Ammunition USA ID Guide Headstamps

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CARTRIDGE HEADSTAMP GUIDE - United States of America

Code Letters Manufacturer

A On some batches of .30-06 steel cases. Frankford Arsenal,Philadelphia, USA

AACo American Ammunition Co., Oak Park, Ill., USA

ABC Co American Buckle and Cartridge Co.,West Haven, Conn., USA

ACCo Austin Cartridge Co., Cleveland, Ohio, USA

ACN Amron Corporation, Antigo Plant, Antigo, Wis., USA 20 - 30 mm carts, post 1950

AJD Aerojet Ordnance Manufacturing Co., Downey, Calif., USA, post 1950

ALAT US Naval Air Station, Alameda, Calif., USA, solid steel dummy .50 carts

AMRON Amron Corporation div of Nasco International Inc.,Waukesha, Wis., USA

AMU Army Marksmanship Unit, US Army

AN Unknown American possibly CIA manufactured, .30-06 with 1940s dates

AO Allegheny Ordnance Plant, Cumberland, Md., USA

USACartHeadstamps http://www.harringtonmuseum.org.uk/USACartHeadstamps.htm

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APC Austin Powder Co., McArthur, Ohio, USA

APW Austin Powder Co., McArthur, Ohio, USA

ASC Unknown American Military usually on 20 mm Oerlikon ammunition with 1940s dates

Bridgeport Brass Co., Bridgeport, Conn., USA. Found on .50 Browning high velocity cases made 1943-45 and 20mm Oerlikon. The B is enclosed in adiamond

B Found on US .30-06 made at Frankford Arsenal (FA) in conjunction with a number. It indicates the use of a Berdan primer, the number signifying theprimer mixture

BBC Bridgeport Brass Co., Bridgeport, Conn., USA, on .50 Browning High Velocity experimental and 20mm Hispano-Suiza carts

BDB Bridgeport Brass Co., division of National Distillers Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., USA, post 1970

BE Benson & Engstrom Cartridge Co.,Minneapolis, Minn., USA

BFL Bristol Flare Corp., Bristol, Pa., USA

CB Unknown American Military, found on 20mm Hispano dated 1942

CCI Cascade Cartridge Co, Lewiston, Idaho, USA

CMO Clymer Machine Corp., Trumbauersville, Pa., USA, post 1950

CN Unknown US Military, may be CIA manufactured

CNI National Conduit and Cable Co., Hastings on Hudson, NY., USA, on .30-06 carts

CRG 'Chemical Rifle Grenade': found on US .30-06 blank with FA marking

CSY Avco Ordnance Division, Richmond, Ind., USA, post 1950

CTP Connecticut Cartridge Corp., Plainville, Conn., USA, post 1950


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CW When found with Lake City (LC) headstamp indicates the use of cold worked metal for case manufacture

CWG 'Chemical Warfare Grenade': found on US .30-06 blank with FA headstamps

DEI Dela Enterprises Inc., Coolidge, Ariz., USA

DEN Denver Ordnance Plant, Denver, Colo., USA. Operated by Remington Arms Co from Oct 1941 to Jul 1944 producing .30-06 carts

DM Des Moines Ordnance Plant, Des Moines, Iowa, USA Operated by US Rubber Co from Jan 42 to July 1945, .30-06 and .50 carts

DPS Unknown American, on 20 mm Hispano with wartime dates

DURA Dura Division of Detroit Harvester Corp., Toledo, Ohio, USA, on 20mm Oerlikon and Hispano 1942-44

EC Evansville-Chrysler Ordnance Plant, Evansville, Ind., USA. Operated by Chrysler Corporation from June 1942 to April 1944 producing .30 carbine and.45 ACP carts

EC Eau Claire Ordnance Plant, Eau Claire, Wis., USA. Operated by US Rubber Co using EC headstamp in August and September 1942 covering .30carbine and .45 ACP carts

