Old 45 ACP Rounds

U.S. Cartridge Company WW1 date stamps. Not sure about the others or the lead. They are collectors items.

Yeah, save don't shoot

Might be just steel and not lead, I had had some from that era a while ago that used a steel alloy instead of Copper FMJ. It was a transition time.

They probably have corrosive primers

Looks like you have cartridges from Winchester, United States Cartridge Company, Peters Cartridge Company and Frankfort Arsenal. If my Google-fu is up to par, one is a cupro nickel jacket, the other is a tin wash. They will certainly be corrosive rounds. And to answer your questions, they're your rounds, but they're not reloads, I would not recommend shooting them or dismantling them. If anything, sell them and buy some rounds manufactured within the last 100yrs

FA is Frankford Arsenal and they defiintely have corrosive primers. They are collector's items fron WW I, so don't shoot them.

https://cartridgecollectors.org/?page=guide is always a great resource.

Stay safe.

If the bullets are not attracted to a magnet, they are probably jacketed with copper nickel, which is the metal the silvery parts of quarters and dimes are made of. That kind of silvery bullet jacket was more common in Europe than in this country, but it was used here too. I think steel is pretty unlikely for a US pistol bullet, and even less likely to be un-corroded after 100+ years.

The brown jacketing material is often called gilding metal, I can never remember why.

I agree with the others above that these were made for the US military in the First World War. I have some just like that that came in half-moon clips. The primers are lacquered, which sometimes flakes off.

PS - Now that I think of it, copper nickel which is high in nickel is also attracted to a magnet, so that test is not definitive. That used to be why Canadian dimes and quarters would not work in US vending machines. The Canadians now make those coins of stainless steel, and they still don't work.

"If the bullets are not attracted to a magnet, they are probably jacketed with copper nickel, which is the metal the silvery parts of quarters and dimes are made of. That kind of silvery bullet jacket was more common in Europe than in this country, but it was used here too. I think steel is pretty unlikely for a US pistol bullet, and even less likely to be un-corroded after 100+ years."


If you look at the cartridges from the pic I posted you can clearly see rust at the tip of one of them. Maybe nickel as the ones I had were magnetic. Did not do any further research at the time, should of kept them. Even things like this are collectable these days.

Back in the ‘80s my grandfather gave me a shoe box full of old .45 rounds, probably WW2 era.
They were a little corroded so I cleaned them up with fine sandpaper.
I went to shoot them in my Colt Commander Lightweight.
The first one shot fine, the second was a misfire. I ejected the cartridge and the brass was split down the side.
It scared the heck out of me so I threw the rest away.

There was a lot of work done with jacket material in those days. Cupronickel was common, and cupronickel plated steel, too. Tin plating was to reduce hard metal fouling, but had the bad effect of cold soldering the bullet into the brass. Gilding metal was a considerable improvement. It is a low zinc brass alloy and still in use.

That would be an appropriate use.

Monac said:

is often called gilding metal, I can never remember why.

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When gilding things, like bits of buildings, ships, and the like, rather than use 22kt gold leaf, a person can gild (to make golden) with brass and similar alloys which will polish up enough to look like low-karat gold.
Those materials will stand up to weather and the elements better than more precious metal leaf.

The brass/bronze/etc. sheeting can be made thicker for more 'mechanical' fastening (e.g. crimping, solder, etc.) to structures, too..

Thanks, CapnMac! I learned something today.

Well, this ended well.

I dunno. I've seen a lot of tarnished and corroded bullet jackets but a recent picture of the Georgia Capitol Dome in real gold was very shiny.

Let us know how it goes. Do they all fire, sound and feel normal?
Corrosive primers, so wet clean.

kilizyrag said:

I have changed my mind. If anyone wishes to own these fine relicts of the past they are yours for the price of the ride. Otherwise, I'm going to shoot them. That's what I do; shoot.

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I am interested in these.


Kevin

These are much more valuable as remembrances of past glory than just simple range fodder. Please keep and appreciate them or provide to someone else who will do so.

kilizyrag said:

Ok then. I will not shoot them. I have my Grandfather's 1911 that he carried in WWI so I think I will store them with his pistol.

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I would very, very much like to see a photo of that! Everybody else here would too; they just forgot to mention it. I really love the way old Colts look.