Code Letters – Manufacturer
A – On some batches of .30-06 steel cases. Frankford Arsenal,Philadelphia, USA
AACo – American Ammunition Co., Oak Park, Ill., USA
ABC Co – American Buckle and Cartridge Co.,West Haven, Conn., USA
ACCo – Austin Cartridge Co., Cleveland, Ohio, USA
ACN – Amron Corporation, Antigo Plant, Antigo, Wis., USA 20 – 30 mm carts, post 1950
AJD – Aerojet Ordnance Manufacturing Co., Downey, Calif., USA, post 1950
ALAT – US Naval Air Station, Alameda, Calif., USA, solid steel dummy .50 carts
AMRON – Amron Corporation div of Nasco International Inc.,Waukesha, Wis., USA
AMU – Army Marksmanship Unit, US Army
AN – Unknown American possibly CIA manufactured, .30-06 with 1940s dates
AO – Allegheny Ordnance Plant, Cumberland, Md., USA
APC – Austin Powder Co., McArthur, Ohio, USA
APW – Austin Powder Co., McArthur, Ohio, USA
ASC – Unknown American Military usually on 20 mm Oerlikon ammunition with 1940s dates
<B> – Bridgeport Brass Co., Bridgeport, Conn., USA. Found on .50 Browning high velocity cases made 1943-45 and 20mm Oerlikon. The B is enclosed in a diamond
B – Found on US .30-06 made at Frankford Arsenal (FA) in conjunction with a number. It indicates the use of a Berdan primer, the number signifying the primer mixture
BBC – Bridgeport Brass Co., Bridgeport, Conn., USA, on .50 Browning High Velocity experimental and 20mm Hispano-Suiza carts
BDB – Bridgeport Brass Co., division of National Distillers Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., USA, post 1970
BE – Benson & Engstrom Cartridge Co.,Minneapolis, Minn., USA
BFL – Bristol Flare Corp., Bristol, Pa., USA
CB – Unknown American Military, found on 20mm Hispano dated 1942
CCI – Cascade Cartridge Co, Lewiston, Idaho, USA
CMO – Clymer Machine Corp., Trumbauersville, Pa., USA, post 1950
CN – Unknown US Military, may be CIA manufactured
CNI – National Conduit and Cable Co., Hastings on Hudson, NY., USA, on .30-06 carts
CRG – ‘Chemical Rifle Grenade’: found on US .30-06 blank with FA marking
CSY – Avco Ordnance Division, Richmond, Ind., USA, post 1950
CTP – Connecticut Cartridge Corp., Plainville, Conn., USA, post 1950
CW – When found with Lake City (LC) headstamp indicates the use of cold worked metal for case manufacture
CWG – ‘Chemical Warfare Grenade’: found on US .30-06 blank with FA headstamps
DEI – Dela Enterprises Inc., Coolidge, Ariz., USA
DEN – Denver Ordnance Plant, Denver, Colo., USA. Operated by Remington Arms Co from Oct 1941 to Jul 1944 producing .30-06 carts
DM – Des Moines Ordnance Plant, Des Moines, Iowa, USA Operated by US Rubber Co from Jan 42 to July 1945, .30-06 and .50 carts
DPS – Unknown American, on 20 mm Hispano with wartime dates
DURA – Dura Division of Detroit Harvester Corp., Toledo, Ohio, USA, on 20mm Oerlikon and Hispano 1942-44
EC – Evansville-Chrysler Ordnance Plant, Evansville, Ind., USA. Operated by Chrysler Corporation from June 1942 to April 1944 producing .30 carbine and .45 ACP carts
EC – Eau Claire Ordnance Plant, Eau Claire, Wis., USA. Operated by US Rubber Co using EC headstamp in August and September 1942 covering .30 carbine and .45 ACP carts
ECS – Evansville Ordnance Plant ( Sunbeam Refrigerator Co.), Evansville, Ind., USA. Operated 1942-44, principal product was steel .45 acp
EK – Eastman Kodak, Rochester, NY., USA. On 20mm Oerlikon 1944 – 45
EW – Eau Claire Ordnance Plant, Eau Claire, Wis, USA. Operated by US Rubber Co from August 1942 to December 1943
