A while back I picked up a ammunition crate for .30 carbine ammo. My plan was to somehow incorporate it into a display. Somewhere on these forums I posted a members ammo crate that the top straps were converted with barrel stubs to display bayonets or muzzle devices.

What I found interesting is that the crate shows it is Western Cartridge Company ammo and its lot number, but was repacked by the  Evansville Chrysler plant in September 1944.

The side of the crate below

The fact that it is marked for Institution Armory Only had me puzzled. I wondered if this was the ammo from before a chamber change that I discussed in other threads? Mid 43 the chamber was changed and ammunition made previously may have extraction issues in later made carbines. The new style ammunition worked in both chambers. The early ammunition was to be held back and not for use on the battlefield.

Recently while sorting the LR collection I notices something  on a spam can. Same month repack, lot number only 70 away, but how many thousands were there in a lot?

Looking into it I stumbled onto a book "Bullets by the Billion" by Wesley W. Stout.

The book talks about its ammunition production as well as refurb of tank, building of trucks, all for the war effort.

It seems that originally "ammunition was in containers of double dipped, heavy, waxed paper enclosed in heavy wooden boxes. Ample protection in the past and in fighting in Africa and Italy, the pack failed to stand up in the South Pacific and by midsummer of 1943 General MacArthur was asking  for a better one."

Ordnance gave Evansville the task of engineering project to develop better packaging. They based their design off corned  beef can made by the American Can Co. which had a turn key to open.

Presumably this is why the repack happened at Evansville as they had thee machinery to pack the cans.

From May 31, 1944 through October 1944 they processed repacking of ammunition from all manufacturers.

The T1CAJ = 1,600 cartridges of .30 Carbine Ball M1, Grade R, in 50-round cartons packed in M6 ammo cans. Each M6 ammo can contained 16 cartons (800 rounds). There were 2 × M6 ammo cans per M7 ammo crate.

As best as I can figure they were repacking another experimental sealing T1CAD which was  3,000 cartridges of .30 Carbine Ball M1, Grade R, in 50-round cartons, 30 cartons per T3 waxed cardboard box (1500 rounds), 2 × T3 waxed cardboard boxes per T4 wooden crate (3,000 rounds total). This experimental packing method was used to ship ammunition overseas, but without the metal tinplate liner to make it easier and faster to open in combat. But it was found to be ineffective.

So what year manufacture is in these cans?

the lowest WCC lot I can find is 6023 to a high of 6928. So lots on the items above are 6225 and 6295, putting it in the earlier lot numbers.

Does anyone have WCC ammo in the lot range above and can provide a head stamp date?

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=475891" rel="nofollow - WWII .30 Carbine Ammo - Calguns.net

https://ammogarand.com/wwii-30-m1-carbine-ammo-50r.html" rel="nofollow - WWII 30 M1 Carbine Ammo Winchester WCC - Packrats Collectibles LLC (ammogarand.com)

From the two links above:

Lot

WCC 6142  contains WCC 43

WCC 6346 contains WCC 43

Add to the record,

 W.C.C. 6427 contains WCC 44

 and repacks with unknown headstamps

 W.C.C. 6425 Repacked E.C. 5-44
 W.C.C. 6110 Repacked E.C. 8-44

from https://forum.cartridgecollectors.org/t/30-carbine-manufactured-and-repacked-by-evansville/25922" rel="nofollow - https://forum.cartridgecollectors.org/t/30-carbine-manufactured-and-repacked-by-evansville/25922

This looked like it would be helpful but clearly doesn't apply these WCC lots

https://www.mdshooters.com/threads/dating-winchester-western-ammo-boxes.178198/" rel="nofollow - https://www.mdshooters.com/threads/dating-winchester-western-ammo-boxes.178198/

Lot

WCC 6477  contains WCC 44  ref https://ammogarand.com/30-m1-carbine-ammo-winchester-wcc-44.html

WCC 6772 contains WCC 52

Thanks guys, guess that confirms the chest and spam can are both 1943.

I still wonder the case profile.