Ammo in boxes-Merry Christmas!
Printed From: The Carbine Collector's Club
Category: The Club
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: Carbine Related
URL: http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7752
Printed Date: Mar 26 2026 at 10:56pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.08 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Ammo in boxes-Merry Christmas!
Posted By: New2brass
Subject: Ammo in boxes-Merry Christmas!
Date Posted: Dec 25 2025 at 9:23am
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Merry Christmas  Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year Were you Naughty or Nice? Looking forward to seeing what Santa has brought you!
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Replies:
Posted By: Timothy
Date Posted: Dec 25 2025 at 10:08pm
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Santa was nice; we are still healthy and happy. Hope everyone else on the forum is as well. Best to all in the new year and thank you new2brass - haven’t seen that graphic before. Tim ------------- T R |
Posted By: Jond41403
Date Posted: Dec 25 2025 at 10:36pm
| +1 Timothy |
Posted By: W5USMC
Date Posted: Dec 25 2025 at 10:53pm
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Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and hoping we all have a healthy, happy and carbine filled New Year! ------------- Wayne USMC Retired NRA Life Member |
Posted By: New2brass
Date Posted: Dec 26 2025 at 3:17pm
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My stocking had a lump of coal, but then there was this under the tree!  ------------- http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/wtb-magazines_topic7446.html" rel="nofollow - My Wish List |
Posted By: Dave T
Date Posted: Dec 26 2025 at 8:56pm
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1942! Nice ------------- Dave |
Posted By: HammerGrunt
Date Posted: Dec 29 2025 at 9:30pm
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I hope everyone enjoyed a very Merry Christmas and we have a Blessed New 2026! Dan your 1942 early Ammo picture reminded me to ask if anyone has info on when the 1942 Ammo Lots were made? I have a box of Lot 6023 and also a box of Dummy Rounds made in 1942 and they all look like they were made yesterday.   |
Posted By: HammerGrunt
Date Posted: Dec 29 2025 at 9:31pm
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Posted By: Smokpole
Date Posted: Jan 01 2026 at 8:14pm
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And a Happy and prosperous New Year to all! ------------- OGCA Life member NRA Life member Ashtabula Rod and Gun Life member |
Posted By: Matt_X
Date Posted: Jan 01 2026 at 8:27pm
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Without owning the primary source materials, this new book probably is the most accessible source. https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/389263-new-reference-book-us-military-small-arms-ammunition-lot-numbers-1928-1945/" rel="nofollow - https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/389263-new-reference-book-us-military-small-arms-ammunition-lot-numbers-1928-1945/
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HammerGrunt wrote:Posted By: W5USMC
Date Posted: Jan 01 2026 at 9:49pm
Hammer, I do not believe that the "42" on the bottom of the Dummy Round box necessarily coincides with the date that the Dummy ammo was actually manufactured. I have 3 different boxes of WRA Dummy ammo all 3 have different labels, but all the boxes are stamped (embossed) 42 on the bottom, two of my boxes are still sealed so I can't check headstamps, but my third box is torn on the top and the ammo is head stamped 44. If your box is open, I am curious what the headstamp on the ammo is. ------------- Wayne USMC Retired NRA Life Member |
Posted By: Unit91
Date Posted: Jan 01 2026 at 10:12pm
| Fun fact, my great grandfather worked at that Western Factory (now Winchester/Olin) in East Alton in the 40’s, and made carbine ammo during the war. Not sure if he was there in 42 though, but there is a chance he could have made those. |
Posted By: HammerGrunt
Date Posted: Jan 01 2026 at 10:13pm
| W5USMC - No, my Dummy Rounds box is also sealed shut. I’ve never opened it. I just assumed the big embossed 42 was a date. |
Posted By: HammerGrunt
Date Posted: Jan 01 2026 at 10:13pm
| MattX - Thanks for posting about this US Military Ammo Lot numbers publication. Looks like a very good reference book to have so I just bought one on Amazon. |
Posted By: HammerGrunt
Date Posted: Jan 01 2026 at 10:19pm
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(Corrected after reading Dan’s follow up post) |
Posted By: New2brass
Date Posted: Jan 01 2026 at 10:24pm
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My source is from 1961, it is serviceable lots lots not listed are referred to a different section on how to find grading, usually reserved for training etc. In another thread I posted about it. Western was given lot numbers starting at 6000 for all small caliber ammo they were producing. The lots were not specific to caliber. The earliest lot I have seen of carbine is lot 6010. I am sure there are earlier lots out there. https://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/ammo-shipping-crates-and-boxes_topic7734_post65899.html?KW=#65899" rel="nofollow - https://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/ammo-shipping-crates-and-boxes_topic7734_post65899.html?KW=#65899
------------- http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/wtb-magazines_topic7446.html" rel="nofollow - My Wish List |
Posted By: W5USMC
Date Posted: Jan 01 2026 at 10:40pm
Here is 6022.
