WWII .50 caliber tracer round?

[SCTiger]

Guys:

I have a .50 caliber tracer round (red tip) with the markings "SL" (Saint Louis) and "43" on the base which would be 1943 if I am right.

The primer was dented slightly, but the round is intact with the propellant. I bought it an estate sell for $2. Is it worth more than this?

The late owner was in Special Forces, I bought his 1963, Green Beret and donated it to the Augusta Museum of History. The museum didn't have an actual Green Beret from Viet Nam.

Any info would help as usual

[Xracer]

Your "Red Tip 50" is a:

"Cartridge, Cal. .50, Tracer, M1

Weapon: Gun, Machine, Caliber .50, Browning M2 Heavy Barrel (Turret Type); Gun, Machine, Caliber .50, Browning, M2, Heavy Barrel (Flexible); Gun, Machine, Caliber .50, Tank, M85

Velocity: 2700 +/- 40 fps at 78 feet
Pressure: 52,000 psi, max. avg.
Trace: Bright trace from 260 to 1600 yards

Cartridge: 1785 - 68 grs.
Case: 850 - 50 grs.
Bullet: 676 - 17 grs.
Propellant: IMR 5010
Type: Single Bsse, Tubular
Weight: 240 grs.
Point Ident.: Red Tip"

Value? Probably about the 2 bucks you paid for it.

[Iconoclast]

There's a lot of the WW2 .50 sitll out there, although it may not be obvious to the general public. The headstamp, loading and dented primer (misfired?) mitigate against any great value . . . Xracer hit the X-ring with all his shots.

[KB5312]

I have a .50 cal tracer and a 30-06 tracer round marked with SL 43. The primers are untouched. I'm concerned about how safe it is to keep these lying around the house. How stable is the propellant? Or does all propellant degrade over time?

[jondar]

Originally Posted by KB5312

I have a .50 cal tracer and a 30-06 tracer round marked with SL 43. The primers are untouched. I'm concerned about how safe it is to keep these lying around the house. How stable is the propellant? Or does all propellant degrade over time?

I have half a coffee can (big one) full of .30-06 WW2 tracers and another can full of .30-06 WW2 ball cartridges and sleep very well at night. I tried firing some of the ball rounds, the ones I tried wouldn't fire. I wouldn't worry about it. I also have a American Pin Co. 1918 magazine full of .45 ACP rounds made by
Rem/UMC headstamped 1918 to go with my 1918 Model 1911. They probably won't fire either.

[medalguy]

Actually I have quite a bit of WWII dated ammo and I shoot it regularly. I rarely have any misfires and the vast majority of it goes "boom" when I pull the trigger. There should be no problem keeping old ammo around, and I also have some ammo in my collection from before WWI and I'm not worried about it. Keep in mind however some of that old ammo is not loaded with smokeless powder but black powder. Treat all ammo with the respect due it.