Help identifying .30 carbine cartidges?

Bartholomew Roberts · October 3, 2000, 08:27 AM

I was wondering if anyone could help me identify some .30 carbine cartidges I have come across.

The ammo was found in the house of a former WWII MP, who had spent the war guarding German prisoners in Kansas. He had several war-issue firearms in the house and I believe that this ammo may also be WWII manufacture.

The case is made out of either steel or aluminium and the cases vary from a powder grey to a dull, metallic finish. Don't know whether the variance is from residue, corrosion, etc. The bullets are copper-jacketed ball.

The cases are stamped with an "E" at the 10 o'clock position, a "C" at the 2 o'clock position and a "43" at the 6 o'clock position.

Primers are either covered completely in a purple sealant or have a ring of purple around the primer.

Quantrill · October 3, 2000, 11:39 AM

I believe that the "EC" stands for Evansville Chrysler Plant where ammo was made during the war and the cases are a mild steel used because of the scarcity of brass. Quantrill

James K · October 3, 2000, 03:18 PM

Correct on both counts. EC and ECS (Evansville Chrysler Sunbeam) are also found on steel case .45 ACP. The .30 carbine is non-corrosive, but the .45 ACP is corrosive.

Jim

Big Bunny · October 4, 2000, 08:13 PM

I have seen the .45s reloaded OK... but not the .30M1, but there seems little need nowdays.

James K · October 5, 2000, 02:28 PM

I have reloaded steel .45 cases just to see what problems there were. The only one I found was that necks cracked earlier than with brass cases. Of course, the Army didn't give a darn about my reloading when copper and brass were in such tight supply.

I have heard the stories about steel cases causing excessive wear on loading dies and/or chambers, but I can't imaging how many thousands of rounds it would take to cause significant wear over brass cases. I think those are probably scare stories not based on any actual experience.

(The U.S. never was able to solve the problems involved in manufacturing steel .30 rifle cases during WWII. Use of steel case ammo by Germany during WWII caused some problems, mainly due to the melting of the case lacquer in hot MG chambers. AFAIK, the steel cases themselves gave no trouble either for the Germans or for the Soviet bloc which used them for everything.)

Jim

Bartholomew Roberts · October 6, 2000, 05:14 PM

Thanks to everyone for your help!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

October 3, 2000, 08:27 AM	#1
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	I was wondering if anyone could help me identify some .30 carbine cartidges I have come across. The ammo was found in the house of a former WWII MP, who had spent the war guarding German prisoners in Kansas. He had several war-issue firearms in the house and I believe that this ammo may also be WWII manufacture. The case is made out of either steel or aluminium and the cases vary from a powder grey to a dull, metallic finish. Don't know whether the variance is from residue, corrosion, etc. The bullets are copper-jacketed ball. The cases are stamped with an "E" at the 10 o'clock position, a "C" at the 2 o'clock position and a "43" at the 6 o'clock position. Primers are either covered completely in a purple sealant or have a ring of purple around the primer.

October 3, 2000, 11:39 AM	#2
Quantrill Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 1999 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 725	I believe that the "EC" stands for Evansville Chrysler Plant where ammo was made during the war and the cases are a mild steel used because of the scarcity of brass. Quantrill

October 3, 2000, 03:18 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Correct on both counts. EC and ECS (Evansville Chrysler Sunbeam) are also found on steel case .45 ACP. The .30 carbine is non-corrosive, but the .45 ACP is corrosive. Jim

October 4, 2000, 08:13 PM	#4
Big Bunny Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 1999 Location: New South Wales - Australia Posts: 605	I have seen the .45s reloaded OK... but not the .30M1, but there seems little need nowdays.

October 5, 2000, 02:28 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I have reloaded steel .45 cases just to see what problems there were. The only one I found was that necks cracked earlier than with brass cases. Of course, the Army didn't give a darn about my reloading when copper and brass were in such tight supply. I have heard the stories about steel cases causing excessive wear on loading dies and/or chambers, but I can't imaging how many thousands of rounds it would take to cause significant wear over brass cases. I think those are probably scare stories not based on any actual experience. (The U.S. never was able to solve the problems involved in manufacturing steel .30 rifle cases during WWII. Use of steel case ammo by Germany during WWII caused some problems, mainly due to the melting of the case lacquer in hot MG chambers. AFAIK, the steel cases themselves gave no trouble either for the Germans or for the Soviet bloc which used them for everything.) Jim

October 6, 2000, 05:14 PM	#6
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	Thanks to everyone for your help!