in they're likely to be live. Ammo used for training or display will not have a live primer. The rounds (bullets) aren't dangerous by themselves but hell for dangerous with the gun they were made for. The story doesn't ring true to me. An airline ticket agent would not be in position to take anything like this and if made aware of it would know to contact security immediately. The TSA folks have very clear procedures for what to do with something like this whether it's live or inactive. It would cost an agent their job if they didn't confiscate and secure something like what you have. I'm concerned just knowing that this thing is out there.
posted by X4ster at 10:23 PM on December 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by X4ster at 10:23 PM on December 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
Agreeing with strangecargo: check the flat base of the cartridge. The base of a live round looks like a flat ring and circle, possibly dimpled, in the center of that ring. The center is where the primer, a tiny explosive to set off the powder, goes. I would expect a hole where the primer should be in dummy rounds used for a costume bandolier.
It's not clear without something for scale, or a shot of the label on the base of the round, what caliber these are. My gun-collector friend says .30-06, but maybe they're the larger .50BMG. Either way, a belt-fed heavy machine gun-- the Browning M1919 for 30-06, and its successor, the Browning M2 for .50BMG. The former weights 31 pounds, the latter 84 pounds. Owning either would require particular scrutiny from the ATF and a special $200 tax stamp for the privilege. The odds are staggeringly against your roommate having access to a weapon that was designed to tear apart light vehicles. If she did, you'd probably be well aware of her interest in guns, because Browning automatic HMGs are not within the reach of a casual collector.
I don't think that's 7.62mm.
posted by Sunburnt at 10:25 PM on December 27, 2015
It's not clear without something for scale, or a shot of the label on the base of the round, what caliber these are. My gun-collector friend says .30-06, but maybe they're the larger .50BMG. Either way, a belt-fed heavy machine gun-- the Browning M1919 for 30-06, and its successor, the Browning M2 for .50BMG. The former weights 31 pounds, the latter 84 pounds. Owning either would require particular scrutiny from the ATF and a special $200 tax stamp for the privilege. The odds are staggeringly against your roommate having access to a weapon that was designed to tear apart light vehicles. If she did, you'd probably be well aware of her interest in guns, because Browning automatic HMGs are not within the reach of a casual collector.
I don't think that's 7.62mm.
posted by Sunburnt at 10:25 PM on December 27, 2015
Okay, I'm looking at ammo belts and coming around to the 7.62mm hypothesis, based on where the links sit on the round. 7.62 is your basic AK round, but belt-feed is an unusual thing to have a legal weapon-- belt-feed 7.62 is for light machine guns. My gun-collector friend has a Soviet RPD semi-auto that could fire these if live. Still not a small or cheap gun.
posted by Sunburnt at 10:37 PM on December 27, 2015
posted by Sunburnt at 10:37 PM on December 27, 2015
The M-14 that we trained with during US Army basic training in 1966 is 7.62 caliber which is also 30-06, same as the AK 47. The US M60 machine gun uses the same 7.62 round as an M-14. The major difference between the US round and the AK-47 is the length of the cartridge. The M-14 is 7.62×51mm and the AK round is 7.62×39mm. Having a second look at the picture sucre has posted makes me think that they're AK rounds. In a belt means their for a fully automatic weapon, not a semi auto. It's illegal to possess a fully automatic weapon without special permit. I'd be very concerned if I was the discoverer of this thing.
posted by X4ster at 10:58 PM on December 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by X4ster at 10:58 PM on December 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I know you are quietly freaking out because of awful things going on in the world. Just popped in to say, please stay calm. I don't know what is in your apartment, or why someone would stupidly leave that lying around...
Is it possible your roommate is naive? Or maybe she is pranking you??
Your roommate is an idiot, of that I am certain. Her story stinks. She's a dumbass. I'm somebody's mother. I'm trying to imagine what kind of mom gives her daughter an ammo belt in this political climate, where a minor gets gunned down for wielding a bat or play sword? I suppose the story is fake or your roommate comes from a family of dumbasses.