ECS Evansville Ordnance Plant ( Sunbeam Refrigerator Co.), Evansville, Ind., USA. Operated 1942-44, principal product was steel .45 acp

EK Eastman Kodak, Rochester, NY., USA. On 20mm Oerlikon 1944 - 45

EW Eau Claire Ordnance Plant, Eau Claire, Wis, USA. Operated by US Rubber Co from August 1942 to December 1943

EX On Frankford Arsenal (FA) .30-06 cases indicating Extruded Case

EXP NCP On Frankford Arsenal (FA) .30-06 cases indicates Non Corrosive Primer, Experimental

F Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, Pa., USA. On experimental steel cases 1942-44

F Federal Cartridge Co., Anoka, Minn., USA

FA Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, Pa., USA


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FAHP Frankford Arsenal, High Pressure - US proof carts

FAL Frankford Arsenal Laboratory, found on experimental ammunition notably steel cased .30-06 with 1942-43 dates

FANM Frankford Arsenal , National Match competition grade ammunition in .30-06

FAPS Frankford Arsenal Pyrotechnic Signal. Found on .30-06 crimped blank carts

FC Federal Cartridge Co., Anoka, Minn., USA

FCA Federal Cartridge Co., Anoka, Minn., USA, post 1950

FCK Federal Cartridge Co., Anoka, Minn., USA

F Co Frost & Co, Kenosha, Wis., USA

FDCo Frank Draper & Co., USA

FND Susquehanna Corp., Ordnance Division ( formerly the US Flare Co.), Saugus, Calif., USA

GCCo Graphite Cartridge Co., Washington, DC, USA, on .30-06 carts

GE General Electric Co of America, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. On experimental .30-06 steel and brass cases with 1942 - 45 dates

GMC Globe Manufacturing Co., USA

HA Harvey Aluminium Corp, Torrance, Calif., USA. On 20mm with 1960s dates

HMC Harcord Mfg Co. Inc., Jersey City, NJ., USA, post 1970

IFS International Flare & Signal Co., Tippecanoe City, Ohio, USA, on signal carts 1941 - 45

IIA Explosive Devices Inc., Picayune, Miss., USA

ILL..G On .30-06 blank with FA headstamp indicates discharger cart for illuminating grenade 1917 - 1918


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KBW Kathodion Bronze Works, Nyack, NY., USA, on .30-06 and 7mm Serbian Mauser

KO Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp, Winchester Western Diviision, La Porte, Ind., USA. On 20mm and above

KS Allegheny Ordnance Plant, Cumberland, Md., USA. Operated by Kelly Springfield Tire Co from Nov 1942 to Sept 1943, made .50 Browning carts

L Lowell Cartridge Co., Lowell, Mass., USA

LC Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, Independance, Mo., USA.Operated under contract by Remington as Lake City Ordnance Plant from Sept 1941 toAugust 1945, on .30-06, .30 carbine and .50 carts

LDF Liberty Display Fireworks Co., Danville, Ill., USA on US service pyrotechnic carts 1941 - 45

LM Lowell Ordnance Plant, Lowell, Mass.,USA. Operated by Remington under contract from Nov 1942 to Dec 1943, on .50 brass and steel carts

M Milwaukee Ordnance Plant, Milwaulkee, Wis., USA. Operated by US Rubber Co from August 1942 to December 1943, on .50 carts

MHR Honeywell Inc., Hopkins, Minn., USA, on 30mm

MS Metal Speciality Co., USA. On 20mm Oerlikon, 1942 - 50

MSA Mine Safety Appliances Ltd., Pittsburgh, Pa., USA

NOEN Naval Ordnance Engineeering Laboratory,Dahlgren, Md., USA. On 20mm experimental carts from 1940s/50s period

O Cascade Cartridge Co. (Omark Industries), Lewiston, Idaho, USA

OM Olin Matheson Chemical Corp., Bridgeport, Conn., USA, on experimental cases

PC Kings Mills Ordnance Plant, Kings Mills, Ohio, USA. Operated by the Peters Cartridge Co., from June 1942 to March 1944, on .45 acp and .30 carbine

