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another old military 45 ammo question...

bobski
heres a pic of my strays laying around the house. since value isnt a concern, i guess i just need to know if its corrosive or not and who made it?
from left to right:

1 - U.S.C.CO. 18, primer has not been punched out so that bullet is original. it still has the red die on the crimp.
1 - R.A.41
2 - R.A.42, why of all the rounds didnt the 42's have the band around the mid casing?
2 - WCC 62, yep i know this is winchester, but is it corrosive?
thanks!

45ammoshots.jpg
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5 comments

Date Votes
  • heavyiron
    Bobski,

    #1 was manufactered by the United States Cartridge Company. USCCo. was contracted by the goverenment (along with other companies) to produce 45ACP ammunition during WWI, since the arsenals could not meet the demand. This cartridge probably has a copper primer and curpnickel bullet jacket. The month designation on the headstamp was dropped in 1917, so the headstamp on your cartridge fits the classic example for that time. It is a corrosive primer.

    #2 the RA headstamp stand for Remington Arms Co., Bridgeport, CT and I know you know it was manufactured in 1941. It would also be corrosive. The first non-corrosive ammo from RA was in September 1952.

    #3 Is also a Remingtion Arms product made in 1942. It would be corrosive.

    #4 The WCC headtamp stands for Western Cartridge Corporation (Olin), East Alton, IL which as you have correctly stated is owned by Winchester. This would be a non-corrosive primer.

    The US arsenals started swithing to non-corrosive primers in the early 1950's on all small arms ammunition. In the case of the WCC headstamp, the first lot# of non-corrosive ammunition for 45ACP ball was 6375. The first non-corrosive primers for the WCC ammo came off the line in November 1952 and the first "Safe" headstamp date (safe means no possibility of encountering a corrosive primer in the box)was WCC53.

    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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  • bobski
    great info! so, what about that band missing on RA42's?
    bob
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  • heavyiron
    Bobski,

    I can only guess at why the band (cannelure) was deleted and my guess would be that it was a cost and time saving measure used during the war to maximize ammunition production. Adding the cannelure (the groove in the middle of the case) would be an extra step in the production process.

    Perhaps Iconoclast can add something else.

    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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  • perry shooter
    Hello I have been told that the band around the center of case was to prevent the bullet from being pushed into the case on hitting the feed ramp in auto thompsons and grease guns . why no band on 1942 remington ??? Federal ammo today some have band and some dont. all of my wcc match brass from 1965 to 1991 some years have bands and some years don't. ammo makers must all be female and can't make up their mind.
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  • bobski
    thanks perry! only adding to the mystery would be the fact that the 1918 45 round has it. and the thompson wasnt made until 1921. or was it? i dont remember thompsons in ww1![?]
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