You haven't updated about what the back of the bullets look like. I hope you're not freaking out. Either way, that's unproductive.
If she's otherwise non-sketchy, weird, or disturbed, you should probably find an alternative reason in a few weeks time to get her to move out. She has excruciatingly poor judgement. Try not to involve friends and make this into a drama fest. But yeah, go ahead and consider her an ex-roommate and make plans to sort this out down the road.
If the ammo turns out to be real and live, consider your options carefully. She might not know how stupid this is of her (I HOPE.)
posted by jbenben at 11:01 PM on December 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
Is it possible your roommate is naive? Or maybe she is pranking you??
Your roommate is an idiot, of that I am certain. Her story stinks. She's a dumbass. I'm somebody's mother. I'm trying to imagine what kind of mom gives her daughter an ammo belt in this political climate, where a minor gets gunned down for wielding a bat or play sword? I suppose the story is fake or your roommate comes from a family of dumbasses.
You haven't updated about what the back of the bullets look like. I hope you're not freaking out. Either way, that's unproductive.
If she's otherwise non-sketchy, weird, or disturbed, you should probably find an alternative reason in a few weeks time to get her to move out. She has excruciatingly poor judgement. Try not to involve friends and make this into a drama fest. But yeah, go ahead and consider her an ex-roommate and make plans to sort this out down the road.
If the ammo turns out to be real and live, consider your options carefully. She might not know how stupid this is of her (I HOPE.)
posted by jbenben at 11:01 PM on December 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
This honestly has me a little freaked out. I can't speak to whether this is live ammunition or what kind, but in regard to whether the explanation makes sense: no, it doesn't. Not even close. I'm not sure what I would do in your situation, but stay safe and alert.
posted by naju at 11:18 PM on December 27, 2015
posted by naju at 11:18 PM on December 27, 2015
If I were you I'd consider calling the police and letting them sort it out - and I doubt they'll believe her ticket agent story. On the other hand, I'd be scared of pissing her off. A tough call!
posted by hazyjane at 11:29 PM on December 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by hazyjane at 11:29 PM on December 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh, for god's sake, don't go behind your roommate's back and call down a paramilitary strike on her for an object that, in all likelihood, is just a stupid belt like this. You have absolutely no reason to think there is anything sinister afoot here.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:32 PM on December 27, 2015 [38 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:32 PM on December 27, 2015 [38 favorites]
Relieved after seeing showbiz_liz's link. Didn't know that there were inert belts floating around as a fashion statement. I assume that inert rounds would be clearly identifiable so people wouldn't be confused or like me concerned at seeing such a thing.
posted by X4ster at 11:40 PM on December 27, 2015
posted by X4ster at 11:40 PM on December 27, 2015
The hot-topic-y punk kids at my high school 15ish years ago wore crap like this all the time. (Now, of course, it would never fly in a million years.)
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:45 PM on December 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:45 PM on December 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
I asked her about it, and she said her mom is a ticket agent at the airport and sometimes people come through the gate wit items that need to be confiscated.
This actually makes _some_ sense if it's fake or otherwise not usable ammo: clueless passenger comes to the airport with their prop/costume ammo belt, realizes while checking in they are going to get all sorts of hassle getting it past security, discards it before interacting with any actual security people.
Also in my (very limited) gun experience it does look like 7.62, and belt feed means actual machine gun, not rifle - the kind you fire from a tripod or other mount. Your roommate would have to be a very heavily armed gun enthusiast/criminal/paramilitary operator to have one but leave the ammunition casually lying about.
posted by Dr Dracator at 11:56 PM on December 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
This actually makes _some_ sense if it's fake or otherwise not usable ammo: clueless passenger comes to the airport with their prop/costume ammo belt, realizes while checking in they are going to get all sorts of hassle getting it past security, discards it before interacting with any actual security people.
