I was just given a 7 round 1911 mag that was loaded with 7 rounds with 43 as the only number on them. Is this 43 caliber or I've read that they are from 1943. Anyone have insight on these?
Probley 45 acp from 1943
Yes they are steel but have a goldish tint to them
Figured it out from other forums the cartridge has 43 e c on em. They were made by Chrysler in Evansville Indiana in 1943 . These are steel that were chemically treated for the first time to prevent corrosion. 70 years later I can say it worked. Apparently ammo collectors like em.
The steel cased .45 ammo was made by Chrysler Corp's Evansville Indiana plant. It went from Plymouth automobile production in 1941 to ammunition prodiction in June 1942. Between that time and April 1944, Chrysler produced 3,264,000,000 rounds of .45 ACP ammo, which was 96% of all .45 ammo produced during WW II. They also tooled up to produce .30 Carbine ammo, and were the company responsible for developing a steel cartridge which would function perfectly in weapons.
It's interesting to note that Chrysler received a change order to their contract ordering them to start making steel cases instead of brass because of the copper shortage. Incredibly, they test fired the first steel cases within two weeks of receiving the order. In that time, they developed and tested a steel alloy which would function, and developed the zinc plating to prevent rusting.
The original production of .45 ammo was packaged in waxed cardboard cartons packaged in wooden boxes. It was diccovered that these boxes soon rotted in the jungle conditions, and the Evansville plant was asked to develop a vacuum sealed metal package which would withstand the rigors of jungle fighting. They came up with the "spam can" with the attached key opener.
They also had a contract to repack ammo which had been either damaged in handling or needed review and inspection before being issued to the troops. These "repack" boxes are what you have, and what Midway was offering for sale. The original manufacture date will be marked on the cartridge case, and will be either 1942, 1943, or 1944, the year of repackaging. They can't be any later than that, and steel cased ammo was not made before 1942. They are excellent reminders of the industrial might that let America win WWII.
The steel cased .45 ammo was made by Chrysler Corp's Evansville Indiana plant. It went from Plymouth automobile production in 1941 to ammunition prodiction in June 1942. Between that time and April 1944, Chrysler produced 3,264,000,000 rounds of .45 ACP ammo, which was 96% of all .45 ammo produced during WW II. They also tooled up to produce .30 Carbine ammo, and were the company responsible for developing a steel cartridge which would function perfectly in weapons.
It's interesting to note that Chrysler received a change order to their contract ordering them to start making steel cases instead of brass because of the copper shortage. Incredibly, they test fired the first steel cases within two weeks of receiving the order. In that time, they developed and tested a steel alloy which would function, and developed the zinc plating to prevent rusting.
The original production of .45 ammo was packaged in waxed cardboard cartons packaged in wooden boxes. It was diccovered that these boxes soon rotted in the jungle conditions, and the Evansville plant was asked to develop a vacuum sealed metal package which would withstand the rigors of jungle fighting. They came up with the "spam can" with the attached key opener.
They also had a contract to repack ammo which had been either damaged in handling or needed review and inspection before being issued to the troops. These "repack" boxes are what you have, and what Midway was offering for sale. The original manufacture date will be marked on the cartridge case, and will be either 1942, 1943, or 1944, the year of repackaging. They can't be any later than that, and steel cased ammo was not made before 1942. They are excellent reminders of the industrial might that let America win WWII.
That's pretty cool. Now you just need the 1911 from the same era. 
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