Note: Exact Shotgun Cartridge Identification requires the identification of both the headstamp, primer and the shell case. Many companies, such as Winchester may only place a "Winchester" headstamp on the cartridge base for various models of shot shells which are very different from each other. For example..the "Winchester" only headstamp is used on Winchester Standard loads, Winchester Magnum Loads, Winchester Duck and Pheasant Loads and various other Winchester shot shells. It is therefore important to note what is written on the shell casing itself (either on the top wad or written on the casing) to aid in the identification of the shell. The color of the plastic or paper hull as well as the case size and the size of the brass rim must also be taken in to consideration for identification purposes, as well as the color, size and type of primer used. Primer size, color, type and size have changed over the years and can sometimes give an idea to the age of a shell.
The contents of the shell is also of great importance to proper identification. Sometimes the contents are marked, other times not. (If you look at the very top of the shell, on most older paper shells, there should be a paper cap that displays the powder and shot type). This may require further inspection and research by the collector to determine just what you have. Shells may be made with Black Powder or smokeless powder. The casing may be paper, plastic or Metal (usually brass or Aluminum). The shell may be loaded with a slug or shot (size 0000 all the way up to #12 or dust shot), with the shot being made of either lead, steel, copper, bismuth or tungsten etc.
On some headstamps (Especially Brass) there may also be an A or a B after the gauge. This is mainly used to represents the shell type or lot by some manufactures, for others it indicates the ability of the shell to be reloaded. For other manufactures, the A or B has represented the powder (Smokeless or not). Also keep in mind, that in some cases, the Letter can actually represent an alternate gauge. An example is a 20A UMC shell that has been found to actually be the rare 18 Gauge shell. The 20A also exists in greater quantities in the 18 Gauge. The guess is that UMC used surplus 20 gauge shells to make the experimental 18 gauge shells. Many gauges also have various lengths. There are a lot of variable to shotshells and often the box is the only surefire way to date the shell.
A Shotshell may contain the following other types of loads.
Smoke canister Teleshot (exploding projectile used to frighten game)
Blank load Tear Gas (usually police loads in 8, 10 or 12 ga)
Nails Rubber/Plastic slugs or BB's for Riot Control
Chains Flechettes Flash Grenades
Tracers Fireworks Square shotFireballs Napalm Bean Bags
and just about anything else one can imagine.
Gauge can also vary, and include both standard and Metric Sizes, as well as a Collath system of gauges which is entirely different.
Some more common "known" gauges are:
| 0 gauge | 1 gauge | 2 gauge |
3 gauge (rare) |
| 4 gauge | 8 gauge | 10 gauge | 11 gauge (rare) |
| 12 gauge | 14 gauge | 16 gauge | 18 gauge (rare) |
| 20 gauge | 24 gauge | 28 gauge | 32 gauge |
| 410 gauge | 6mm (CF and Rimfire) | 7mm (CF & RF) | 9mm (CF&RF) |
| 12mm | 14mm | .310 Remington skeet | 5mm Wingo |
US SHOTSHELL HEADSTAMPS
(Please note: Headstamps may have one or both of the markings listed. EX: A Western Field shotshell may have just "Western" on the brass, while the same type of shell may also be marked "Western Field" on another base). The second name generally represents the brand name or purpose of the shotshell and may be either stamped on the base or written on the cartridge case itself. ** Some US shotshell manufacturers used a steel base instead of brass, during WWII.
( Dates after shells indicate dates of known manufacture. Dates after company name indicates known dates of the company being in business. An * after the shell represents the shell is generally a brass shotshell, but the headstamp may be found on others)
ALCAN
(Alcan Cartridge Company)
1951
- 1971 purchased by Fiocchi and S&W
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AMERICAN AMMUNITION
Co.
(1910
- 1922)
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AMERICAN BUCKLE and
CARTRIDGE CO
(1884,
purchased by the Ammunition Manufacturers Assoc, (Winchester,
and USC Co.)
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some have circles and designs around lettering. Others are plain
AMERICAN CARTRIDGE and AMMUNITION CO. (1922-?)
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AMERICAN
AMMUNITION Co.(1901-1906)
A.M.C & A Co.
AMRON Corp(1956 - Present. Primarily Government
loadings for Military use)
Amron
Amron G.W
AUSTIN CARTRIDGE Co. (1895 - 1909, purchased by Western Cartridge Co.)
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BROWNING
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CLINTON
CARTRIDGE COMPANY
(1904
to ?, owned and operated by Sears Roebuck, shells usually made by
Federal)
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COLT
FIREARMS
Colt
Colt Industries
DELAWARE CARTRIDGE
Co.