Also in my (very limited) gun experience it does look like 7.62, and belt feed means actual machine gun, not rifle - the kind you fire from a tripod or other mount. Your roommate would have to be a very heavily armed gun enthusiast/criminal/paramilitary operator to have one but leave the ammunition casually lying about.
posted by Dr Dracator at 11:56 PM on December 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
I should point out at this point that even if this ammo were live, if would not be illegal to possess in the majority of the US. You can even order similar ammo online and UPS will ship it to your door. Definitely don't call the cops on your roommate. Two things about the ammo suggest to me that it isn't live:
1) It is very uncommon for civilians to own anything that uses belt-fed ammunition. Anybody that did would probably know that they can't bring it on carry-on and it must be declared and go in checked luggage in a locked container.
2) The irregular crimping around the case necks looks something somebody would do to keep the bullets from falling out of the brass if they had no regard for the actual function of the ammo. Crimping like that would mess with accuracy/consistency of live ammunition.
My guess is that somebody bought it for $10 at an army surplus store as a novelty and then realized at the airport that it probably wouldn't make it through security.
posted by strangecargo at 12:09 AM on December 28, 2015 [8 favorites]
1) It is very uncommon for civilians to own anything that uses belt-fed ammunition. Anybody that did would probably know that they can't bring it on carry-on and it must be declared and go in checked luggage in a locked container.
2) The irregular crimping around the case necks looks something somebody would do to keep the bullets from falling out of the brass if they had no regard for the actual function of the ammo. Crimping like that would mess with accuracy/consistency of live ammunition.
My guess is that somebody bought it for $10 at an army surplus store as a novelty and then realized at the airport that it probably wouldn't make it through security.
posted by strangecargo at 12:09 AM on December 28, 2015 [8 favorites]
I see it's already mentioned, but Google 'punk rock bullet belt' and then click on Images. This is/was totally a thing.
My money goes to hot topic on this one.
posted by Nosmot at 12:17 AM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
My money goes to hot topic on this one.
posted by Nosmot at 12:17 AM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
It looks like 30.06 to me. But the belt. I've never seen them in a belt like that. Just single cartridges for deer hunting.
A (TSA) agent bringing them home is really strange. And surely illegal.
posted by persona au gratin at 12:21 AM on December 28, 2015
A (TSA) agent bringing them home is really strange. And surely illegal.
posted by persona au gratin at 12:21 AM on December 28, 2015
IIRC TSA agents aren't allowed to keep confiscated items. They are collected for sorting and then sold. However if the ammo belt was voluntarily given to an airline employee I think company policy would dictate what would happen to it. I'd bet the vast majority of airlines would prohibit staff from accepting gifts though so your roommates mother may have violated a company policy.
The chances of your roommate having a belt fed automatic weapon are essentially nil. There are less than 400K automatic weapons registered in the US and essentially all of them aren't crew weapons. Without the weapon these rounds even if live pose very little risk; most of which would be from any lead in the brass.
posted by Mitheral at 1:08 AM on December 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
The chances of your roommate having a belt fed automatic weapon are essentially nil. There are less than 400K automatic weapons registered in the US and essentially all of them aren't crew weapons. Without the weapon these rounds even if live pose very little risk; most of which would be from any lead in the brass.
posted by Mitheral at 1:08 AM on December 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Oh, for god's sake, don't go behind your roommate's back and call down a paramilitary strike on her for an object that, in all likelihood, is just a stupid belt like this. You have absolutely no reason to think there is anything sinister afoot here.
Yea, this.
I know people who have gotten harassed for having these. It's very likely just some premade belt or bandolier strap fashion/costume thing.
This is total occams razor material. What's more likely, that it's just some hot topic belt, or that it's live ammo?
For what it's worth i've known people who had family members who worked at the local airport. Yea, confiscated stuff is secured... But stuff people willingly throw away/discard is open season. If they ditch it on a table it goes to lost and found, if they just opt to trash it there's basically no accountability there.(free phone chargers for life!)
