57mm M86 Armor Piercing Capped Tracer Projectile
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57mm M86 Armor Piercing Capped Tracer Projectile
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The 57mm M86 Armor Piercing Capped Tracer (APC-T) projectile is a historically significant WW2-Cold War-era round developed for the U.S. 57mm Gun M1, a towed anti-tank weapon that saw service in World War II and beyond. Fielded initially by U.S. forces and supplied to NATO allies post-war, the M86 projectile was engineered to defeat armored targets with high velocity and precision.
Designed with an armor-piercing steel core, ballistic cap, and tracer cavity, the M86 represents a transitional design between World War II-era solid shot and more advanced post-war ordnance. The ballistic cap improved penetration against sloped armor. At the same time, the tracer element allowed gunners to visually track the projectile’s trajectory for better fire correction in both daylight and low-light conditions.
This projectile is offered in two variants:
- Unrestored Condition: A raw, unrefinished example of the M86 projectile, showing surface rust, patina, and storage wear. Ideal for collectors who value originality or plan to conduct their own restoration.
- Restored Condition: Professionally refinished and repainted in correct olive drab with stenciled yellow ordnance markings
- Includes cleaned and polished driving bands for a ready-to-display presentation.
Note: The base fuse/plug with tracer element is not included. This item is completely inert, contains no explosive materials, and is legal to own under federal law.
Historical Context:
The 57mm Gun M1 originated from the British QF 6-Pounder but was adopted and redesigned by the U.S. Ordnance Department. It served extensively in the European Theater of World War II and continued to see limited use in the Korean War. The M86 APC-T was one of the later projectile types developed for the 57mm platform, representing increased armor-defeating capabilities during the early Cold War period, especially as NATO faced the growing Soviet armored threat.
Product Features:
- Inert 57mm M86 APC-T projectile
- Armor-piercing steel core (inert), capped with a ballistic hood
- Base fuze/plug not included
- Copper rotating band (polished on restored variant)
- Two condition options: unrestored or fully restored
- 100% legal to own – no explosive components
- An excellent display item, restoration project, or training aid
Approx length 10.5", Approx width 2.5", Approx height 2.5", Approx weight 6.3lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item's general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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