willysmjeeps.com

In the restoration of my 12/1953 M38a1 I was disassembling the rear axle to clean up a nasty weld on the axle housing and the cover plate, check for serviceability and repaint.

After taking out the differential and drive pinion this copper jacket fell out and steel bullet fragments were stuck to the magnet on the drain plug. I then found an unrepaired bullet hole through the right brake backing plate. So I would conclude that the nasty welds were probably field expedient repairs.

If this jeep could talk I would really like to hear the story

Wow. That one through the backing plate just missed the eccentric; lucky shot (or unlucky, depending on your viewpoint!).

Can you identify the caliber? The fragment on the
left looks like .30 cal carbine. Never know what
you'll find..

I would agree that it is a .30 cal and probably steel core projectile fragments since all the gears, bearing and seals appear to be intact.

Obviously there is not way to confirm this but it could be 7.62x39 with a steel core projectile like the M43 or many others.

Many jeeps served out the last of their days posing for gun toters at military ranges. My son's unit still has M151's to shoot at on their range. Eventually the remains get hauled off to DRMO and get salvaged out. That axle may have come from a target jeep that was parted out through a salvage unit. In the 60's I also had the opportunity to pop a lot of holes in salvage vehicles on several ranges.

I agree, it very well have been used on a range before being salvaged. It could have even been shot by a previous owner for whatever reason.

In reality I don't believe there is a way to accurately tell the history of this vehicle or this axle.

It makes no difference to me in this restoration, I just thought some folks may get a kick out of the find.