That story, to me, checks out. Just because the exact details aren't perfect doesn't mean she didn't mishear or remember it or even get the full explanation. The idea of it being real ammo for a crew served machine gun is firmly in "HAHAHAHAHA" territory though.
posted by emptythought at 2:35 AM on December 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
Yea, this.
I know people who have gotten harassed for having these. It's very likely just some premade belt or bandolier strap fashion/costume thing.
This is total occams razor material. What's more likely, that it's just some hot topic belt, or that it's live ammo?
For what it's worth i've known people who had family members who worked at the local airport. Yea, confiscated stuff is secured... But stuff people willingly throw away/discard is open season. If they ditch it on a table it goes to lost and found, if they just opt to trash it there's basically no accountability there.(free phone chargers for life!)
That story, to me, checks out. Just because the exact details aren't perfect doesn't mean she didn't mishear or remember it or even get the full explanation. The idea of it being real ammo for a crew served machine gun is firmly in "HAHAHAHAHA" territory though.
posted by emptythought at 2:35 AM on December 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
that looks exactly like a belt that my industrial-as-hell ex boyfriend had back in the 90's. it was cool at the time...heck I think he even had a few "bullets" attached to the back of a leather jacket that he forgot were on there and had to remove when we were going through an airport
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:47 AM on December 28, 2015
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:47 AM on December 28, 2015
I don't know ammo, and so can't comment on the live rounds vs duds vs fashion-statement angle; all I want to add is that no matter WHICH of those it is, her explanation sucks.
Stuff confiscated by the TSA is supposed to be destroyed; especially so if this IS live ammo. I'm not saying no TSA agent has ever quietly pocketed something, but seriously: can you imagine one walking out after their shift carrying something like this and not being stopped and questioned?!? HIGHLY unlikely. And makes me wonder why Roommate needed to come up with such a ridiculous lie, or why she thought you'd be foolish enough to swallow it.
posted by easily confused at 4:11 AM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Stuff confiscated by the TSA is supposed to be destroyed; especially so if this IS live ammo. I'm not saying no TSA agent has ever quietly pocketed something, but seriously: can you imagine one walking out after their shift carrying something like this and not being stopped and questioned?!? HIGHLY unlikely. And makes me wonder why Roommate needed to come up with such a ridiculous lie, or why she thought you'd be foolish enough to swallow it.
posted by easily confused at 4:11 AM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
TSA isn't "ticket agent".
posted by andrewcooke at 4:38 AM on December 28, 2015
posted by andrewcooke at 4:38 AM on December 28, 2015
if there's 70 rounds there then it should weigh over 1kg. OP, when you say "heavy" do you mean over 1kg (2lb) heavy?
posted by andrewcooke at 4:49 AM on December 28, 2015
posted by andrewcooke at 4:49 AM on December 28, 2015
To expand on my earlier answer, it's almost certainly a fashion belt made out of fired/dud surplus military ammunition. Those have gone in and out of fashion at least twice so far in my life and can be bought for cheap. It looks to me like it comes from the M-60 or the Soviet equivalent, mid-sized and common, the same stuff Rambo had draped across his chest in the classic poster.
But even if it is live ammunition, it is (assuming you are in the US) perfectly legal to own. The machine gun that fires it is more complicated to buy (though still legal as long as you jump through the necessary and rather expensive hoops), but ammunition is no big deal and can be ordered online in large cases, shipped to your door today. No permit, background check, or anything else other than a working credit card are needed.
The mom story doesn't quite fit together as you have told it but it might make more sense if you knew the actual details. TSA agents steal shit all the time and a few have gone to prison for it; a "can you please get rid of this for me?" request to a ticket agent is probably more likely.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:09 AM on December 28, 2015
But even if it is live ammunition, it is (assuming you are in the US) perfectly legal to own. The machine gun that fires it is more complicated to buy (though still legal as long as you jump through the necessary and rather expensive hoops), but ammunition is no big deal and can be ordered online in large cases, shipped to your door today. No permit, background check, or anything else other than a working credit card are needed.