(1860
- 1888)
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FEDERAL CARTRIDGE
COMPANY
(1922
to present, prior to 1922 was called Federal Cartridge and Machine Co.
with same Federal Headstamps)Currently owned by ATK (along with Speer,
Estate, RCBS, Weaver etc)
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GAMBLES
Stores
(1956
-)
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HERTERS
(1959
-present )
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HUNTER
ARMS COMPANY
(1888
- ?, formerly L.C Smith)
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INDEPENDENT
CARTRIDGE
Co.(1910 - 1913)
I.C Co.
I.C Co. Rocket
MERIDIAN
FIREARMS CO
(1904
- ? usually made shells for the Early Sears Roebuck Co.)
Pointer,
MFA Co.
or
M.F.A Co.
MONTGOMERY WARDS
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OLIN Corporation
(purchased
Winchester Western in 1944)
Olin
Olin, Meteor
OLYMPIA Cartridges
Olympia
Olympia, USA
PETERS
(1887
to 1934, combined with Remington in 1934)
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| Peters High Gun (Large P around Primer) | Peters Skeet Load (Large P around Primer) | Peters Ideal (Large P around Primer) | P.C Co. |
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Peters Deluxe Target |
Peters Quickshot |
Peters High Gun |
Peters QS |
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P.C.C League (some have chain symbols around primer) |
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REMINGTON
(E
Remington: 1870-1890. Remington 1890-1911 then Combined with UMC to form
REM-UMC from 1911-1934. 1934 Dupont buys out Rem-UMC & Peters to
form Remington Arms Co. as it still stands today)
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Nitro Express |
Remington Express |
Remington Best |
Remington UMC |
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Remington UMC Arrow |
Remington UMC Lightning |
Remington UMC New Club |
Rem-UMC Industrial |
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ROBIN HOOD POWDER COMPANY
(Later
Robin Hood Arms Co.)
(1887
to 1916)
Pictures of RHA
Headstamps
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SOUTHERN CARTRIDGE CO (Savannah, GA)
1909
- 1914
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SOUTHERN CARTRIDGE
CO (Houston, TX)
1923
- 1929 shells only made from 1923-1924
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UNION
METALLIC Co.
(1867-1911.
Combined with Remington to form REM-UMC from 1911-1934. 1934 bought out
by Dupont to from Remington Arms Co., as it still stands today)
(Headstamps may have periods in between letters.)
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US
CARTRIDGE COMPANY
(1864
to 1926, then purchased by Winchester)
(Headstamps may have periods in between
letters.)
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WANDA
CARTRIDGES
1965
- 1972
Marked
"Wanda" in
either Green, Yellow or Red plastic casings.
Tri Test
or
M (with lines over each column of the M to signify T's)
WESTERN AUTO (1955 to ?)
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WESTERN
CARTRIDGE COMPANY
(1898
to 1932. In 1932 Western purchased WRA to form Winchester Western
which lasted until 1944. In 1944 Olin Industries re-organized the
company
in to Winchester Western Division of the Olin Industries)
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WINCHESTER
(formerly
New Haven Arms from 1860 to 1866. From 1866 to 1932 operated as The
Winchester Repeating Arms Company until it was purchased by Western in
1932. 1932 became Winchester Western which lasted until 1944. In 1944
Olin Industries re-organized the company in to Winchester Western
Division of the Olin Industries)
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4 Ga: 1886-1909, 8 ga: 1878-1923, 10 ga: 1878-1949, 12 ga: 1878-1949, 14 ga: 1878-1919, 16 ga: 1878-1949, 20 ga: 1878-1949, 410: 1927-1933, .58 Cal: 1881-1919 |
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(1894-1904) |
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Winchester Nublack (1905-1938) 10, 12 , 16, 20. (1911-1921 for 24 and 28 gauge. Sold in Balck paper (loaded), Yellow and red for empties. Some had made in usa in headstamp. |
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Available in 12 or 16 ga, loaded or empty. Shell colors were green or Yellow. |
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| Winchester Speed Load made in USA. (1932-1933) red paper shells | Winchester Super Speed made in USA (1937-1972) in 10, 12, 16,20,28, 410 2.5" and 410 3" Shells) | ||
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W.R.A. Co XX
(8 , 10, 12,
16 and 20 ga: 1877-1881, 11 ga: 1877-1878, 14 ga: 1877-1881, 15 ga:
1877-1878)
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W.R.A. Co., Rival (Brass) (10 ga: 1884-1929, 12 ga: 1884-1929, 28 ga: 1914-1949) |
W.R.A. Co. S.Q
(1884-1894) 12 ga black
shells, 10 ga gray shells
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W.R.A Co. Normal (1896-1906) |
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W.R.A. Co. Blue Rival |
W.R.A. Co., Star 1884-1894 (10 and 12 ga only) |
W.R.A. Co. Selby Electric (1884-1897) |
W.R.A. Co. Leader |
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V.L. & D Lightning
W.R.A. Co. (1897-1907) Also V.L & D New York W.R.A. Co. 1894-1900) |
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Repeater 1901 (1901-1920) See Winchester Repeater for gauges and full years. |
Winchester 1901 | 1901 Blue Rival (1901-1904) | 1901 New Rival (1901-1920) Olive green shells in 10, 12, 14, 16 and 20 gauges) |
| 1901 Leader (1901-1920). 4, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 20 ga. Most shells were Red but seen in Pink, peach, tan and med brown. | 1901 Metal Lined (1901-1907) 4, 8, 10 and 12 ga only. | Winchester 1901 Pigeon (1901-1907) |
1901
Yellow Rival (1901-1904) |
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Winchester Ranger
(12, 16 and 20
gauge: 1925-1972, 10 and 28 gauge introduced in 1937).
