Hansen Cartridge Company & IMI 5.56?

[Boba Fett]

So I'm at my favorite gun store and I happen to come across a box of 5.56 from a brand I'm not familiar with: Hansen Cartridge Company.

I looked at the various info and logos on it. The first thing that really caught my eye and made me pick it up was the eagle logo that was so similar to the Magnum Research logo (yes I know they aren't exact, but it's what caught my eye).

Then I notice a logo that reminds me of the logo on the grips of a Jericho/Baby Eagle

So I look to see where the ammo is made: It says Made in Israel.

I'm usually a fan of Israeli 5.56, so I crack open the box to check the head stamp and sure enough it says IMI.

So what I'm wondering is, why are they being, I assume, repackaged and distributed by this Hansen Cartridge Company? I've not seen them before, but perhaps I just wasn't looking hard enough. I don't recall seeing them at gun shows and haven't noticed them on placed like ammunitiontogo.com.

All previous IMI 5.56 I've purchased comes loosely staggered in small 30 round (IIRC) boxes with their logo on them.

Anyone else come across them like this or from the Hansen Cartridge Company? Is this match ammo or something?

Anyway, here are a few pics of the box and cartridges:

 

[Boba Fett]

One more pic.

 

[rich636]

I have some old Hansen .223 and it says it's manufactured in Yugoslovia. That's really all I know, it does have some red powdery primer sealant that dirties up the bolt face, but it shoots well.

Edit: Since yours is manufactured in Israel, I imagine Hansen is just an importer who reboxes surplus ammo, or something along those lines.

 

[Boba Fett]

Since yours is manufactured in Israel, I imagine Hansen is just an importer who reboxes surplus ammo, or something along those lines.

I'm starting to think the same thing.


I couldn't find them online (maybe not in business anymore?), but I did find some ammo on gunbroker.com
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.aspx?Keywords=hansen

Also found several other forums that mention various headstamps on Hansen ammo, so I'd agree that they were probably an importer/repackager.


Unless anyone else has any info on them that is...

 

[Boba Fett]

Found a bit more info:

http://www.johno.myiglou.com/winchester.htm
Model 1903.

Here is an early classic, Winchester's first automatic smallbore rifle. Unfortunately, this one fires a now obsolete cartridge, the .22 Auto. The Hansen Cartridge company put the 22 Auto into production for a brief run, but prices are stiff - $90 a brick when you can find it.


http://www.armorypub.com/Witzel/3030/30306.htm

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3739130

Jay Hansen of the Hansen Cartridge Co is currently co-owner of an antique arms business, don't know however if he still imports ammunition. See: http://hansenguns.com/ You could always send him an e-mail

http://www.textfiles.com/anarchy/WEAPONS/gundealr.lst

Hansen Cartridge Company
244-246 Old Post Road
Southport, CT 06490
1-800-556-4867
1-203-259-5424
Bayonets, Yugoslav SS109 + surplus ammo, Ruger distributor,
good line of WWII bayonets.

Still didn't find a direct website for the Hansen Cartridge Company, but maybe it never had one to begin with.

 

[jonnyc]

You have 20 year old ammo. Hansen was an importer of guns and ammo. They had Israeli and Yugo stuff back in the '80s and '90s. The company is long gone, but I think Jay Hansen is still importing small quantities of collector guns.

 

[Boba Fett]

Thanks jonnyc.

I'll have to try it out and see how it performs 20 years later