Old US Army ammunition in case? - The Firearms Forum

ktbryan55 · 07-24-2011, 12:52 PM

I found in an old house a leather case with leather clasp. It opens up and there are 20 bullets in it. The outside says US. The bullets are 3 1/4# long and on the heads it says 30 06 on bottom and W R A on top. Just wondering if anyone knows what year this case and bullets are? My husband thinks it was before WWI?

I'm enclosing 3 pictures - not very good, but can see front and inside and the case opens up and there is a metal rod seperating the two sections.

Would like more info if possible or if you can direct me to some other website that could help?

Thanks,

KT

Jim Hauff · 07-24-2011, 01:34 PM

Looks to be a "turn of the century" US Army cartridge case - probably used from circa 1894 - 1910 or there abouts. The .30-06 cartridge was developed and issued in 1906 - but those cases were used for earlier cartridges also (.30-40 KRAG and .30-03 US). Later in the 19 teens, the cartridges (.30-06) were assembled on 5 shot stripper clips for ease of loading 5 rounds into the internal box mag of the Springfield Model 1903 rifle. This, of course, would require a different "pouch" type belt container. Nice find.
BTW - the cartridges in that case have the Winchester Repeating Arms headstamp on them and probably date from the 1920s.

Alpo · 07-24-2011, 01:49 PM

That's a McKeever cartridge box. Here's a replica.
http://www.pacificcanvasandleather.c...dge/pcl_85.htm

I doubt they were ever used with 30/06 cartridges, as the whole purpose of the 1903 rifle was to get one that used stripper clips.

These cases came in two sizes, large for 45/70 cases and the smaller for 30US, aka 30/40 Krag.

I'm gonna guess that someone either bought the case surplus, or it was Daddy's (or maybe Grandpa's) and that he recognized it as a real handy case for carrying ought six cases.

Jim K · 07-24-2011, 07:36 PM

The cartridges are commercial, not Army issue. Issue cartridges never had the commercial designation ".30-'06" on them, only the maker (government ammunition plant or contractor) and the date, the month and the last two digits year, or just the year.

Jim

07-24-2011, 12:52 PM	#1
ktbryan55 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2	Old US Army ammunition in case? I found in an old house a leather case with leather clasp. It opens up and there are 20 bullets in it. The outside says US. The bullets are 3 1/4# long and on the heads it says 30 06 on bottom and W R A on top. Just wondering if anyone knows what year this case and bullets are? My husband thinks it was before WWI? I'm enclosing 3 pictures - not very good, but can see front and inside and the case opens up and there is a metal rod seperating the two sections. Would like more info if possible or if you can direct me to some other website that could help? Thanks, KT Attached Images -->

07-24-2011, 01:34 PM	#2
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: Old US Army ammunition in case? Looks to be a "turn of the century" US Army cartridge case - probably used from circa 1894 - 1910 or there abouts. The .30-06 cartridge was developed and issued in 1906 - but those cases were used for earlier cartridges also (.30-40 KRAG and .30-03 US). Later in the 19 teens, the cartridges (.30-06) were assembled on 5 shot stripper clips for ease of loading 5 rounds into the internal box mag of the Springfield Model 1903 rifle. This, of course, would require a different "pouch" type belt container. Nice find. BTW - the cartridges in that case have the Winchester Repeating Arms headstamp on them and probably date from the 1920s. __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie Last edited by Jim Hauff; 07-24-2011 at 02:59 PM.. Reason: changed 1994 to 1884

07-24-2011, 01:49 PM	#3
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,648	Re: Old US Army ammunition in case? That's a McKeever cartridge box. Here's a replica. http://www.pacificcanvasandleather.c...dge/pcl_85.htm I doubt they were ever used with 30/06 cartridges, as the whole purpose of the 1903 rifle was to get one that used stripper clips. These cases came in two sizes, large for 45/70 cases and the smaller for 30US, aka 30/40 Krag. I'm gonna guess that someone either bought the case surplus, or it was Daddy's (or maybe Grandpa's) and that he recognized it as a real handy case for carrying ought six cases. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

07-24-2011, 07:36 PM	#4
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Old US Army ammunition in case? The cartridges are commercial, not Army issue. Issue cartridges never had the commercial designation ".30-'06" on them, only the maker (government ammunition plant or contractor) and the date, the month and the last two digits year, or just the year. Jim