Speaking of 45-70 Brass...

[southfork]

While I missed out on the Starline 45-70 Brass that was available at Midway a few days ago, today at a small local shop specializing in guns and ammo, I found what I think is some REALLY scarce 45-70 Brass. I got two boxes (20 count each) of 45-70 Brass with the following heads stamp: "WRA 45-70 Govt". The lid on one of the original manila colored boxes also says WRA 45-70 Govt Brass.

I thought that WRA meant "Winchester Repeating Arms," and that WRA hadn't been making ammo or brass since the 1930s. Am I wrong about that? Is someone else faking WRA 45-70 Govt brass nowadays???

[southfork]

So far about 45 guys have looked at this thread of mine and no response as to a reproduction WRA head stamp brass maker out there.

So, maybe the "WRA 45-70 Govt" brass that I got are originals, then?

[Blaine]

I Googled around a bit, and only "believe" that they are pretty old. Here's a good source of info for you to dig through.

http://cartridgecollectors.org/

[Ray Newman]

Can't be 100%-For-Sure-Dead-Nuts-Certain about the date of the brass you purchased.

But during WW II Winchester did make.45-70 line throwing blanks for the USN/USCG. Based upon similar threads I read on some Black Powder sites, do believe it was stamped as you posted.

[Cast Bullet Hunter]

Winchester (Olin) was still head-stamping brass WRA into the 1960s and possibly early 1970s. I have .44-40, 34-70, .38 sPL, .32 S&WL and others which were purchased new by me during that period. Both WW and WRA were available at the same time.

[geobru]

A year or two ago, I acquired some 40-82 head stamped brass that included some WRA brass.

This is what MikeD said about it:
"Usually, the Peters cases are fine, but the old WRAs are not. Those balloon head cases are dangerous."
Before he passed on, Mike was a regular contributor to this board, and was very knowledgeable when it came to old Winchesters and shooting them.

I only had a couple of the WRAs, but I took the WRA brass out of the reloading queue on Mike's word. If your WRA cases are balloon cases, I would not use them until I had solid evidence that they are safe to use. JMHO

[southfork]

More great input. Thanks, guys. I'll cut one apart to see if they are "balloon head" or not. If they are not, I'll load them probably.

[rat patrol]

I have about 100rounds of Hornady brass that need a home.