EX – On Frankford Arsenal (FA) .30-06 cases indicating Extruded Case
EXP NCP – On Frankford Arsenal (FA) .30-06 cases indicates Non Corrosive Primer, Experimental
F – Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, Pa., USA. On experimental steel cases 1942-44
F – Federal Cartridge Co., Anoka, Minn., USA
FA – Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, Pa., USA
FAHP – Frankford Arsenal, High Pressure – US proof carts
FAL – Frankford Arsenal Laboratory, found on experimental ammunition notably steel cased .30-06 with 1942-43 dates
FANM – Frankford Arsenal , National Match competition grade ammunition in .30-06
FAPS – Frankford Arsenal Pyrotechnic Signal. Found on .30-06 crimped blank carts
FC – Federal Cartridge Co., Anoka, Minn., USA
FCA – Federal Cartridge Co., Anoka, Minn., USA, post 1950
FCK – Federal Cartridge Co., Anoka, Minn., USA
F Co – Frost & Co, Kenosha, Wis., USA
FDCo – Frank Draper & Co., USA
FND – Susquehanna Corp., Ordnance Division ( formerly the US Flare Co.), Saugus, Calif., USA
GCCo – Graphite Cartridge Co., Washington, DC, USA, on .30-06 carts
GE – General Electric Co of America, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. On experimental .30-06 steel and brass cases with 1942 – 45 dates
GMC – Globe Manufacturing Co., USA
HA – Harvey Aluminium Corp, Torrance, Calif., USA. On 20mm with 1960s dates
HMC – Harcord Mfg Co. Inc., Jersey City, NJ., USA, post 1970
IFS – International Flare & Signal Co., Tippecanoe City, Ohio, USA, on signal carts 1941 – 45
IIA – Explosive Devices Inc., Picayune, Miss., USA
ILL..G – On .30-06 blank with FA headstamp indicates discharger cart for illuminating grenade 1917 – 1918
KBW – Kathodion Bronze Works, Nyack, NY., USA, on .30-06 and 7mm Serbian Mauser
KO – Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp, Winchester Western Diviision, La Porte, Ind., USA. On 20mm and above
KS – Allegheny Ordnance Plant, Cumberland, Md., USA. Operated by Kelly Springfield Tire Co from Nov 1942 to Sept 1943, made .50 Browning carts
L – Lowell Cartridge Co., Lowell, Mass., USA
LC – Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, Independance, Mo., USA.Operated under contract by Remington as Lake City Ordnance Plant from Sept 1941 to August 1945, on .30-06, .30 carbine and .50 carts
LDF – Liberty Display Fireworks Co., Danville, Ill., USA on US service pyrotechnic carts 1941 – 45
LM – Lowell Ordnance Plant, Lowell, Mass.,USA. Operated by Remington under contract from Nov 1942 to Dec 1943, on .50 brass and steel carts
M – Milwaukee Ordnance Plant, Milwaulkee, Wis., USA. Operated by US Rubber Co from August 1942 to December 1943, on .50 carts
MHR – Honeywell Inc., Hopkins, Minn., USA, on 30mm
MS – Metal Speciality Co., USA. On 20mm Oerlikon, 1942 – 50
MSA – Mine Safety Appliances Ltd., Pittsburgh, Pa., USA
NOEN – Naval Ordnance Engineeering Laboratory,Dahlgren, Md., USA. On 20mm experimental carts from 1940s/50s period
O – Cascade Cartridge Co. (Omark Industries), Lewiston, Idaho, USA
OM – Olin Matheson Chemical Corp., Bridgeport, Conn., USA, on experimental cases
PC – Kings Mills Ordnance Plant, Kings Mills, Ohio, USA. Operated by the Peters Cartridge Co., from June 1942 to March 1944, on .45 acp and .30 carbine
RA – Remington Arms Co Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., USA, 1914 – 1918 and 1939 – 1945
REM-UMC – Remington Arms – Union Metalic Cartridge Co., Bridgeport, Conn., USA