The mom story doesn't quite fit together as you have told it but it might make more sense if you knew the actual details. TSA agents steal shit all the time and a few have gone to prison for it; a "can you please get rid of this for me?" request to a ticket agent is probably more likely.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:09 AM on December 28, 2015
Response by poster: Here are some more photos. I'm trying not to freak out and I'm really hoping it's a belt. Maybe these pictures will help determine that.
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
posted by sucre at 6:53 AM on December 28, 2015
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
posted by sucre at 6:53 AM on December 28, 2015
Best answer: The dimples in the bases makes it look like the cases are from ammo that has been fired. Definitely does not look like live ammo. So the fake ammo belt theory looks good: someone recovered fired brass and the machine gun attachment links, put it new bullets and sold it as a fashion accessory.
IMHO, pretty ugly and uncomfortable, but then I'm an old fogey.
posted by SemiSalt at 7:13 AM on December 28, 2015
IMHO, pretty ugly and uncomfortable, but then I'm an old fogey.
posted by SemiSalt at 7:13 AM on December 28, 2015
Is it possible she has it for her own (still non-gun-related) reason (she thinks it looks cool) but panicked when you asked about it and came up with a really bad cover story?
posted by cogitron at 7:14 AM on December 28, 2015
posted by cogitron at 7:14 AM on December 28, 2015
Photos two and three show that these have been fired, and then someone later crimped new bullets into the shells and reassembled the shells into a belt. The only way this would be dangerous is if you hit someone over the head with it, though it probably isn't legal to carry on a plane these days. It's a fashion accessory or room decoration, kind of retro now but sure to be back in fashion eventually.
But again, even if it was live ammunition, it would be legal to buy, sell, and own. It isn't ok for the TSA agents to bring home confiscated stuff (though it happens), so there might be something sketchy about how she got it, but aside from that there is nothing inappropriate about owning this, whether fashion accessory or live ammunition.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:21 AM on December 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
But again, even if it was live ammunition, it would be legal to buy, sell, and own. It isn't ok for the TSA agents to bring home confiscated stuff (though it happens), so there might be something sketchy about how she got it, but aside from that there is nothing inappropriate about owning this, whether fashion accessory or live ammunition.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:21 AM on December 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
Relax. Belt fed machine guns are not small and it's unlikely that even if the ammo were live there would be one concealed in the apartment.
Picture Three shows the primer (the center circle at the back of the cartridge) is dented. That's what happens when the cartridge is fired. If the cartridge has been fired there wouldn't be a bullet in the front (the pointy bit that flies out and hurts people).
These are almost certainly cartridges that have been re-used to make a belt. A new bullet was added to the front but the primer wasn't replaced and no powder was added so they wouldn't do anything even if you put them in a gun.
Also, I hate to see people freak out about guns. I'm not a gun nut (and yes, they should be more regulated) but it's just a tool, albeit one that's frequently misused. Ask around to see if you have a friend who shoots and maybe go out with them some time. Get some basic gun safety info and familiarity. My aim is not that you should "like" guns, just that you shouldn't be freaked out about them.
posted by Awfki at 7:22 AM on December 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
Picture Three shows the primer (the center circle at the back of the cartridge) is dented. That's what happens when the cartridge is fired. If the cartridge has been fired there wouldn't be a bullet in the front (the pointy bit that flies out and hurts people).
These are almost certainly cartridges that have been re-used to make a belt. A new bullet was added to the front but the primer wasn't replaced and no powder was added so they wouldn't do anything even if you put them in a gun.