------------- Wayne USMC Retired NRA Life Member |
Posted By: Matt_X
Date Posted: Jan 03 2026 at 8:11pm
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Here is a box of Winchester Repeating Arms Co. M13 dummy cartridges, Lot 22038. Headstamps are WRA * 44.   I will be interested in what you learn Hammer. I'm very tempted to get a copy myself. Bookshelf space is scarce, but for some reason I'm interested in boxes, packing, shipping. We might want to revive the discussion on the USMilitaria Forum. Screen name 'Silverplate' seems like a knowledgable collector. https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/376642-30-cal-carbine-dummy-rounds-1943/" rel="nofollow - https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/376642-30-cal-carbine-dummy-rounds-1943/ Maybe its just chance that the WRA box he shows with Winchester printed in red has M1 dummy cartridges. As I recall, the M1 dummies have either a tinned or silver looking shell, or a tinned or silver looking bullet. The primer pockets of those are sometimes drilled. In contrast the M13 dummies are drilled through the side of the cartridge case. The three on the left are head stamped WRA 43, the others are WRA 44. The 44 headstamps have no * and only some have drilled primer holes.  Ignore the bullet depths. That's from use.
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Posted By: W5USMC
Date Posted: Jan 03 2026 at 11:35pm
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Matt is that your box of M13? If so, is the bottom embossed with 42? As I mentioned above, I have the three box variants all of which have 42 on the bottom. My M13 labeled box is trashed the rounds inside are head stamped WRA 44 (no *) and are not drilled through the sides.
  ------------- Wayne USMC Retired NRA Life Member |
Posted By: Matt_X
Date Posted: Jan 04 2026 at 7:07am
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Yes. That's my box. IIRC I bought it mail oder from Joe's Army Navy (I see they still have them avail.) The box has no stamp underneath. Some website or book states the * indicates a slight change in manufacturing of the brass shell. (When I find the source I'll edit or post a follow up)  
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Posted By: Matt_X
Date Posted: Jan 04 2026 at 10:08am
Around 1944 to 45 Winchester changed the method of drawing out the case from the "New Haven procedure to the East Alton plant layput." The star was added to the headstamp to indicate this change.History of Modern U. S. Military Small Arms Ammunition: Volume 2 p. 42(Thanks to Dan for showing me the 30 carbine chapter from this book)
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Posted By: W5USMC
Date Posted: Jan 04 2026 at 10:33am
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[QUOTE=Matt_X] IIRC I bought it mail order from Joe's Army Navy (I see they still have them avail.) Think I also got my box from Joes several years ago and well before he raised the price per box to $97.50! https://www.joesarmynavyonline.com/WWII-Era-30-Carbine-Dummy-Ammo-50-Pack-p/215552-50pk.htm" rel="nofollow - WWII Era .30 Carbine Dummy Ammo- 50 Pack
------------- Wayne USMC Retired NRA Life Member |
Posted By: Matt_X
Date Posted: Jan 04 2026 at 11:55am
That's NUTS! It wouldn't surprise me if there was a 2 on the lot number of your M13 box which disappeared with the surface damage.
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Posted By: New2brass
Date Posted: Feb 14 2026 at 12:03pm
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Note some boxes are not marked M13.  I suspect the "M1 Dummy Cartridge" is really "US Carbine cal 30 M1 Dummy Cartridge" via examples shown in this thread
------------- http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/wtb-magazines_topic7446.html" rel="nofollow - My Wish List |
Posted By: Matt_X
Date Posted: Feb 14 2026 at 12:38pm
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Correction. The WRA M13 box is stamped underneath. I just didn't see it. [QUOTE=Matt_X] [quote]  |