RF – Rockland Fireworks Co., Boston, Mass., USA. On US Army Pyrotechnic carts, 1941 – 45
R-M – Riverside Metal Products Co., Oakville, Conn., USA
SACorp – Savage Arms Corporation, Chicopee Falls, Mass., USA
SCC – Standard Cartridge Co., Pasadena, Calif., USA, 1946 – 1950
SD – Sparklet Devices Inc., Dover Division, Dover, Ohio, USA, on .50 steel cases in 1942 – 43, also made .30-06 but these not headstamped
SL – St Louis Ordnance Plant, St Louis, Mo., USA. Operated by US Cartridge Co from Nov 1941 to June 1945, on .30, .50 and .60 cases
SL* – Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, Pa., USA. Using tools removed from St Louis Ordnance Plant
SMC – Symington Machine Corp, Rochester, NY., USA
SMCo – Stant Manufacturing Co, Connersville, Ind., USA. .50 steel cases in 1945
STANT – Stant Manufacturing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, on .60 experimental steel and brass cases with a 44 mark
SWP – Smith & Wesson Pyrotechnics Inc., Jefferson, Ohio, USA
TC – Twin Cities Ordnance Plant, Minneapolis, Minn., USA, on .30-06 carts in early 1942
TEI – Triumph Explosives Inc., Elkton, Md., USA. On US military pyrotechnic carts 1941 – 45
TW – Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant , Minneapolis, Minn., USA. Operated under contract to Federal Cartridge Co from Feb 1942 to August 1945, on .30-06 and .50 carts, closed down in 1945 but reopened in early 50s and still in operation
U – Utah Ordnance Plant, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Operated by Remington Arms from March 1942 – Dec 1943, on .30 and .50 carts
UF – United Fireworks Mfg Co., Dayton, Ohio, USA. On US military pyrotechnic carts, 1941 – 45
US – United States Cartridge Co., Lowell, Mass., USA
USCCo – United States Cartridge Co., Lowell, Mass., USA
USF – Susquehanna Corp, Ordnance Div, Saugus, Calif., USA
UT – Utah Ordnance Plant, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Operated by Remington Arms from March 1942 to Dec 1943
VFM – Vitale Fireworks Mfg Co., New Castle, Pa., USA. Made US military pyrotechnic carts 1941 – 42
W – Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Conn., USA
WCC – Western Cartridge Co., East Alton, Ill., USA
WRA – Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Conn., USA
WRACo – Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Conn.,USA
WSMCo – Worcester Stamped Metal Co., Worcester, Mass., USA, on experimental .60 cases made 1940 – 44
X – Delaware Cartridge Co. Wilmington, Del., USA
UNITED STATES BULLET TIP CODE
Red Tip – Tracer
Red Tip over silver ring – Armour piercing/incendiary/tracer
Yellow tip over red ring – Observation/tracer
Green tip with white ring – Frangible ball
Brown tip – Tracer
Light blue tip – Incendiary
Light blue tip over dark blue ring – Incendiary
Black tip – Armour piercing
Silver tip – Armour piercing/ incendiary
Yellow tip – Observation
Orange tip – Dark ignition tracer
Red/black tip – Experimental armour piercing
Black/white tip – Experimental armour piercing
Silver/black tip – Experimental armour piercing
Blue/black tip – Armour piercing/ incendiary
Green tip – Explosive
Yellow/blue tip – Explosive
Ivory tip – Experimental tracer
Green/black tip – Experimental armour piercing/ lachrymatory
Red/white tip – Experimental frangible tracer
Red/tan tip – Experimental frangible tracer
Light green tip – High Explosive
Purple tip – Incendiary