A widow just gave me this old ammo belt. It has 70 rounds, 7 pockets of 2-5 round clips with the cartridges on a brass base for the clip. The base of the bullet says 1946, FS, 7.9 and a symbol with a C. I don't know caliber. It's a little over 3 inches long. Any idea what I have? The guy that owned it was an old German and a history buff.

Mic up the bullet diameter…for a start ..
If it’s .308 , then compare the case to a 30/06 …

8mm Mauser perhaps

If I have a micrometer I have no idea where it is. LOL I compared it to my .308 and it is quite a bit larger. I think Yes Sir may be on to something. I also acquired a box of 8MM Mauser and the cases look similar but the bullet itself is a little shorter in the boxed cartridges. As you can tell, I'm a serious hunter but not a gun guy at all.

7.92×57mm is the correct name for 8mm mauser which is in line with the 7.9 marking

Can't say for dure but looks like old 8mm mauser military ammo on stripper clips.

Yes , I think Danny got it —- 8X57 Mauser

Thanks much guys. Any wild guesses about what an old cloth ammo belt, 14 stripper clips and 70 rounds of ammo are worth? There is a gun show up here Memorial Day weekend and I can probably trade this for something I can use.

This is Turkish 8 m/m surplus ammo imported 20 years ago by the boatload. It is loaded very hot for their issue rifle of the time with 29 inch barrel. Someone at the gun show will take it off your hands.

TTT

Wrong plan. Go to the gun show and buy a rifle for your ammo is truly your only option.

7.9 aka 7.92x57 is a denegation used for 8mm Mauser by several countries mostly eastern block and Slavic

46 would be the year

It would really help to see a picture of the head stamp

here is what I think you have not seeing your stamp
https://forum.cartridgecollectors.org/t/wwii-8mm-mauser-headstamp-help/23810

those are 5 round Mauser stripper clips

is there any writing on anything any where else

lots of countries used 8mm Mauser AKA 7.92x57 after WWII

the one you don't want is Turkish 8mm and I think it is what you have
the reason is the Turks used a powder that got HOTTER with deterioration where most powders get weaker with time and deterioration.
If you use it keep in mind it is HOT and gets Hotter only bolt action rifles in very good condition if you use it at all.


if these are loaded with 155gr bullets and going 2950 or better , keep in mind the 150gr bullet in the longer 7.62x63 aka 30-06 that in 1946 was 2750fps
even modern powders in the larger cartridge 2950-3000fps is about all you get in a 7.62x63/30-06

Century had brought a bunch in in bandoliers years ago , late 90s early 2000s and guys bought it for MG shoots

https://store.centuryarms.com/turkish-8mm-surplus.html

here you can see a picture of the similar bandolier

Thanks Green County for all the great information. That is exactly what I have. Nearest I can tell it would retail for about $40 so I will probably just hold onto it for a conversation piece or trade it at a later date if I find someone that has a use for it.

We had a K.kale for a while my son's first rifle in cosmoline he got to clean it all up and learn about it himself
https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/turkish-k-kale-m1938-mauser-rifle-history/467075

the K.kale is an interesting rifle large ring size receiver with a small ring barrel threading this left a lot of meat in the receiver.
the turks are about 180 degrease opposite the Germans in their handling of arms.

Germans documented everything a stamp for each arsenal rebuild and change maintenance routines.

the Turks a rifle works and goes in the good pile or is broke and goes in the repair pile where it gets repaired and then goes i the good pile , no marking or record keeping.

lots of the turkish rifles were "captures" the Turks had an interesting relationship with Germans in 44-45 if you wanted to desert just turn in your rifle to the turks and they let you walk "captured" Turky waited till the outcome was basically clear before choosing a side in WWII and played/stayed independent till then.

if you can find yourself a K.Kale that would be a good match

we found some Serbian 8mm that was decent stuff I think 196gr then I found some PPU 196gr new manufacture at a bait shop.
it was a little abusive shooting it but it shot decent.
ammo was not easy to find it was around

my son lost interest in it and we sold it , he later bought what he really wanted a 1903A3 as we stock and reload 30-06