What gun is this for?

[hammered]

Hi guys, I posted this round yesterday in today's finds. My questions are, how old is it, what type of gun was it made for and how careful should I be in handling it. It has "W.R.A. Co .45 AC " stamped on the base. Thanks for any replies


hammered

 

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[allan]

45 acp is used for the model 1911 . us military issue from before ww2 made bu colt , also used in the thompson aka the tommy gun . and a wide asst. of pistols http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/45_Auto_Cartridge_History.htm

 

[NOLA_Ken]

It's a standard .45 A.C.P. round for any .45 Auto pistol, or submachine gun. W.R.A. is Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

 

[Retired Sarge]

WRA = Winchester Repeating Arms
.45 = Caliber
ACP = Automatic Colt Pistol

Mike
USAF Retired

 

[ivan salis]

WRA = Winchester Repeating Arms (company) - the round is for the model 1911 us miliary pistol * 45 caliber AutomaticColt Pistol = 45 ACP

 

[hammered]

Thanks for your quick replies guys, the case doesn't have the "P" after the A C, does this make a difference?, also, being in the ground for a while, do I have to be more careful with it than usual.


hammered

 

[allan]

this link will answer that http://members.shaw.ca/cartridge-corner/Wraco.htm

 

[worldtalker]

Age?Gun,45 cal. Maybe Colt 1911/Thompson Sub Machine Gun GodBless HH Chris

 

[ivan salis]

no differant head stamp from differant maker is all --by it size everyone knew it was 45 caliber ammo for the 1911 pistoll (semi automatic colt ) which used seven round clips --- or for use in the 45 caliber fully automatic thompson "tommy gun" machine gun-- aka as a "trench sweeper" which used 20 round long stick clips or 50 round drum type clips

deactive it by simpely using 2 pairs of plyers -use one on the casing to hold it frimly - use the other to pry out the bullet now - dump the powder out - pop the primer -then replace the bullet --now it's perfectly safe and demilled .--a dud round

 

[Retired Sarge]

According to the link provided both markings, 45 AC, ACP, were used by Winchester.

Mike
USAF Retired

 

[hammered]

Thanks a ton guys for all your help , I'll green check this now


hammered

 

[allan]

if you do pop the primer out make sure you use the punch on the inside of the primer not outside pushing in, one may be dangerous and the other is for sure

 

[NOLA_Ken]

if you do pop the primer out make sure you use the punch on the inside of the primer not outside pushing in, one may be dangerous and the other is for sure

NEVER try to pop out a live primer, they might be small, but they can still cause a nasty injury. If you pull the slug, and dump the powder, you can fill the cartridge with 3 in 1 oil or something similar over night, and it will de-activate the primer charge. However, there's no real need to de-activate it it's not going to explode or anything, and in reality, if you are not familiar with ammunition you stand a good chance of getting hurt trying to pull it apart.

 

[stefen]

Unless its a cartridge you want to keep, I'd take it to the local Gun Shop, Police Department or shooting range and have them dispose of it. And if you are not familiar with handling cartridges, I'd also stay away from removing the powder and primer cap.

Hard telling how old it is or if its swollen, may have been old when dropped.

Hell, I have a box of 'Peters' and several handfulls of loose 22LR's that are every bit of 40 years old and a case of 12GA shot gun shells that are almost eqally as old.

 

[cheese]

It doesn't look like it is corroded or has much of a patina, so I'd say chances are it hasn't been in the ground for long and it isn't very dangerous unless it's chambered in a gun. You would have to hit the primer hard with a small object and hard enough to dent it so that it hits the anvil. Hard to do accidentally. Even then, it's not confined in a chamber, which holds the cartridge in place and forces the bullet out the only opening: the barrel. If you were to set this off laying on a table, it's not going to shoot the bullet a mile. The bullet will move a very short distance with less than deadly force and the case will burst and fly a very short distance too, both being capable of injury if you were very close to it, but neither would be deadly. Firefighters are near exploding ammo all the time in burning buildings. It's not much of a danger. If you like it, keep it. Under normal circumstances, it's not dangerous 'till you put it in a gun.

 

[Jeep]

Do like Ivan said and pull it apart and dump the powder.

Next put the case in a vice and pop the primer with a nail

Then put it back together and screw in a eye hook and attach a ring and you will have a cool keychain
like mine

 

[Monty]

Only dangerous if you beat on it with a hammer or something heavy enough to set it off. I carry them around in my pocket quite a bit when I unload my carry gun and have not shot my leg off yet. I don't know of anyone else that has either. Oh, except the one guy who had a 9v battery in his pocket and set off a .22 rimfire. All it did was scorch his pocket. MOnty

 

[hammered]

Do like Ivan said and pull it apart and dump the powder.

Next put the case in a vice and pop the primer with a nail

Then put it back together and screw in a eye hook and attach a ring and you will have a cool keychain
like mine

First of all, thanks for all your replies ,my worry was about the stability of the propellant. I had some training with a few types of firearms in the Navy, Browning 9mm, Remington Shotgun and the good old L1A1 SLR. Although only the first 2 were normally kept on subs, we did on occasion carry the SLR, and later the SA80. My area of expertise ran to a slightly larger bore and entirely different method of propulsion , so thanks, once again for all your input . Jeep, I'm going to try and make a keychain the way you suggest, yours is way cool , if I have any fingers left I will post a picture of it


hammered

 

[Jeep]

Do like Ivan said and pull it apart and dump the powder.

Next put the case in a vice and pop the primer with a nail

Then put it back together and screw in a eye hook and attach a ring and you will have a cool keychain
like mine

First of all, thanks for all your replies ,my worry was about the stability of the propellant. I had some training with a few types of firearms in the Navy, Browning 9mm, Remington Shotgun and the good old L1A1 SLR. Although only the first 2 were normally kept on subs, we did on occasion carry the SLR, and later the SA80. My area of expertise ran to a slightly larger bore and entirely different method of propulsion , so thanks, once again for all your input . Jeep, I'm going to try and make a keychain the way you suggest, yours is way cool , if I have any fingers left I will post a picture of it


hammered