Frankford Arsenal and WRA Co Ammunition Casings

[FLtreasure]

Was out in Palm Beach, FL area and dug up these very old ammunition casings. After research I discovered the F A 8-02 is a Frankford Arsenal 1902 military ammunition. The smaller broken casing is WRA Co 25-20 round which was Winchester's old headstamp from late 1800's to early 1900's. Don't know a lot about ammunition, so any input is appreciated!

Updated finds from the same area 01/08: I found some old looking bullets and have added the photos to this post. Two of them are fired and the third appears not to have been. The largest and heaviest round has one reeded groove. The smallest round is roundish and has a flat spot on one side.

 

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[trapperart]

Congrats

 

[FLtreasure]

Thanks! My oldest finds by probably 60 years!

 

[Appalachianman76]

Keep on hunting! There's Spanish silver waiting to be found!

 

[FLtreasure]

Amen on that! Spanish hoard lookout!

 

[ecmo]

I have been meaning to respond to this and always neglected to do so for 3 days now, sorry!

Anyway I know nothing about arsenal headstamps but do know a bit about numerous cartridges because of my interest in firearms and I do a little reloading for a number of calibers on a limited basis.

So I think your loaded round of "02" is very likely the old military round designated .30 U.S., commonly known as the.30-40 Krag and was the U.S. military round for a few short years of 1896-1903 and was chambered in a rifle known as the Krag-Jorgenson.

The Krag cartridge can still be purchased over the counter and some modern rifles are still chambered for it as it is still considered a decent deer hunting round. It was America's first smokeless powder military round.

You are correct about the .25-20 being a blackpowder city from the 1800's as Winchester arms introduced it in their model 1892 (the one you see most always used in old cowboy movies regardless of supposed time frame, lol). The 20 part of the designation means 20 grains of black powder and .25 mean caliber of course. It was introduced about 1893. Later loaded with smokeless powder.

In till very recent years Remington still loaded one loading for it in a .86 grain copper jacketed bullet, don't know if they still do as I handload my own using both the 86 and a 71 grain bullet in an original 1894 Marlin rifle. I say original as Marlin re introduced that rifle and clambering for a couple of years in the early 1990's.

Now if I can only attach a photo without screwing up. Lol

Don

 

[FLtreasure]

Wow thanks a lot for the great info on that! I've learned more about ammunition since I found those then I've learned ever. I'm hoping to get back and find some more cool stuff there.