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**Mike Irwin** · August 16, 2015, 07:42 AM

"RA 17 should be Rock Island Arsenal..."

Uhm....

NO.

First off, Rock Island never loaded small arms ammunition. I believe they had a shell filling works, but Rock Island was a materials arsenal during World War I -- leather goods, equipment, firearms, etc.

Second, as others have noted, that's a .30-40 Krag cartridge, but loaded by Remington Arms at their Bridgeport, Conn., plant in 1917.

The R on the primer means Remington, which means that it's a commercial primer, which means that this particular cartridge was likely among the first lots loaded in 1917 after the Government let the contract for .30-40 Krag ammo.

It's likely that all of Remington's military contract primers were going into .30-06 production, so they used primers from the commercial side of the house until they could catch up.

August 16, 2015, 07:42 AM	#13
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	"RA 17 should be Rock Island Arsenal..." Uhm.... NO. First off, Rock Island never loaded small arms ammunition. I believe they had a shell filling works, but Rock Island was a materials arsenal during World War I -- leather goods, equipment, firearms, etc. Second, as others have noted, that's a .30-40 Krag cartridge, but loaded by Remington Arms at their Bridgeport, Conn., plant in 1917. The R on the primer means Remington, which means that it's a commercial primer, which means that this particular cartridge was likely among the first lots loaded in 1917 after the Government let the contract for .30-40 Krag ammo. It's likely that all of Remington's military contract primers were going into .30-06 production, so they used primers from the commercial side of the house until they could catch up. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.