RA Remington Arms Co Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., USA, 1914 - 1918 and 1939 - 1945

REM-UMC Remington Arms - Union Metalic Cartridge Co., Bridgeport, Conn., USA

RF Rockland Fireworks Co., Boston, Mass., USA. On US Army Pyrotechnic carts, 1941 - 45


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R-M Riverside Metal Products Co., Oakville, Conn., USA

SACorp Savage Arms Corporation, Chicopee Falls, Mass., USA

SCC Standard Cartridge Co., Pasadena, Calif., USA, 1946 - 1950

SD Sparklet Devices Inc., Dover Division, Dover, Ohio, USA, on .50 steel cases in 1942 - 43, also made .30-06 but these not headstamped

SL St Louis Ordnance Plant, St Louis, Mo., USA. Operated by US Cartridge Co from Nov 1941 to June 1945, on .30, .50 and .60 cases

SL* Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, Pa., USA. Using tools removed from St Louis Ordnance Plant

SMC Symington Machine Corp, Rochester, NY., USA

SMCo Stant Manufacturing Co, Connersville, Ind., USA. .50 steel cases in 1945

STANT Stant Manufacturing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, on .60 experimental steel and brass cases with a 44 mark

SWP Smith & Wesson Pyrotechnics Inc., Jefferson, Ohio, USA

TC Twin Cities Ordnance Plant, Minneapolis, Minn., USA, on .30-06 carts in early 1942

TEI Triumph Explosives Inc., Elkton, Md., USA. On US military pyrotechnic carts 1941 - 45

TW Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant , Minneapolis, Minn., USA. Operated under contract to Federal Cartridge Co from Feb 1942 to August 1945, on.30-06 and .50 carts, closed down in 1945 but reopened in early 50s and still in operation

U Utah Ordnance Plant, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Operated by Remington Arms from March 1942 - Dec 1943, on .30 and .50 carts

UF United Fireworks Mfg Co., Dayton, Ohio, USA. On US military pyrotechnic carts, 1941 - 45

US United States Cartridge Co., Lowell, Mass., USA

USCCo United States Cartridge Co., Lowell, Mass., USA

USF Susquehanna Corp, Ordnance Div, Saugus, Calif., USA


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UT Utah Ordnance Plant, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Operated by Remington Arms from March 1942 to Dec 1943

VFM Vitale Fireworks Mfg Co., New Castle, Pa., USA. Made US military pyrotechnic carts 1941 - 42

W Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Conn., USA

WCC Western Cartridge Co., East Alton, Ill., USA

WRA Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Conn., USA

WRACo Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Conn.,USA

WSMCo Worcester Stamped Metal Co., Worcester, Mass., USA, on experimental .60 cases made 1940 - 44

X Delaware Cartridge Co. Wilmington, Del., USA

UNITED STATES BULLET TIP CODE

Red Tip - Tracer

Red Tip over silver ring - Armour piercing/incendiary/tracer

Yellow tip over red ring - Observation/tracer

Green tip with white ring - Frangible ball

Brown tip - Tracer

Light blue tip - Incendiary

Light blue tip over dark blue ring - Incendiary

Black tip - Armour piercing


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Silver tip - Armour piercing/ incendiary

Yellow tip - Observation

Orange tip - Dark ignition tracer

Red/black tip - Experimental armour piercing

Black/white tip - Experimental armour piercing

Silver/black tip - Experimental armour piercing

Blue/black tip - Armour piercing/ incendiary

Green tip - Explosive

Yellow/blue tip - Explosive

Ivory tip - Experimental tracer

Green/black tip - Experimental armour piercing/ lachrymatory

Red/white tip - Experimental frangible tracer

Red/tan tip - Experimental frangible tracer

Light green tip - High Explosive

Purple tip - Incendiary

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Ammunition USA ID Guide Headstamps