I know you are partially in jest, but:
The original picture in the OP shows no discoloration of the cartridge case as would have happened if fired. Also the ctg case would have to be resized to hold the new bullet introducing some working marks. The hole is not in the base but from the OPs description small and in the rim at the base. According to the OP, the bullet seems to be original to case.
Of these three it’s definitely closer to the fired primer on the right, only marginally shallower and more in the centre. If the casing had been from a cartridge that fired, I’m guessing that there would be a more distinctive smell to it but it just smells ‘brassy’. If it’s not dangerous, I might as well stick it on my keys.
Almost, but not quite. The two cartridges are nearly identical, but not entirely. There are some rifle models that will accept either without problems. And there are some that will not.
Always check your firearm’s manual, or the manufactuere’s website, before assuming a .308 chambered rifle will accept and safely fire 7.62 NATO.
You have gotten some good advice and it appears you are not taking it seriously!
A miss-fired cartridge is not a play toy, they are still capable of discharging.
Back about ten years ago there was a negligent discharge of a firearm in a youth firearms safety class room here in Minnesota.
One of the instructors brought in his model 1873 Springfield Trap Door rifle for display. Another instructor had a cartridge in his ammo collection with him that day and and took this 45-70 Govt. cartridge and after seeing a dimpled primer and in this case a mistaken believe that it had no powder because the cartridge was shaken and no sound of powder. Well a black powder cartridge would be loaded full and the bullet seated will compress the powder, well the cartridge was determined to be a dummy by the not so informed instructors and when chambered the rifle was discharged into the ceiling of the classroom.
A funny cartridge will not have a primer seated and a true dummy will not have a flash hole in the bottom of the primer pocket. A dummy will also have a hole drilled through and through so that it would be impossible to hold a powder charge.
All firearm safety rules result of ignorance or carelessness
Hold your horses there buddy, the chances of me chambering the round for a laugh are slim to none since I have no firearm in which to chamber it, and I don’t plan on smacking it with hammers or throwing it in fires neither.
It’s not like I’m a firearms chemist but I think that as powder gets older, it becomes unstable to the point of being unsafe. The only safe round is the one with no/insignificant powder in it and for that, you’d have to open it which might not be safe.
No, you hold your horses Pal,
You post here with no more knowledge of firearm and ammunition than a twelve year old Red Neck that is about to enter a firearms safety class and then you want to portray how responsible you will be.
To save yourself embarrassment and such down the road, toss the thing in the nearest trash bin.
Of course I would do a disasembly prior to trashing it but I have the know how and tools to do that.
cheers!
A twelve year old redneck? You have got to be kidding me. I don’t even have a gun, I’m in England. Are you seriously saying that it could just explode randomly? CITE.
ETA; nevermind.
Unchambered rounds don’t carry much forward velocity when they go off. They act just like big firecrackers. I wouldn’t want one to go off in my hand, but it isn’t going to shoot anyone.
Just an FYI, but I own thousands of rounds of 7.62 X 51. It’s food for my metric FAL. 
Agree with others… sounds like a misfire. The shooter pulled the trigger and nothing happened. I haven’t had this happen to me very often. But when it does happen, I wait 60 seconds (while keeping the muzzle pointed down range) and then slowly eject the round. The round then goes in the trash.
60 sec. is good.Most ammo manufactures suggest at least 30 sec.
I have even heard up to 3 min. should be waited but that was a black powder issue and I don’t understand what the rational would be for that much time.
I was doing a concealed carry class and during the ammunition part i put up this picture of a injury from a hang fireand one of the attendees told of a hang fire on a military range right next to him where the shooter immediately cycled the action after a miss-fire and the cartridge went off as it passed by his head. He was wearing a combat helmet and received a burn on his neck.
The picture was Thompson Center Encore in a center fire rifle loading.
He knew exactly what is prudent and opened the action immediately and it went off right in his face. The picture is a week after and both eyes were contused even with eye protection.
Would a misfired round be dangerous…6 years after the event? It’s rattled around in my cupboard since. Would it be more or less dangerous than an ordinary round?
Can you clarify the wound presentation? The speckles are from the heat and impact of scattered powder? What caused the main wound?
Did you read my story above about the cartridge being loaded into the 1873 Springfield rifle?
That cartridge came from another’s collection of old ammunition. It could have been over 100 years old. There is no expiration date on any ammunition but. Properly stored it can last forever give or take, :dubious:
Stored in a damp, warm>>> environment could destroy it in hours.
Lee,
I really can’t answer that. I got the picture ten years ago at a gun shop and do not know the Vic. The story is 3rd hand.
I was told he is a LEO and knew better, had instead thought he didn’t load the firearm and when he hinged it open his face was not in the best place. I do not know if the case came out but suspect it did.
Basically he got a fireball to the face.
I too wish I had more details.
I can assure you it will *never *be loaded into any firearm; is a misfired cartridge dangerous on its own?
Do you have a firearms certificate?
The danger might include prison time.
I was thinking something along that line also but I know nothing about U K law.
I do remember something a year or so ago about the issue made over someone finding a cartridge on the street! A very big deal was made of that iirc.
It can be, yes.
You talked about putting it on a key chain. Imagine falling or dropping them in just the right (wrong) way, so that the bullet is smashed up against the keys. Or maybe your three-year-old nephew smashes your keys with a hammer or your niece decides to make a key lime pie with real keys in her EasyBake oven.
None of these are likely events. But these 1 in 1,000 chances kill a few people every year.
Thanks for the advice. Sounds like it would be safest to stick it back in the drawer; I don’t want to try and dismantle it and throwing it away…well it’s a curio, so I’d prefer not to.