Also, I hate to see people freak out about guns. I'm not a gun nut (and yes, they should be more regulated) but it's just a tool, albeit one that's frequently misused. Ask around to see if you have a friend who shoots and maybe go out with them some time. Get some basic gun safety info and familiarity. My aim is not that you should "like" guns, just that you shouldn't be freaked out about them.
posted by Awfki at 7:22 AM on December 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
Even if they were live, not something to freak out about except
(1) Don't cook them
(2) Don't poke their bottoms with pointy things
(3) Don't chew on the pointy ends
I recognize that this won't be the most reassuring statement on its own, but if your roommate wanted to murder you to death it wouldn't be with a belt-fed machine gun.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:31 AM on December 28, 2015 [12 favorites]
(1) Don't cook them
(2) Don't poke their bottoms with pointy things
(3) Don't chew on the pointy ends
I recognize that this won't be the most reassuring statement on its own, but if your roommate wanted to murder you to death it wouldn't be with a belt-fed machine gun.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:31 AM on December 28, 2015 [12 favorites]
For what it's worth, growing up on military bases meant we sometimes went to see security forces demonstrations with lots of big guns and loud booms and colored smoke and crazy looking ammo. Lots of kids went home with straps of spent dummy ammo that looked exactly like that as souvenirs.
posted by juliplease at 7:33 AM on December 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by juliplease at 7:33 AM on December 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have a relative who worked for TSA around 2003. Things may have changed, but at the time stuff people abandoned when told they needed to inconveniently it mail to themselves, abandon it or keep it and not fly went to the TSA office to big boxes at the office to be donated/sold, and employees picked through that stuff pretty liberally and without consequence. This included knives and scissors.
This is not something that would freak me out too much in the absence of other reasons to feel weird about my roommate.
posted by charmedimsure at 8:30 AM on December 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
This is not something that would freak me out too much in the absence of other reasons to feel weird about my roommate.
posted by charmedimsure at 8:30 AM on December 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
Wow, definitely concerning. Thanks for posting the picture showing the dented primers.
Another angle could be that she's making beer bottle openers??? Bottle Breacher
posted by at at 8:49 AM on December 28, 2015
Another angle could be that she's making beer bottle openers??? Bottle Breacher
posted by at at 8:49 AM on December 28, 2015
Another indication that they're not real bullets is the crimp on the case mouth just below the bullet. Real bullets are swaged in. A real bullet that had that sort of crimping would almost certainly unusable because you wouldn't be able to put the bullet in the gun due to the misshapen case.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 10:56 AM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Confess, Fletch at 10:56 AM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: These rounds look like 7.62 NATO (similar in size and shape to .308, not 7.62 AK). The brass casing for 7.62 NATO is about the size and shape of a AA battery. They're in a link configuration for firing in a machine gun (the M60 or M240). The headstamp says LC 09, which corresponds to the Lake City plant, mfg in 2009.
The primer on the back appears to be dented, like they're been fired - left to right: unfired, misfired, fired.
The crimping around the neck of the casings appears to be to hold the bullets in. It looks like this is a just a prop. Don't do anything silly like drill into them or disassemble it or throw them in a fire.
If you have a friend who knows more about guns, you could ask them to take a look.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:01 AM on December 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
The primer on the back appears to be dented, like they're been fired - left to right: unfired, misfired, fired.
The crimping around the neck of the casings appears to be to hold the bullets in. It looks like this is a just a prop. Don't do anything silly like drill into them or disassemble it or throw them in a fire.
If you have a friend who knows more about guns, you could ask them to take a look.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:01 AM on December 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
Ticket agents are often given things that are forbidden to carry on board. People will ask if they are allowed to take it on and when the agent says no, they give it to the agent rather then throw it away or let the TSA seize it. Airline policy will dictate if they are officially allowed to accept it, but regardless of the policy, in practice its fairly common.
posted by cspurrier at 11:14 AM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by cspurrier at 11:14 AM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Would a ticket agent be able to take home confiscated items?
Well a ticket agent doesn't confiscate things.
They do check in bags though. And tell you that your bag weighs 51 pounds, and you will have to pay a huge extra charge because it's over the 50 pound limit for checked luggage.
I've taken things out of my bag, handed them to the ticket agent, and indicated that I don't want the items and that perhaps someone else would like them. (The cost of the items I'm leaving behind is less than the extra weight fee) Basically a gift, as I'm indicating that it's not some abandoned item that would need to go in lost and found -- I won't be wanting it back.
