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Winchester-Western Lot Numbers

cajunman
Does anyone know how to decipher the Lot #'s on Winchester-Western ammunition so that you can tell when it was manufactured? I have a lot of older ammo, 60's - 70's, and I would like to know exactly how old it is.

cajunman
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8 comments

Date Votes
  • only winchesters
    Good morning cajunman: I'll try,

    Key
    Definition

    a
    Lot sequence number
    b
    Manufacturers identification symbol
    c
    Month of production (2 digit)
    d
    Year of production
    e
    Month of production (single alpha)
    Jan=A May=E Sep=J
    Feb=B Jun=F Oct=K
    Mar=C Jul=G Nov=L
    Apr=D Aug=H Dec=M

    f
    Interfix number
    g
    Lot suffix (alpha)

    Here's a lot number off an old box of paper shotgun shells by Winchester K29ML82P

    In this case L8 is 1958
    9 stands for Sept

    Here's one off a box off paper shells by Western
    E59ED5

    May 1959 is when it was made

    Hope this helps you. If you get confused, post the lot numbers, I'll try to help.

    Regards Dave
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  • cajunman
    Thanks Dave
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  • mallard
    good morning only winchesters,

    a neighbor gave a few boxes of super x ""AS8HL6H"".

    august 1956? i have wondered about the lot numbers too.

    have a good tuesday,

    mallard
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  • cajunman
    Only Winchesters,

    What about the rimfire with only 4 digit lot numbers?

    "YD42" Would that be April 1974?

    "YF02" June 1970?
    Cajunman
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  • only winchesters
    Hello guys: Mallard I would say August 1956 too!

    Cajun: I'd say the lot number is incomplete. I think that is a bullet or brass lot number, but not sure. Sometimes Winchester, Western, Winchester/Western uses Roman numerals such as the "L" stand for 50, then followed by 1 through 9 Ie: L8 for 1958. or LX2 for 1962. Usually the lot number if it's not on the outside of the box it's printed on the box flap that tucks in. Example: From a box of Winchester 30-06 I bought back in the late 1980's : 52EA308771

    Means July 1987

    Does this help?

    Regards Dave
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  • cajunman
    Dave,

    All of the rimfire boxes have four digit lot numbers. The centerfire boxes have six digit numbers.

    SX 30-06: 55hb32

    SS 30-06: 67sa62

    The super speed is older, Olin-Mathieson, 8-31-54 to 9-1-69

    Super-x is Win-Western Olin Corp 9-1-69 to 7-21-81

    The super speed could be 1967 or January 63

    The super-x could be Feb 73

    I was primarily interested in the shotshells because I am trying to locate more of the gold & red colored boxes that contain paper shells and were the first shells loaded with the Mark 5 collar. However in my search I have picked up all kinds of older boxes and ammunition.

    Thanks again Dave,

    Cajunman
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  • only winchesters
    Hi Cajun: I'll be the first to admit, I'm guessing on the rifle ammo, and I don't understand the rimfire stuff.

    I learned the ammo code for my shotgun shell collection. that I'm reasonably good at.

    SX 30-06 55hb32 is 1955 Feb. or March manufacture month
    SS 30-06 67sa62 is 1967 June or Feb. for the manufacture month

    That would be my guess.

    Regards Dave
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  • cajunman
    Dave,

    Thanks for your help. If you run into any of the gold & red boxes that you are not interested in let me know.

    Cajunman
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