After 1937 has made in USA on headstamp.
Skeet shells introduced 1937, Super Skeet in 1940, Trap Loads in 1937, Super Trap in 1940, Mark % in 1964. Shells were Red Paper.
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Winchester Record | Winchester Western | Winchester Charcoal (reported but not seen) |
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Winchester Industrial 8ga |
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OTHER US Headstamps
in brackets is
the company name who makes the shell,
a "?" denotes that I
can not find who the actual maker is.
* = mainly all
brass shells
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Also used headstamps: N.Y.C and NY Club |
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(Picture below) |
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(1894-1900) |
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Charles Daly |
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C.C &T. Co. (Chamberlain Cartridge & Trap Co.) 1883 - ?
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C.F.C Co. (C.F Cook Co.)
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HORNADY (Hornady Manufacturing) |
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Estate (Estate Cartrideg Co..modern ammo) |
Eureka (California Powder Works) 1861 - ?* |
Everlasting (Ideal?) |
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1864 -?* |
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(same as name) |
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(Picture below) |
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(Picture below) |
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CANADA
DOMINION CARTRIDGE
Company (all were paper
except where denoted with * which is brass)
DC
CO: 1886 - 1911 , used both DC and
Dominion headstamps.
Dominion
Cartridge Company (Canadian Industries Ltd.): 1911-1955, still used DC
Co. Head stamps and Dominion headstamps.
C.I.L:
(Canadian Industries LTD) 1955-1976, used C.I.L headstamps
IVI:
1977 to 1998 , IVI headstamps
1998-present:
IVI, Challenger, Imperial Headstamps
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(1898-1906) |
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(1906-?) |
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(1906-1955) |
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(1935-1955) |
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| DC Co.
Eureka
(1892-?) |
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CIL Industries (1955-1976) and
IVI (Successors to Dominion)
1976-1998.
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(1999-present) |
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ELEY Bros. Ltd (Winnipeg, Canada)
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HINGSTON
SMITH ARMS Co. Ltd (WINNIPEG)
1879-1920?
It
is assumed that the hulls were purchased from other Companies and
loaded
by this Company. You will notice many Eley and Winchester names
used
by this maker. Primers were DC Co. or Eley.
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WEST
CAN Industries (Okotoks, Alberta)
Plastic
1 pce hulls like Activ(1959-1966)
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XL EXPLOSIVES LTD. Canada.
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VARIOUS Other Canadian Companies
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EUROPEAN and OTHER SHOTSHELLS
ENGLAND
ELEY
1824
to present
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Hull Cartridge Company
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OTHER BRITISH
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GERMANY
RWS (Dynamit Nobel )
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OTHER German
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(picture above) |
FRANCE
GEVELOT (France)
(1827-1883.
Then bought Gaupillat to form Societe Francais des Munition from
1883 to present)
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OTHER France
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Nobel-Rey France (Societe Nationale des Poudres et Explosifs) |
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| Houllier-Blanchard Paris | Fabrique H.B Paris (Houllier Blanchard) | - |
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E.Bergerat Bte S.G.D.G France - Etranger (Rare 1892 celluloid shell) |
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OTHER HEADSTAMPS
| ASAHI-SEKI AOA (Japan) |
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Made by NIKA = Nederlandse Industrie voor Kunstof Ammunitie (Dutch Industie for Plastic Ammunition) 1952-1958 |
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Scorpio (Australia)
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Shahhen (Pakistan Ordnance Factory)
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| Super (Super Cartridge Co. Australia | Swartklip (South Africa) | |
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Sellier and Bellot, Czechoslovakia
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www.cartridge-corner.com
