some interesting 45 ACP brass

[Halo]

Several years ago a neighbor gave me a big bag of mixed 45 ACP brass. I just recently rediscovered the bag and found some of the headstamps dating back to 1971. They all look fine and I have every intention of using them. Most of the brass is Winchester and only has WCC (or W-W) and the year. No indication of caliber. Does that mean it's military brass?

What's interesting is that all the Winchester brass has a two digit year, except for 1983. All of the 1983 brass has the full four digit year on the headstamp. Any speculation as to why they did it differently that year?

 

[rcmodel]

WCC = Western Cartridge Company.
W-W = Winchester-Western.

Either with date marked head stamps are military / GI brass.

If it's from GI Ball ammo, it probably has crimped primers.
If its from GI Match ammo it doesn't.

Either one are very high quality & desirable .45 brass. But you will have to remove the primer crimps if they are crimped.

Not sure about the 1983 marking because that was after my time in the military, and I already had a lifetime supply of slightly older stuff.

rcmodel

 

[Halo]

None of them have crimped primers, so it was either GI Match or the crimps were already removed. The neighbor who gave them to me is a certified gun nut and reloader extraordinaire, so the latter is possible.

The great variety of headstamps and nomenclatures is fascinating in its own right. These 1983 cases are the first I've seen with the full year stamped on the case head.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep! Head-stamp collecting is a whole nother hobby in itself for some folks.

The variety is bewildering when you get into the advanced stage!

rcmodel

 

[floydster]

Interesting indeed, I have some 30-06 brass dating back to 1935--- I am collecting all the dates.
Fun hobby also.
Floydster

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

when my great-uncle died I was given some .45acp ammo found in his cabin that was actually green with age. he was a WW1 vet and I'm wondering if it wasn't some mil-issue stuff from that time. he never thew anything out.

 

[Halo]

Wow, do you still have that ammo? What is on the headstamp? If it's WWI issue ammo, I'd bet it has some collector value.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I still have some early .45 ammunition in the original 20 round boxes. The brass is brittle, but the boxes are interesting, never the less.

As for the original question concerning the full year date on some Winchester ammunition. This was done mostly in their bulk pack ammunition. I don't believe any of it ever entered the military system, unless it was purchased separately. I have many Winchester cases in both 9mm and .45 acp with the full year dates on them and none of them have crimped primers.

I once started collecting .38 Special headstamps, but it got out of control when I had well over 100 different ones. I finally ended up loading most of them, except for those with large pistol primers.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[dmftoy1]

FWIW I've got some "67" headstamped brass that I've been reloading since 1984 and it's still going strong. I find I lose it before it wears out.

 

[Halo]

As for the original question concerning the full year date on some Winchester ammunition. This was done mostly in their bulk pack ammunition. I don't believe any of it ever entered the military system, unless it was purchased separately.

Interesting. I guess I figured it to be military ammo because I assumed any commercial ammo would always have the caliber stamped on the case, for liability reasons. I guess many years ago our society wasn't quite as litigious and eager to blame? I'd be pretty surprised to see any modern commercial ammo without the caliber on the headstamp.

 

[345 DeSoto]

I've got a .45 ACP military case with the year "18" stamped on. Now THAT's old brass...

 

[fatelk]

I've accumulated a couple hundred rounds of live .45 from WWI and earlier, the oldest being 1912. I fired one dated 1914. It went off just like a new one; recoil felt a little light (could have been my imagination) but it locked the slide back just fine.

I just put them on the back shelf, figuring they'll be worth something some day.

 

[Halo]

I imagine they will indeed be worth something, especially if you have any of the original packaging.

 

[mek42]

I've got a .45 ACP military case with the year "18" stamped on. Now THAT's old brass...

In a little while someone will try to tell you that was just made yesterday.