More 30 Government

I found these at a local gun show about a year ago. There was a young man that had a lot of brass. I asked if he had any 30-40 Krag and he said not with him but had 40, already primed, at home he could bring the next day. So, I went back on Sunday and this is what he had. He said "$35.00, FIRM". I said $70 is kind of high for 40 rounds. He said "no, that's $35 for both. Needless to say...

My only problem is, I cant bring myself to loading them, they're just too nice.Attachment 198602Attachment 198603Attachment 198604

Nice find. Congratulations. I remember many years ago when you could buy empty primed cases ready for loading. I haven't seen new ones currently. I think that the ammo manufacturers all stopped making them.

I don't know the age of these but, if you'll notice there is no ZIP code with the address.

I have a box like that, but only the box. I'd place that style from the 1920s.

A sportered Krag I bought from a widow about 20 years back came with 11 boxes of ammo, some old Gov`t boxes and others of all manfacturers. The rifle, guncase and ammo for $150.Robert

Very cool. :cool:

FWIW, the notation "Division of Olin Industries, Inc." did not appear on Western Cartridge Co.'s products, packaging, and literature until 1946.

You know what's funny; I saw those two boxes on a table at a gun show a few months ago. I remember thinking that someone who needed 30-40 brass was going to snap them up.

My first thought was that I remember seeing a couple boxes just like that, then I saw your location. I think I saw them at a show in Albany.

Are you sure it was only a few months? I got them about a year ago. Can't remember if it was Albany or Eugene. I try to go to all the "Club Shows". I'm sure it was at one of them.

Could very well have been over a year ago. It's crazy how time flies. If I'd have paid attention to your first post I'd have seen the part where you said you "found these at a local gun show about a year ago". :)

I remember asking the guy about those two boxes because they weren't priced. I don't remember what he said but it seemed too cheap, so I asked "Are you sure? For the old virgin Krag brass?" He took a closer look and said "Oh, no, not those. Those are more." I just smiled, thought so. I wasn't going to buy them either way, just curious, but I did figure it was still a good deal for someone looking for Krag brass. That's really the only reason I go to shows, just walk around and look at stuff, and talk to the old timers. The club shows are so much better for that.

It was probably Albany or Rickreall where I saw them, early last year if I had to guess. I haven't been to a Eugene show in a long time, since we moved from Springfield. If you go to a lot of shows I'm sure we've seen each other around. About the only ones I get to anymore are the club shows in Albany and Rickreall. I really liked Roseburg, but we're just too far away now.

I've got a bag full of assorted 30-40 brass around somewhere, everything from modern to old FA04 GI brass. Every once in a while I think I should get rid of all that kind of stuff sell it to someone else who can use it.

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Originally Posted by fatelk

Could very well have been over a year ago. It's crazy how time flies. If I'd have paid attention to your first post I'd have seen the part where you said you "found these at a local gun show about a year ago". :)

I remember asking the guy about those two boxes because they weren't priced. I don't remember what he said but it seemed too cheap, so I asked "Are you sure? For the old virgin Krag brass?" He took a closer look and said "Oh, no, not those. Those are more." I just smiled, thought so. I wasn't going to buy them either way, just curious, but I did figure it was still a good deal for someone looking for Krag brass. That's really the only reason I go to shows, just walk around and look at stuff, and talk to the old timers. The club shows are so much better for that.

It was probably Albany or Rickreall where I saw them, early last year if I had to guess. I haven't been to a Eugene show in a long time, since we moved from Springfield. If you go to a lot of shows I'm sure we've seen each other around. About the only ones I get to anymore are the club shows in Albany and Rickreall. I really liked Roseburg, but we're just too far away now.

I've got a bag full of assorted 30-40 brass around somewhere, everything from modern to old FA04 GI brass. Every once in a while I think I should get rid of all that kind of stuff sell it to someone else who can use it.

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That got my attention! If that time ever comes, I'd get in line.

Attachment 204394

Picked up these last week, 7 "live" blanks and ~ 25 hand loaded rounds from "Jan 2, 1940" according to the hand written note on the box. Plus a bunch of empty brass oldest was FA 7 02. 1902! I was going to try and load a couple of the 02 but appears to have been mercuric primers. Even after polishing and annealing they split almost instantly during resizing. Very brittle. I got ~ 60 usable REM UMC brass. Loaded those up today.

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Originally Posted by condorjohn

That got my attention! If that time ever comes, I'd get in line.

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I found them today. There's 64 pieces in the bag. I was going to put them up on the trader but wanted to see if you were still interested first. I'll send you a PM.

Hey fatelk, awaiting your PM. Thanks for keeping me in mind!

When you could still buy such cases on Ebay, I bought 240 primed Winchester cases in boxes from the 1920. I load and shoot them and I am certain they will last the rest of my life.

So as to the OPs cases...chut em!

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Originally Posted by condorjohn

I don't know the age of these but, if you'll notice there is no ZIP code with the address.

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IF they weren't using up pre-printed boxes, that places these boxes as maybe pre-1963 (the '63 introduction of the five digit Zip code was voluntary). Back during WW II large cities were given Postal Zone two digit codes. IIRC East Alton wasn't a large city (and it is highly unlikely that WCC was producing .30-40, or any, primed brass for civilian sales during the war).

Thanks to a forum member and a few club members I now have enough brass to last quite a while. So, the Winchester
stuff will sit on the shelf for the time being. From the suggestions on this thread, if the time ever comes, I will use it.

Thanks to all, CJ

I'd guess those cases to be post war as they were labeled non-corrosive ? Don't know when non-corrosive primers came out though

I once bought a 2gal pail of 30-06 brass I was most fascinated by the FA15 I found 118of but wound up tossing most of them when they broke up like saltines when I tried sizing them