Old .45 ACP

A few years ago I was given some .45 acp ammo that was pretty corroded. The box doesn’t show where it was made but is stamped “Repacked EC 5-44”.

The cases appear to be steel, or at least a white metal. The bullet appears to be a standard 230 grain FMJ projectile. The primer is covered with a purple substance which seems to be a sealant.
The headstamp is E C S 33.

I am not familiar with the headstamp and can’t find any information on this ammo. Any info as to manufacturer etc would be appreciated. Sorry I cannot post pictures.

Thanks,
Ken

ECS Evansville Ordnance Plant (Chrysler-Sunbeam) - Evansville, Indiana: a division of Sunbeam Refrigerator Co. (1942-1944). Chrysler bought the plant to keep up with demand. It loaded cartridges made at the Evansville-Chrysler plant across town and then packed them in shipping crates for shipment. In 1943 it was the first plant to manufacture ammo in vacuum-packed metal cans. In 1944 it was employed in inspecting and repacking .45 ACP and .30 Carbine ammunition.

The head stamp is ECS (Evansville - Chrysler - Sunbeam)

Look up Bullets by the Billion for some of the story of steel cased ammo.

https://www.forgottenweapons.com/boo...y-the-billion/

Cool history lesson there.

Thanks to those that helped out!
:)

Evansville, My home town had a lot of war effort. Ammunition, P47s, LSTs and lots of small shops. In the early 60s you could still see some sign all gone now.

https://i.imgur.com/N8IP5m9.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qJCm7HU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/B83vagl.jpg

Cool pictures, Conditor! I really like the 1911! I have a few individual steel 45 cartridges in my collection but would love to come across a full box.

Thanks gentlemen, I appreciate y’all sharing your knowledge! And I should have proofread my post. The headstamp is 43 not 33. Typing is not my strongpoint!

Ken

The ECC ammo is corrosive primed, but shoots well and is accurate. I grab it whenever I can find it cheap. Sportsman's Guide had it about ten years ago and I bought ten cans.

Attachment 248911

The cases will reload fine if you decap first and wash in hot soapy water to remove the potassium chlorate residue, then they resize fine in carbide dies and can be loaded normally. I use them for plinking and practice loads for use in places where it is difficult or inconvenient to police up the fired brass, so I have some I can shoot and let fly.

It also makes picking up your brass easy on an indoor range by dragging a cow magnet across the floor.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by km101

Thanks gentlemen, I appreciate y’all sharing your knowledge! And I should have proofread my post. The headstamp is 43 not 33. Typing is not my strongpoint!

Ken

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Thank you Ken! The "33" was a puzzlement to me.

I have 5 45 acp cartridges that are WWI era. One is U.S.C Co. 3/17, one R.E.M.-UMC 17, one F.A 18, and 2 U.S.C. 18. Brass case and steel bullets. I also have some W.W.11 brass. I also have 2 bullets head stamped GFL 9mm 38 dated 1940. I also have WWII 3006 cartridges that I have pulled and replaced the corrosive primers in.

Thanks all for sharing!

Some more pictures of vintage .45 ACP stuff:

Attachment 252312Attachment 252313Attachment 252314Attachment 252315Attachment 252316Attachment 252317

Outpost75,

Is "PCCO" the Peters Cartridge Company or something else?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wayne Dobbs

Outpost75,

Is "PCCO" the Peters Cartridge Company or something else?

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Correct, Peter's Cartridge Co. King's Mills, Ohio