That may be where this came from.
The bigger issue here is that you seem concerned your roommate has this. What are your concerns? Is it illegal to possess live ammo where you live? Are you concerned for your safety in some way that you saw this object in your home? Are you worried that your roommate has this item?
posted by yohko at 12:18 PM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Well a ticket agent doesn't confiscate things.
They do check in bags though. And tell you that your bag weighs 51 pounds, and you will have to pay a huge extra charge because it's over the 50 pound limit for checked luggage.
I've taken things out of my bag, handed them to the ticket agent, and indicated that I don't want the items and that perhaps someone else would like them. (The cost of the items I'm leaving behind is less than the extra weight fee) Basically a gift, as I'm indicating that it's not some abandoned item that would need to go in lost and found -- I won't be wanting it back.
That may be where this came from.
The bigger issue here is that you seem concerned your roommate has this. What are your concerns? Is it illegal to possess live ammo where you live? Are you concerned for your safety in some way that you saw this object in your home? Are you worried that your roommate has this item?
posted by yohko at 12:18 PM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
People will ask if they are allowed to take it on and when the agent says no, they give it to the agent rather then throw it away or let the TSA seize it. Airline policy will dictate if they are officially allowed to accept it, but regardless of the policy, in practice its fairly common.
This. I was flying domestically with a small, handmade skinning knife that I was given as a gift. This was not too long after 9/11 so nobody was really sure what exactly you could or couldn't take on a plane, so even though it should have been allowed according to guidelines, the ticket agent after convening with security and whoever else, decided that I couldn't take it on board but they'd mail it to to me since it was such a nice knife. It didn't get mailed to me, and I can only assume that it went home with somebody.
posted by cmoj at 12:30 PM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
This. I was flying domestically with a small, handmade skinning knife that I was given as a gift. This was not too long after 9/11 so nobody was really sure what exactly you could or couldn't take on a plane, so even though it should have been allowed according to guidelines, the ticket agent after convening with security and whoever else, decided that I couldn't take it on board but they'd mail it to to me since it was such a nice knife. It didn't get mailed to me, and I can only assume that it went home with somebody.
posted by cmoj at 12:30 PM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Based on the headstamp from photo #3 that's 5.56mm NATO brass from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. Looks like it has been fired, absolutely do not trust my judgement on that.
posted by N-stoff at 2:37 PM on December 28, 2015
posted by N-stoff at 2:37 PM on December 28, 2015
I didn't see a buckle in any of the photos so I'm skeptical about the belt idea. Other than that listen to everyone else.
posted by bendy at 9:28 PM on December 28, 2015
posted by bendy at 9:28 PM on December 28, 2015
Response by poster: Hi all,
Thanks so much for your responses here. I appreciate you helping me solve this! I thought it was an odd thing to have laying around on the floor in a bedroom, especially when, to an untrained eye (mine), it appeared to be Rambo-style live ammo. She seemed a little nervous when I asked her about it, which could be for many reasons. Maybe she thought I was judging her for having it, maybe she has it for a different reason than what she told me, maybe her mom gave it to her and she was weirded out by it….who knows.
It worried me enough to come here and ask about it, so thank you for sharing your knowledge!
posted by sucre at 9:34 PM on December 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Thanks so much for your responses here. I appreciate you helping me solve this! I thought it was an odd thing to have laying around on the floor in a bedroom, especially when, to an untrained eye (mine), it appeared to be Rambo-style live ammo. She seemed a little nervous when I asked her about it, which could be for many reasons. Maybe she thought I was judging her for having it, maybe she has it for a different reason than what she told me, maybe her mom gave it to her and she was weirded out by it….who knows.
