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30-30 US.C.CO. Ammunition

333_OKH
I have some loose rounds of ammunition that as so marked. The primers have
what appears to be a $ in the center. The jacketsed soft points appear to
be made from a nickel jacket with a substantial soft lead round
nose. Can anyone tell me the age of this ammunition?
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • heavyiron
    The U.S.C.Co. are the initials for the United States Cartridge Company. They were in business from 1864 until 1938. Now that is a pretty wide range of years and that can narrowed down.

    The 30-30 or 30 WCF was introduced in early 1895 by Winchester for the Model 94 lever action rifle. The original loading was a 160 grain, softpoint bullet, over 30 grains of smokeless powder. Thus the name 30-30. The nickel jacket is a cupronickel (copper and nickel) jacket.

    Therefore, these cartridges would have been manufactured sometime between 1895 and 1938.

    Regards,

    Heavyiron



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    "If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix
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  • Iconoclast
    Well, the age range can be narrowed down a bit further. Winchester bought out USC Co. in - IIRC - 1926, but continued to market ammo using the USC Co. name, trademarks, etc. *However* the use of the impressed 'US' logo on the primers ceased when Winchester took over, and possibly before.

    "There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain)
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  • heavyiron
    Iconoclast,

    I don't want to pirate this thread, but I have also seen a "U" impreseed upon the primer of UMC ammunition and "W" likewise marked on WRACo. ammunition.

    Do these marking have any significance or relate to any period of time?

    Regards,

    Heavyiron

    bullitt_county_4199_small.jpg
    "If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix
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  • Iconoclast
    It is my understanding that this was, for a time, used to distinguish smokeless CF loads from the BP offerings which were being marketed at the same time. However, the practice continued after the BP loads were discontinued, so I don't know how credence I would give that theory. Now, one minor correction . . . *both* UMC and Remington used the impressed 'U' on the primer. Remington didn't have a separate ammunition line for many years around the turn of the century. They bought out UMC and simply changed the name, retaining the 'U' trademark on the primers of the CF rounds and on RF cartridges (the latter continues to the present day).

    "There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain)
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  • 333_OKH
    Gentlemen--Many thanks! I enjoy the history lesson. I think I have learned more about our nations history through firearms than I ever did via text book. Sad but true and I have a Master Degree!
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