It worried me enough to come here and ask about it, so thank you for sharing your knowledge!
posted by sucre at 9:34 PM on December 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
re the buckle issue, I was looking around at these belts with the same question in mind, trying to figure out how they attached, and voilà, YouTube to the rescue! (Apparently one end of the belt has a center loop, so you remove the last bullet from its two loops at the other end of the belt, put on the belt, line up the center loop in between the two loops that held the bullet, and then reinsert the bullet into all three loops – better demonstrated than explained.)
posted by taz at 12:03 AM on December 29, 2015
posted by taz at 12:03 AM on December 29, 2015
The thing that is freaking me out is the idea that if a passenger discards live rounds of ammunition while going through security at the airport, that those live rounds can just be picked up by any airport employee (whether ticket agent or TSA doesn't matter) and taken home. I don't think so. Well, I seriously hope not!
If that is not the case (and I really hope it isn't!) then either this is fake stuff, or it's real and your roomate is lying about the provenance of said ammunition and you should be worried.
posted by finding.perdita at 12:32 AM on December 29, 2015
If that is not the case (and I really hope it isn't!) then either this is fake stuff, or it's real and your roomate is lying about the provenance of said ammunition and you should be worried.
posted by finding.perdita at 12:32 AM on December 29, 2015
or it's real and your roomate is lying about the provenance of said ammunition and you should be worried.
What, specifically, do you think the OP should be worried about? It's spent ammo cartridges, as many people upthread have said. Spent as in used. The most dangerous thing you could do with this thing is whack somebody over the head with it, even if she DID have the very very large machine gun with which to use it stashed away somewhere.
Seriously. Worried about WHAT?
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:20 AM on December 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
What, specifically, do you think the OP should be worried about? It's spent ammo cartridges, as many people upthread have said. Spent as in used. The most dangerous thing you could do with this thing is whack somebody over the head with it, even if she DID have the very very large machine gun with which to use it stashed away somewhere.
Seriously. Worried about WHAT?
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:20 AM on December 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
The thing that is freaking me out is the idea that if a passenger discards live rounds of ammunition while going through security at the airport, that those live rounds can just be picked up by any airport employee (whether ticket agent or TSA doesn't matter) and taken home. I don't think so. Well, I seriously hope not!
Airport workers, like anyone else in the US, can just stop at walmart on the way home and buy as much live 7.62 / .308 ammunition as they can afford. They aren't controlled items that only weirdo maniacs would have.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:29 PM on December 29, 2015 [4 favorites]
Airport workers, like anyone else in the US, can just stop at walmart on the way home and buy as much live 7.62 / .308 ammunition as they can afford. They aren't controlled items that only weirdo maniacs would have.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:29 PM on December 29, 2015 [4 favorites]
Showbiz_liz: *especially* if it's fake ammo, the problem with lying about how Roommate got it is, why in the world would she need to lie? If it's a fashion item from someplace like Forever 21, fine, just say so: that's much less problematical than "my mom the RSA agent grabbed it and brought it home." It's the fact of her lying that's worrisome.
posted by easily confused at 5:56 AM on January 2, 2016
posted by easily confused at 5:56 AM on January 2, 2016
No no, my assumption was 1. It is a belt made of spent ammo 2. Someone else tried to take it through airport security and couldn't 3. Roommate took it home.
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:12 AM on January 2, 2016
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:12 AM on January 2, 2016
OK let's review:
1. It's almost certainly spent ammo.
2. Even if it were live, it's legal and she'd need a giant piece of hardware to use it.
3. It's totally plausible that a ticket agent could take something like this home, even if it were live.
4. Barring that, lying about it because, "Heh, I know it's super 1997 of me to have a belt like this..." is way more likely than, "I have a damn gatling gun in the closet."
posted by cmoj at 10:42 AM on January 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
1. It's almost certainly spent ammo.
2. Even if it were live, it's legal and she'd need a giant piece of hardware to use it.
3. It's totally plausible that a ticket agent could take something like this home, even if it were live.
4. Barring that, lying about it because, "Heh, I know it's super 1997 of me to have a belt like this..." is way more likely than, "I have a damn gatling gun in the closet."
posted by cmoj at 10:42 AM on January 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by the agents of KAOS at 9:09 PM on December 27, 2015